About US

The Coalition for Healthy and Safe Campus Communities, known as CHASCo, works with public and private Tennessee colleges to provide resources, funding, professional development, assessment tools, and research to create a healthy and safe learning environment for students.

OUR VISION

Sustain a statewide network of staff, faculty, and students empowering our campuses and communities to engage in positive health and safety behaviors.

Our mission is to connect and support institutions of higher education in Tennessee to effectively address campus health and safety issues.

We achieve this by offering:

OUR MISSION

Professional Development & Networking Opportunities:

We provide workshops, training events, and virtual learning opportunities designed to enhance health and safety management skills. These events also offer networking opportunities to build relationships with peers, fostering a team approach to tackling health and safety challenges on campuses.

Funding & Resources:

We support institutions with funding opportunities and resources tailored for evidence-based programs, as well as prevention campaigns and toolkits designed to address various health and safety issues. By offering financial assistance, expertise, and guidance, we enable campuses to implement and sustain best practices in prevention and health promotion.

Assessment Tools:

CHASCo equips campuses with easy-to-use assessment tools and resources to evaluate current health and safety measures. Our tools help identify areas for improvement and provide insights to elevate the standards of safety and wellness on campus.

Research on Prevention Best-Practices:

Stay at the forefront of campus health and safety by accessing our collection of research. We provide studies and reports on prevention strategies, ensuring members have the knowledge to apply the most effective and innovative practices.

OUR SHARED VALUES

Provide Support

We will support our coalition members by providing professional development opportunities, sharing resources, and providing a network for membership to connect.

Utilize Data

We will quantify our work by providing the opportunity for data collection and data analysis as we share information about emerging trends and evidence-based programs. 

Promote Healthy Choices

We will promote a shared vision of health promotion. This includes sharing true norms, promoting healthy choices, and recognizing individuals and campuses for their excellence and passion for prevention.

Embody a culture of care

We will strive to embody a culture of care. This includes showing care for the well-being of our students and colleagues, working to prevent harm, and creating a community where all individuals can succeed.

Model Well-Being & Flourishing

We will model best practices and ultimately have a collective impact on the culture of health and safety on our partner campuses so that all can flourish.

Our Director

Kayce Matthews

Kayce Matthews has more than 17 years of experience in prevention and advocacy work. Before becoming Director of CHASCo in 2017, Kayce worked for the TN Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. In this role, she founded both the TN Campus Prevention Project and the TN Statewide Sexual Assault Prevention Committee. Prior to the TN Coalition, she served as the Associate Director of the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center at Vanderbilt University. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Trevecca University, a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Stephens College, and is an AASECT-certified sexuality educator. Most importantly, Kayce is the proud mother to two very feisty little boys who inspire her to do better every single day.

If you have questions about CHASCo, feel free to reach out to Kayce at matthews@ticua.org or 615-242-1345.

Member Institutions

We are proud to collaborate with 46 institutions dedicated to enhancing campus health and safety.

Executive Committee 2024-2025

CHASCo's vision is to sustain a statewide network of staff, faculty, and students who empower campuses and communities to engage in positive health and safety behaviors. Our Executive Committee champions this vision with dedication and expertise.

Meet the leaders who are driving change and creating a safer environment for students in Tennessee:

  • Rachael Brooks

    Past Chair

    Rachael Brooks

    Bethel University

  • Lisa Schrader

    ExCom Emeritus Member

    Lisa Schrader

    Middle TN State University

  • Dr. Sylvia Gray

    Chair

    Dr. Sylvia Gray

    University of the South

  • Melissa Febbroriello

    Vice Chair

    Melissa Febbroriello

    Columbia State Community College

  • Victoria Jones

    Professional Development Chair

    Victoria Jones

    University of Memphis

  • Jamie Hess

    Program Chair

    Jamie Hess

    Trevecca Nazarene University

past Executive Committee

CHASCo Executive Committee Members 2023-2024

  • Chairperson:
    Rachael Brooks, Bethel University

  • Immediate Past Chairperson:
    Lisa Schrader, Middle TN State University

  • Vice Chair:
    Dr. Sylvia Gray, University of the South

  • Membership Committee Chairperson:
    Melissa Febbroriello, Columbia State Community College

  • Programming Committee Chairperson:
    Jamie Hess, Trevecca Nazarene University

  • Professional Development Committee Chairperson:
    Victoria Jones, University of Memphis

Subcommittee Membership

Every CHASCo liaison is encouraged to engage in subcommittee work groups when available. Reach out to Kayce Matthews at matthews@ticua.org for more information.

  • The Programming Subcommittee will:

    Assist the CHASCo Director in reviewing social norm campaigns;

    Provide evidence-based suggestions for developing and implementing social norm campaigns; and

    Serve as a resource for other campuses across the state.

  • The Membership Subcommittee will:

    Maintain a current membership roster and update the CHASCo Membership Agreement as necessary;

    Introduce new CHASCo members at meetings; and

    Develop and disseminate information necessary to recruit new CHASCo member institutions and reengage members that are not in good standing.

  • The Professional Development Subcommittee will:

    Facilitate the development and delivery of the membership meetings and Partners in Prevention Conference;

    Develop diverse CHASCo training opportunities as appropriate; and

    Identify contemporary issues in AODV and solicit member feedback to inform training offerings.

Join Us

By uniting our efforts, we can create a safer, healthier educational environment for all students. Join CHASCo today and be part of the solution! Download our membership application and email it to our Director at matthews@ticua.org.