HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College athletics and student affairs have been selected to participate in the 2016 Step UP! Bystander Intervention Facilitator Training May 16-17 at the University of California Irvine.

Coker was one of 40 schools selected by the NCAA Sport Science Institute to participate in the two-day event that provides resources for athletics and student affairs professionals to work in partnership to promote student-athlete wellness through bystander intervention training.  Step UP! is a prosocial behavior and bystander intervention program that educates students to be proactive in helping others. 

“We are honored and excited to be a part of this program,” said Coker vice president of athletics and athletic facilities Dr. Lynn Griffin. “The collaboration on campus and within the national community is important as we guide our students in the social decision making process”.   Attending for Coker will be Whitney Watts, Dean of Students, Dr. Katie Flaherty, Associate Director of Athletics and wrestling student-athlete Rashad Williams.  Rashad is actively involved at Coker as a resident assistant, an admissions ambassador, and can be found volunteering within the community.

Since its 2008 release, hundreds of colleges and other organizations are now using Step UP! – the award-winning (NASPA Gold) bystander intervention program that teaches students how to intervene in problematic situations including alcohol abuse, hazing, depression, sexual assault, discrimination, anger, eating disorders, academic misconduct, and more. This is the third national conference offering training dedicated to preparing administrators and other professionals to facilitate Step UP! On their campus.