The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, is currently accepting applications for its 2018 Excellence in Innovation Award. The deadline for interested institutions to apply for the $100,000 award is December 12, 2017.

Awarded each biennium, the Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes one college or university for achievement in finding powerful substantive solutions to improve the lives of others and create systematic large-scale change. The recipient institution will receive $100,000 in tangible recognition of its best practice in response to the changes and challenges facing higher education in the 21st century.

“The Phi Kappa Phi Excellence in Innovation Award is a fitting extension of our mission to recognize and promote excellence in higher education by lifting up the transformative work being done on college and university campuses across the country,” said Dr. Mary Todd, the Society’s executive director.

Since 1932, Phi Kappa Phi has awarded fellowships and grants to members and students on its chapter campuses. Currently, more than $700,000 is awarded annually through programs that last year recognized over 285 individuals. The Excellence in Innovation Award, first awarded in 2016 to Tulane University, is the Society’s only award for institutions.

The application period for colleges and universities to apply for the Excellence in Innovation Award is open until December 12, 2017. For more information including award criteria, eligibility, and timeline details, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Innovation.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. Since its founding, Phi Kappa Phi has recognized the academic excellence of more than 1.5 million members on its chapter campuses. For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

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Media Contact
Hannah Breaux
Communications Director
hbreaux@phikappaphi.org
225.923.7777

NATIONAL PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS INTEGRATES AWARD-WINNING PERSONAL SECURITY TECHNOLOGY WITH IP VIDEO CAPABILITY

Successful deployment at University of Bridgeport allows campus security to see real-time video of individuals in distress and pinpoints their location

EATONTOWN, NJ (Nov. 13, 2017) – National Protective Systems, a maker of personal security systems for academic, healthcare and other institutions, today announced it has integrated its Campus Shield platform with IP video systems to give on-site security teams the ability to instantly see and record the situation facing an individual in distress.

In a mock drill on November 9 at the University of Bridgeport, real-time video from nearby campus security cameras was displayed when a volunteer pressed the Campus Shield fob, allowing university police to see the assailant posing a threat, as well as the exact location and the identity of the individual in distress.

“To our knowledge, this is the first personal security device to achieve integration with closed-circuit video in an institutional setting,” said National Protective Systems CEO Douglas D’Agata. “This breakthrough gives security personnel the opportunity to immediately respond to incidents in real time, armed with all the information they need to decide how to deploy resources.”

The video integration feature can be installed with any institution’s existing closed-circuit IP security camera technology. The breakthrough is the first major upgrade for Campus Shield since the proprietary platform won Campus Safety magazine’s award for Intrusion and Panic Alarms in 2014.

“This is groundbreaking. I can now follow someone under duress in real time and see what is causing that duress,” said Joe Della Monica, Director of Campus Safety at University of Bridgeport. “This information allows me to deploy our resources with optimal efficiency. In addition, I now know what my officers are walking into so their safety during these events is improved as well.”

The system, which can be customized to serve indoor and outdoor settings at academic, healthcare and other campus environments, is activated by pressing of a small key fob (called a Personal Alarm Locator or PAL), which pinpoints the location of the emergency for security staff and displays the identity of the user, as well as the user’s medical (optional) and emergency contact information.

“A student or a staff member can discretely put their hand in their pocket, activate the fob, and campus police will know who they are, where they are, and see what is happening to them – all within one to two seconds.” D’Agata said.

“Many people feel safe with free phone apps that supposedly alert off-campus police. Who wants to fumble with a phone and try to find an app when they are being attacked or facing some other immediate threat to their health and safety? Would an attacker even allow that? GPS apps are notoriously inaccurate when it comes to locating an event indoors,” D’Agata added.

In its deployment at the University of Bridgeport, National Protective Systems personnel perfected the new system over the course of 27 months. The company is now in the process of making sure the live feeds from more than 250 cameras on campus are accurately linked to the Campus Shield platform.

The University of Bridgeport received the prestigious 2003 Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Award and has been recognized as an innovator for its adoption of the Campus Shield Personal Alarm Locator (PAL) system. More than 5,600 students, including 2,930 undergraduate students attend the private, 90-year-old university, which has a 50-acre campus and 462 faculty members.

