incidence of sexual violence on campus toll-free sexual assault hotline: 888-999-5545 (english)...

Incidence of Sexual Violence on Campus

Toll-Free Sexual Assault Hotline: 888-999-5545 (English) Toll-Free Sexual Assault Hotline: 888-568-8332 (Spanish)

1 in 4 women experience unwanted sexual intercourse while attending college in the

United states.U.S. Department of Justice (2000)

1 in 12 college men admit to acts that meet the legal definition of rape.

American Academy of Pediatrics (1994)

» to provide a snapshot of the current sexual assault policies and practices at public and private colleges and universities across Connecticut

» to highlight the progress that institutions have made

» to provide colleges and universities with tools to improve the response to survivors of sexual violence

Goals of the Report Card


» Previous Campus Report Cards were released in 1999 and 2007

» The survey was conducted during the summer of 2012 by Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services (CONNSACS), in collaboration with the Connecticut College Consortium Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) and the Connecticut Campus Coalition to End Violence Against Women (CCCEV).

» The survey was completed by 4 two year and 21 four year institutions

History of the Report Card


Institutions of higher education are becoming much more savvy about the

dynamics of sexual violence, what perpetration looks like, and how to provide

support to survivors.

More students, particularly first year students, are receiving sexual assault

education.

Key Findings of the Report Card


Education and training need to be mandatory for the entire campus community, especially

for people who will be responding to or working with survivors.

More prevention programs need to be offered that focus on shifting campus culture

to stop the perpetration of sexual violence before it occurs and reinforce offender

accountability.

Key Findings of the Report Card


Improvements Since 2006


» More students are being educated about sexual assault on campuses as a majority of institutions now require that first year students receive sexual assault education as part of an orientation program

» More student misconduct policies, as well as educational programming, now define and include the role of alcohol in the perpetration of sexual violence

Improvements Since 2006


» The total number of campus response teams continues to increase

» There has been an increase in the number of colleges and universities that have appointed a staff person on campus who is charged with coordinating and facilitating access to victim services

Report Card Grades


Grades were assigned collectively based on survey responses from 21 four year institutions.

Policies & Procedures


» 100% of participating institutions include a definition of sexual assault in their student

misconduct policies» 86% include descriptions of possible sanctions

» 90% include a definition of consent in their student misconduct policies

» 81% include the role of alcohol in consent

Policies & Procedures


» 100% of participating institutions make their student misconduct policies available to the

campus community» 71% of participating institutions have updated

their sexual assault policies in the last year

Sexual Assault Education


» 86% of participating institutions require that first year students receive sexual assault education during new student orientation

More educational programming now includes coverage of perpetrator behaviors, the effects of trauma, and bystander intervention techniques.

Sexual Assault Education


» 18% of participating institutions require members of Greek Life to receive sexual

assault education» 95% of participating institutions require

Residential Life staff to receive sexual assault education

Sexual Assault Training


» 62% of participating institutions require sexual assault training for members of their Campus

Response Teams (CRT) or Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART)

» 71% of participating institutions require that members of their Campus Safety or Campus Police Departments receive sexual assault

training

Sexual Assault Training


» 71% of participating institutions require that members of the adjudication process receive

sexual assault trainingPA 12-78: An Act Concerning Sexual Violence on College Campuses requires judicial personnel to be trained in issues related to sexual violence.

Training was one of the topics most commonly identified as an area in need of improvement

for campuses in the survey.

Awareness& Prevention Activities


» 95% of participating institutions offer sexual assault awareness activities

» 90% of participating institutions hold Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) events in

April» 90% of participating institutions offer sexual

assault prevention activities

Awareness& Prevention Activities


» 62% of participating institutions have peer educators trained about sexual assault

» 71% of participating institutions offer bystander intervention education

Many institutions noted having incorporated bystander intervention theory and techniques

into the education offered to student on campus.

Campus Responses


» 76% of participating institutions have Campus Response Teams (CRT) or Sexual Assault

Response Teams (SART)» 76% of participating institutions have a victim

services coordinator on campus» 56% of participating institutions include local

sexual assault crisis programs in their Campus Response Teams.

Victim Services


» 90% of participating institutions make referrals to their local sexual assault crisis

programs» 71% of participating institutions offer victim services 24 hours per day, seven

days per week

Judicial Process


» 95% of participating institutions offer interim sanctions before or during the

judicial process» 90% of participating institutions allow both parties in the adjudication process to have a support person present during

the hearing process

Judicial Process


» 81% of participating institutions allow victims to make victim impact

statements» 81% of participating institutions allow

victims to provide input about sanctions

Next Steps


“We are making great strides in promoting the

policies that are in place, reviewing them yearly and

providing services to those who need

them.”

“We need a consistent, structured

educational program that is

regularly assessed.”

Next Steps


“The department solely responsible for sexual violence

prevention is a combined

department: health education, wellness and the women's center.”

“Funding [is] necessary to implement initiatives.”

“…Money is a large concern.”

More Information


More information about CONNSACS, the Connecticut College Consortium Against Sexual Assault (CCASA), and a

copy of the Report Card can be found at www.connsacs.org

We would like to thank Southern Connecticut State University’s Public Health Department, members of CCASA, and the Steering Committee members of the

Connecticut Campus Coalition to End Violence Against Women (CCCEV) for their support of the 2012 Campus

Report Card.

http://www.connsacs.org/

Beth [email protected]

(860) 282-9881

incidence of sexual violence on campus toll-free sexual assault hotline: 888-999-5545 (english)...

Documents