Many Millennials view their personal devices, such as smart phones, as protection from physical harm, according to a recent survey led by ADT and published in Campus Safety magazine, but 75 percent said they are interested in purchasing an additional personal security device – indicating they are not satisfied with current choices.

Campus Shield systems also are deployed at Danbury Hospital, a 456-bed healthcare facility featuring 2,457 employees, including more than 900 physicians and health professionals in Danbury, CT; six campuses of the New York State Office of Mental Health, headquartered in Albany, NY., which serves more than 700,000 individuals each year across the state; and, two campus of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, based in Albany and responsible for coordinating services for more than 130,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities.

About National Protective Systems
National Protective Systems, a private company based in Eatontown, N.J., is a national leader in manufacturing, installing, and maintaining campus-wide security solutions based on radio frequency (RF) technology and the company’s proprietary software. The company serves colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and public and private schools. The company’s award-winning Campus Shield platform can be customized to meet any institution’s personal security needs. Learn more at www.nationalprotectivesystems.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Liz Gagnon, Tetra Public Affairs
Liz@tetrapublicaffairs.com

Douglas A. D’Agata, Jr., CEO
DDagata@nat-pro.com
978-998-4756 (o)
617-642-7787 (c)

Ten actionable strategies colleges can use to bridge mental health disparities facing students of color

NEW YORK, November 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — The Jed Foundation (JED), a nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for teens and young adults, and The Steve Fund, a nonprofit created to address the mental health needs of young people of color, today announced the Equity in Mental Health Framework (EMH Framework) to help colleges and universities support and enhance the mental health of students of color.

Research indicates that students of color at American colleges and universities are almost twice as likely not to seek care when they feel depressed or anxious compared to white students. Additionally, a recent online Harris Poll of 1,000 college students conducted by JED and the Steve Fund (with equal samples of African American, Latinx, white and Asian American students) found that students of color (in comparison to white students) are significantly less likely to describe their campus as inclusive (28% to 45%) and more likely to indicate that they often feel isolated on campus (46% to 30%). These statistics indicate a need for a more tailored approach to protecting the mental health of students of color.

The EMH Framework provides academic institutions with a set of ten actionable recommendations and key implementation strategies to help strengthen their activities and programs to address the mental health disparities facing students of color such as mentioned above. With expert input from the College Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital, the EMH Framework was developed using the national Harris Poll of 1,000 college students, a scientific literature review, a national convening of higher education leaders, and an electronic survey of higher education administrators.

“The Equity in Mental Health Framework fills an urgent gap at colleges and universities, and across our society” said Evan Rose, President of the Steve Fund. “Inequity in mental health is a dire national problem which impedes well-being of communities of color. Our young people face daunting challenges as they transition to adulthood, including those fortunate enough to pursue higher education. These expert recommendations build understanding of the challenges while equipping colleges and universities to better address our students’ needs. This effort is critical to the mental health, college completion, and life chances of the nation’s most rapidly growing demographic and the population which drives our work—young people of color.”

The investigative efforts behind the EMH Framework included a comprehensive examination of studies on the unique mental health challenges students of color face and a number of current interventions and programs aiming to meet their needs.

“We created the Equity in Mental Health Framework to provide colleges and universities across the country with accessible information, ideas and examples to inform and strengthen their mental health supports and programs for students of color,” said John MacPhee, JED Executive Director. “Our goal is to stimulate discussion and new research while helping more schools prioritize these efforts in order to ensure mental health equity for our nation’s college students.”
Videos on the EMH Framework site feature supportive statements by higher education leaders from Morehouse College, the University System of Maryland and Trinity Washington University.

“I favor increasing the level of support available to students of color at our national college and university campuses,” says John J. DeGioia, President of Georgetown University “This is a very special moment and we need to seize the opportunities present here to provide the best communities for all of our students. I think every college and university president must understand how urgent it is to tend to these dynamics.”
Please visit equityinmentalhealth.org to access the EMH Framework and other valuable resources.

About JED
JED is a nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. JED partners with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs and systems; equips teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other; and encourages community awareness, understanding and action for young adult mental health. Learn more at jedfoundation.org.

Check out JED’s programs including: JED Campus (jedcampus.org), Set to Go (settogo.org), ULifeline (ulifeline.org), Half of Us (halfofus.com) and Love is Louder (loveislouder.com).

Connect with JED: Email (https://www.jedfoundation.org/email/) | Twitter (https://twitter.com/jedfoundation) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JedFoundation) | Instagram (https://instagram.com/jedfoundation/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheJedFoundation) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/427578?trk=prof-0-ovw-curr_pos)

About the Steve Fund
The Steve Fund (TSF) is the nation’s only organization focused on supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. The Steve Fund works with colleges and universities, non-profits, researchers, mental health experts, families, and young people to promote programs and strategies that build understanding and assistance for the mental and emotional health of the nation’s young people of color. The Fund holds an annual conference, Young, Gifted & @Risk, and offers a Knowledge Center with curated expert information. With multicultural mental health experts, it delivers on-campus and on-site programs and services for colleges and non-profits, and through tech partnerships it provides direct services to young people of color.
Learn more: Steve Fund Website (http://www.stevefund.org) | Young, Gifted & @Risk Conference (http://www.stevefund.org/ygar-2017/) | Programs and Services (http://www.stevefund.org/programs/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/The-Steve-Fund-1416226418672754/timeline/) | Twitter (https://twitter.com/thestevefund)

About the Survey
The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll between January 26 and February 21, 2017 among 1,056 students who were US residents, 17-27 years old, identified as Black/African American (n=260), Hispanic (n=283), Asian (n=255), or white (n=258), currently attends a 2-year or 4-year college in the U.S., and currently attends the majority of their college classes in-person. Data are weighted where necessary by age within gender, race/ethnicity, income, enrollment status, year in school and region to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.

For More Information:
Andrea Morgan
917-213-5506
amorgan@makovsky.com

Ryan Daniels
202-466-8585
rdaniels@rabengroup.com

The Garden Club of America (GCA) is offering a new scholarship in native plant studies, with applications now being accepted.  The Montine M. Freeman Scholarship in Native Plant Studies supports the study of underutilized native plants at an accredited U.S. college or university or a major botanic garden or arboretum.  The GCA will fund one or more Freeman Scholarships annually at a minimum of $3,000.

The scholarship is open to undergraduates and graduate students, advanced degree candidates or non-degree-seeking applicants above the high school level.  U.S. citizens and permanent residents enrolled in a U.S.-based institution are eligible.  To apply, visit https://www.gcamerica.org/index.cfm/scholarships/details/id/35.  Deadline is February 1 preceding the period of study.

“The scholarship’s purpose is to encourage the understanding, development and use of underutilized native plants through research, documentation and teaching in the field of horticulture,” says Kathy Keller, GCA Scholarship Committee chairman.

The Freeman Scholarship was created in cooperation with the family of the late Montine McDaniel Freeman of New Orleans, Louisiana.  A member of the New Orleans Town Gardeners, a GCA club, Mrs. Freeman was an outstanding horticulturist particularly enamored of native plants.  Her 93-acre Beechwood Gardens in Covington, Louisiana, boasted more than 4,000 azaleas, camellias and magnolia grandifloras.

The GCA offers 28 merit-based scholarships and fellowships, awarding more than $330,000 in 2017.  GCA scholarships are available in medicinal and tropical botany, native bird habitat, conservation and ecological restoration, desert studies, landscape architecture, urban forestry, garden history and design, coastal wetlands and pollinator research.

More information about the Freeman and other GCA scholarships may be found at www.gcamerica.org/scholarships and at @gcascholarships on Twitter.

The GCA is a nonprofit national organization composed of 200 clubs with nearly 18,000 members who devote energy and expertise to projects in their communities and across the United States.  Founded in 1913, the GCA is a leader in horticulture, conservation and civic improvement.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Barnette
jennifer.barnette@gcamerica.org
212.753.8292

Latest publication recognizes 77 top-performing institutions overall and in 17 sustainability impact areas.

November 6, 2017 (Philadelphia, PA) – The 2017 Sustainable Campus Index (https://goo.gl/zkphnQ), a publication by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), recognizes top-performing colleges and universities overall and in 17 sustainability impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The report also highlights innovative and high-impact initiatives from institutions that submitted STARS reports in the 12 months prior to July 1, 2017.

Institutions that achieved the top spot overall according to institution type include:
● Appalachian State University (Master’s institutions)
● Nova Scotia Community College (Associate colleges)
● Stanford University (Doctoral/research institutions)
● Sterling College(Baccalaureate institutions)

Institutions that achieved the top spot in each sustainability topic area are listed below:
● Berea College (Campus Engagement)
● Colorado State University (Public Engagement)
● Columbia University (Transportation)
● Green Mountain College (Curriculum)
● Lewis & Clark College (Investment & Finance)
● Macalester College (Purchasing)
● New Mexico State University (Waste)
● Nova Scotia Community College (Buildings)
● Stanford University (Diversity & Affordability)
● Sterling College (Food & Dining)
● Université Laval (Air & Climate)
● University of Vermont (Energy)

Multiple institutions tied for first in the areas of Coordination & Planning, Grounds, Research, Water and Wellbeing & Work. The full list of top performers is provided in the report.

“The institutions and initiatives featured in this year’s Sustainable Campus Index showcase the hard work that colleges and universities have done to advance sustainability on their respective campuses and throughout the world,” said AASHE’s Executive Director, Meghan Fay Zahniser. “I hope you find inspiration within this report that may further drive collaborative efforts focused on innovative solutions to ongoing sustainable challenges.”

STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance developed by AASHE. With nearly 800 participating institutions, STARS is the leading tool for measuring higher education sustainability performance. 129 reports were submitted in the most recent calendar year, resulting in an 4 percent increase over the previous year and a fourth consecutive year of growth. All reports are publicly accessible on the STARS website.

About the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with and for higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges. For more information, visit www.aashe.org. Follow AASHE on Facebook and Twitter.

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Media Contact
Andrea Huggins
888.347.9997 ext. 123
andrea.huggins@aashe.org

The past two years have been a whirlwind for Laurie Hernandez, who spent last summer in Rio de Janeiro winning gold and silver medals with the U.S. “Final Five” Olympic Gymnastics team. While she’s not competing on the world stage this year, life hasn’t slowed down for the 17-year old self-professed “dancing machine.” Whether on the balance beam, studying for an exam or researching colleges, having a winning routine gives her that extra edge.

“Since the Olympics, life has been super amazing and crazy busy,” said Hernandez, who is a paid spokesperson for Alcon DAILIES^® contact lenses. “I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved outside of the gym – from winning ‘Dancing with the Stars’ to writing my first book, ‘I Got This.’ No matter the task, bringing home the gold takes preparation and focus. And these days, I approach my training schedule with the same outlook as I do my school work and many other projects so I can become the kind of athlete, student and role model I want to be in the future.”

Whether you’re looking to win on the intramural field or in the classroom this Fall, here’s a glimpse into Laurie’s everyday routine that gives her an invisible edge to perform at her best:

●  You Snooze, You Win: Getting the right amount and quality of sleep is very important. Since she rarely sleeps eight hours, Laurie makes every hour of sleep count. That includes the right bedding, shutting off her smartphone and, sometimes, sleeping with soothing music or nature sounds. Good sleep improves memory and retention – from her floor exercise moves to challenging math concepts.
●  Vision for Success: Laurie is always looking for little things that give her a big advantage. That’s why she wears Alcon DAILIES^® AquaComfort Plus^® contact lenses to see, look and feel her best. The daily disposable lenses are not only comfortable, but they are convenient because they don’t require cleaning or disinfecting. The lenses allow Laurie to see clearly when training in the gym and when looking at her digital device. She can group text for hours with her Olympic teammates.
●  Pump It Up: Music is as important as sleep and clear eyesight to Laurie. It gets her through the ups and downs of training and just the everyday challenges of being a teenager. She fills her playlist with favorites and plays them according to her mood, the day’s schedule and what she wants to achieve. If music is your thing, find ways to incorporate it into your day to help give you a boost.
●  Crank up the Creativity: Although she’s an athlete and a student, Laurie loves to let her artistic juices flow. Sometimes she takes a break from her rigorous training and school schedule by channeling her creativity through painting, binge watching movies, making #AskLaurie Web videos or posting cool photos to social media. This gives her a boost of energy so she can re-focus on her work.
●  Dancing Like a Star: If Laurie wasn’t a gymnast, she’d be a professional dancer. And she always finds time – no matter the place – to bust a move. Dancing helps keep her centered and is a way to stay in shape between training sessions. You don’t have to be a trophy-winning dancer like Laurie to move to the beat – in your dorm room or in the library, dancing can clear your mind and bring things into focus.

This is what makes up Laurie’s success story – on and off the balance beam. So, what’s your winning routine? Visit www.Dailies.com to learn how comfortable, clear eyesight can give you that invisible edge.

Ask your eye care professional for complete wear, care and safety information. Rx only.

With referral programs and recent initiatives to eliminate additional fees, Boost Mobile provides the best value, service and customer experience for students seeking affordable wireless plans

IRVINE, Calif. – Oct.19, 2017 – Recognizing the rising cost of college tuition, fees and living expenses today, Boost Mobile has introduced several initiatives aimed at keeping the cost of its wireless plans more affordable for college students.

Plans Now Include Taxes and Fees: Announced last month, taxes and fees are included in the total plan price of service for new and existing customers. Boost Mobile offers incredible value and flexible data options. The $50 Unlimited Gigs plan includes unlimited talk, text and optimized streaming videos, gaming and music with unlimited 4G LTE data for most everything else.* This move is another step toward Boost Mobile’s commitment to provide customers the best service and most affordable options, avoiding additional fees on wireless plans.

Great Deals on the Hottest Phones: Boost Mobile is offering free phones for students who make the switch.** Boost makes it easy – head into a local Boost Mobile store, switch to the $50 Unlimited Gigs plan, and choose from a diverse selection of free phones, including the Samsung Galaxy J3 Emerge, LG Tribute HD and Motorola moto e4. For students with phone loyalty who are not ready to give up their iPhone or Android, no worries. Bring your phone and get a free month of Unlimited Gigs on Boost Mobile.***

Your Friends Have Benefits: Now that students are back on campus with their friends, Boost Mobile is offering a referral program designed to reward its loyal brand ambassadors. Customers can earn a $25 account credit for each friend they refer, up to $500 per year. Start today by referring or registering as a referral.

In addition, through December 2017, Boost Mobile will select one customer to receive a new device every month just for bringing a Boost Buddy to the Boost Community. Participants must be active Boost customers, with the potential winner already being a Community Member in good standing (see full details).

About Boost Mobile
Established in 2002, Boost Mobile provides best-in-class value and connectivity to U.S. wireless consumers. An award-winning mobile carrier that operates on the highly reliable Sprint Nationwide 4G LTE Network, Boost Mobile offers customers the best unlimited plans with no annual service contacts. Learn more about Boost Mobile online on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

# # #

*The total sales price includes the charge for (1) services and (2) taxes and fees. Video streams at up to 480p+ resolution, music at up to 500kbps, streaming cloud gaming at up to 2Mbps. Data deprioritization applies during congestion.

**Free phone offer ends 10/31/17. Requires port-in & activation on $50 plan. Limited to select markets/retailers & models, while supplies last. Limit one (1) device per line. Coverage & offers not available everywhere & subject to change. Restrictions apply. See participating dealer for details.

***Offer valid 10/13/17 – 1/29/18. Avail. for new customers activating on $50 plan, in sel. markets activating in a Boost Mobile store or boostmobile.com. Select iPhone and Android models only. Former Sprint devices not eligible. Req. initial payment of $50 at time of activation. Credit will be applied to account immediately upon activation & payment of 1st month’s service. Customer responsible for any incremental/additional charges beyond basic monthly service. Customer responsible for next month’s payment for continued service. Not compatible with Family Plan offers or Boost Dealz.

Media Contact:
Danielle Babbington, Sprint
949-748-3418
Danielle.babbington@sprint.com

College students are often challenged with striking a balance between studying, maintaining an active social life, and taking on adult responsibilities that come along with living on your own.

While parents, advisors and peer counselors have probably cautioned you about many of the challenges you may encounter during your college years, you may not have had much discussion about human papillomavirus, or HPV.

Here’s the deal about HPV:

1. HPV is more common than you may think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, and there are approximately 14 million new HPV infections in the United States each year. Nearly half of these infections occur in people ages 15-24. For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for others who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain pre-cancers, cancers, and other diseases in women and men. And there is no way to predict who will or won’t clear the virus.

2. Certain types of HPV cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar pre-cancers and cancers in females and other HPV types cause genital warts and anal cancer in males and females.

3. Exposure to HPV can happen with any kind of sexual activity that involves genital contact with someone who has HPV — intercourse isn’t necessary, but it is the most common way to get the virus. Because HPV often has no visible signs or symptoms, anyone can get the virus or pass the virus on without even knowing it. It may take only one sexual encounter to be infected with HPV. There is no treatment for HPV infection.

4. Although HPV-related cancers can develop very slowly and may not occur until later in life, many people who do develop these cancers may have been exposed to cancer-causing HPV types in their teens and 20s.

For more information about HPV, speak with your health care provider or visit your campus health center to learn more about ways to help prevent certain HPV-related cancers and diseases, including vaccination.

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ Launches Campus Tour To Help Students Discover Unconscious Bias and Advance Inclusion

NEW YORK, October 18, 2017 – Today, CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™, the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion within the workplace in the U.S., announced the “Check Your Blind Spots” college campus tour. Beginning with Villanova University on October 17, the first leg of the tour will visit college campuses throughout October to help raise students’ awareness of unconscious biases and empower them to take part in diversity and inclusion conversations both in their communities and with their future employers.

The “Check Your Blind Spots” campus tour will focus on bringing students, as future leaders and workers, an interactive and engaging experience about diversity and inclusion. A mobile vehicle will travel to each participating campus and students will be invited to participate in multi-media experiences focused on the issue of blind spots– including watching a video that will introduce them to the nuances of unconscious bias and taking an implicit association test that will help them identify their own potential biases. Students will also be presented with educational content including a list of what common blind spots are and actions they can take to help address them.

Having grown up more aware of diversity issues than previous generations, college students might not think they have blind spots. CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ seeks to engage students in productive dialogue around unconscious bias, and inspire them to take what they learn into their daily lives – whether it is at school, at home, at an internship or in their future workplace. Research has found 92 percent of Gen Zers (currently college freshmen and sophomores) care about social issues and are concerned for the future – and more than three fourths think companies should support important social issues.

“We’re proud to be working with some of our signatory colleges and universities to bring the “Check Your Blind Spots” program to young people across the country,” said Tim Ryan, U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC and chair of the steering committee for the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™. “As CEOs of major companies, we’ve seen how valuable this coalition has been in helping our employees make better and more inclusive decisions. We believe that as tomorrow’s workforce, today’s students must leave school with the right set of skills for the job. This not only includes technical skills, but also the ability to be inclusive, and to support and encourage diverse perspectives and contributions.”

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is bringing students into a conversation they are passionate and vocal about, at a time when they are making important decisions about their career paths. Through the “Check Your Blind Spots” interactive experience, students will also have the opportunity to learn about the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ pledge and which companies, colleges and universities are committed to affecting change.

“At Villanova, we place a high value on building community among our members,” said University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. “Community begins by reaching out to others, engaging in difficult dialogue, embracing differences and challenging preconceptions. Signing this pledge reaffirms our commitment to diversity and inclusion in all areas at Villanova.”

The first leg of the “Check Your Blind Spots” campus tour will visit the following signatory schools:

● Oct. 17th | Villanova University | Villanova, Pennsylvania
● Oct. 19th | Bentley University | Waltham, Massachusetts
● Oct. 23rd | Miami University | Oxford, Ohio
● Oct. 25th | Binghamton University | Binghamton, New York
● Oct. 27th | Pennsylvania State University | State College, Pennsylvania

To learn more about the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ or if you are interested in making your college or university a stop in the tour, contact info@CEOAction.com.

About CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™
CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. Bringing together more than 300 CEOs of America’s leading organizations and universities, the commitment outlines actions that signatories pledge to take to cultivate a workplace and culture where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, employees feel comfortable and encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion, and where best known—and unsuccessful—actions can be shared across organizations. Learn more at CEOAction.com and connect with us on Facebook: CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion and Twitter: @CEOAction.

The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is led by a steering committee of CEOs and leaders from Accenture, BCG, Deloitte US, The Executive Leadership Council, EY, General Atlantic, KPMG, New York Life, Procter & Gamble, and PwC. The coalition represents nearly 70 industries, all 50 US States, and millions of employees globally.

Media Contact
Idalia Hill
Idalia.Hill@pwc.com
571-888-6927

Venmo adds mobile web checkout capabilities, purchase protection, and instant transfer to bank account; launches national brand campaign

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Oct. 18, 2017 –Starting this week, Venmo customers can shop on their mobile phone and make purchases at more than two million U.S. retailers via the mobile web. Venmo customers can now more easily split online purchases among friends and share payments on the Venmo feed, making it easier than ever to celebrate group experiences and remove the awkwardness that comes with cash or checks.

Just in time for the holiday season, Venmo customers can shop at millions of merchants that accept PayPal – such as Lululemon, Forever 21, and Foot Locker – using their Venmo balance or linked credit card, debit card, or bank account. At launch, Venmo customers will receive a notification in their Venmo app inviting them shop. Eligible purchases made with Venmo qualify for purchase protection, which may provide a full refund if customers don’t receive an item or it’s significantly different than the description.

“Offering a way to pay at millions of retailers is a major step in the evolution of Venmo,” said Bill Ready, Chief Operating Officer of PayPal. “Our vision for Venmo is to not only be the go-to app for payments between friends, but also a ubiquitous digital wallet that helps consumers spend wherever and however they want to pay, regardless of device. Through 2017 and beyond, we will continue to evolve the payments experience that has helped make Venmo a cultural staple, while also applying that same magic to split, share and pay in new ways.”

To celebrate Venmo’s place in today’s culture, Venmo revealed this week a new brand campaign, dubbed “_______ Me,” which celebrates Venmo’s status as a household name and reminds everyone that payments can be fun. “_______ Me” takes an irreverent approach to everyday moments in which people use Venmo. The multi-platform campaign, which runs through the end of the year, includes digital, experiential, and outdoor advertising. The new campaign was created in partnership with Zambezi and Noble People.

In addition, to provide more options to easily manage and move money, Venmo customers will soon be able to instantly transfer money from Venmo to their bank accounts via eligible debit cards, providing access to funds faster than ever before for just $0.25 per transfer. Funds will typically be available in a customer’s bank account in a matter of seconds, although some banks may take up to 30 minutes. The new option will be available to all Venmo users over the coming months. Funds in a customer’s balance are immediately available to use when shopping with Venmo, and as always, there is no charge to transfer funds directly to a customer’s bank account through the original bank transfer functionality.

Businesses can now offer Venmo as a mobile payment option through the PayPal and Braintree platforms. To learn more, visit www.venmo.com/business.

About Venmo
Venmo, a service of PayPal, Inc., is a leading mobile app in the U.S. used to move money between friends and family and pay at select businesses. Venmo makes payment a fun, social experience that eliminates the awkwardness that comes with cash or checks. For more information, visit https://www.venmo.com.

About PayPal
Fueled by a fundamental belief that having access to financial services creates opportunity, PayPal (Nasdaq: PYPL) is committed to democratizing financial services and empowering people and businesses to join and thrive in the global economy. Our open digital payments platform gives PayPal’s 210 million active account holders the confidence to connect and transact in new and powerful ways, whether they are online, on a mobile device, in an app, or in person. Through a combination of technological innovation and strategic partnerships, PayPal creates better ways to manage and move money, and offers choice and flexibility when sending payments, paying or getting paid. Available in more than 200 markets around the world, the PayPal platform, including Braintree, Venmo and Xoom, enables consumers and merchants to receive money in more than 100 currencies, withdraw funds in 56 currencies and hold balances in their PayPal accounts in 25 currencies. For more information on PayPal, visit https://www.paypal.com/about. For PayPal financial information, visit https://investor.paypal-corp.com.

Contacts
Josh Criscoe, Venmo Communications
josh@venmo.com