Sexual Misconduct

1. Sexual Misconduct Keri Cerda ● Whitley Denson ● Sarah Nyquist ● Yeni Vasquez

2. Overview • Facts and Figures • History of sexual misconduct policies and prevention • Creating a compliant policy • Best practices against sexual misconduct • Best practices for the Board of Governors • Immediate goals • Questions

3. Facts and figures Anyone can be a victim of rape or sexual assault. But some are more at risk than others: • Nearly 20% of undergraduate women in college will be victims of attempted or actual sexual assault • As will about 6% of undergraduate men • Women ages 20-24 are at highest risk for dating violence • Women ages 18-24 are at highest risk of stalking • Approximately 80% of female victims experienced their first rape before the age of 25 • Almost half experienced their first rape before age 18 • Victims of sexual assault are more likely to suffer academically and from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, to abuse alcohol and drugs, and to contemplate suicide. • Most assaults and intended assaults are never reported • On average only 12% of student victims report the assault • Sexual assault between acquaintances lessens the likelihood of reporting and disclosure • Sexual violence harms an institution’s reputation and finances

4. History of sexual misconduct & prevention • IHEs began to notice that survivors of sexual misconduct were reporting issues to student life areas instead of police • 1970sSexual violence prevention programs (SARVPP) were initiated at IHEs • 1974Burgess and Holmstrom coined the term Rape Trauma Syndrome for advocates and counselors to have a framework for understanding the experiences of sexual rape victims • 1980sMore awareness of sexual misconduct sparked more programs • Mid-1990sIHEs began to address relationship violence • Initially hesitant to address because it was perceived as only affecting heterosexual marriages • 1990Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Campus Security Act) were signed into law • Required IHEs to annually report incidents of violent crime to DOE • 1992Act was amended to include Campus Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights • Required all IHEs receiving federal funding to provide victims with basic rights • 1994Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provided federal funding to IHEs to prevent violence

5. Creating a compliant policy Title IX Clery Act Prohibits discrimination on basis of sex in any federally-funded education program or activity Action once institutions know or reasonably should know about sexual misconduct Protect the complainant Grievance procedures and equal opportunity Education and Training New students, faculty, staff Residence hall staff Athletics Campus-wide campaign Annual reporting of statistics Criminal Homicide Forcible and non-forcible sex offenses Aggravated assault Domestic violence (new) Dating violence (new) Stalking (new) Hate crimes, including those as a result of national origin and gender identity Public Crime Log updated regularly Victim names should be withheld if there is a threat to other students and employees Inform students of procedures victims should follow

6. Creating a compliant policy Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) SaVE Act Dictates components of institutional policy Training for new students and employees to promote awareness of: Rape Acquaintance rape Domestic violence Dating violence Sexual assault Stalking Conduct officials must be trained on investigating in a manner that protects safety of victims and promotes accountability of offenders Purpose Education efforts should be made at three different times using a variety of methods Pre-arrival to campus (e.g., SOAR, email communication, new student informational packets, etc.) Arrival to campus (e.g., Welcome Week, required educational programming, etc.) Ongoing (e.g., Major student activity or athletic events, awareness weeks/months, speakers to campus, etc.) Campus policies and codes of conduct should be revisited Sound campus policy and procedures should aim to eliminate sexual assault and its devastating consequences

7. Best Practices Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention Programs (SARVPP) Dear Colleague Letter Mission SARVPPs Must: Provide a range of crisis intervention, advocacy, education, training, and prevention programs and services that meet student needs Identify learning outcomes in 6 domains Be intentional, provide assessment, and improve programs and services Provide policies and carry out all protocols Provide survivor services without concern for whether survivor seeks legal intervention Promise confidentiality Guidance for sexual violence cases Guidance/examples about key Title IX requirements and how they relate to sexual violence Requirements to publish a policy against sex discrimination Designate a Title IX Coordinator Adopt and publish grievance procedures Discusses proactive efforts IHES can take to prevent sexual violence Discusses interplay between Title IX, FERPA, and Clery Act

8. BEST PRACTICES Policies should consider: Counseling and Training Employing and training Title IX Coordinator Advocates or liaisons Establishing a committee to conduct campus climate survey of sexual misconduct awareness/rape culture Educating students through freshman orientation, returning student orientation, and programs/workshops for awareness Developing and distributing information to campus through electronic media and brochures Who is protected by and effected by the policy (e.g., students, faculty, vendors, etc.)

9. BEST PRACTICES • Regular assessment of programs and policies • Ensuring campus resource locations are trained and supported • Housing information in a common location, accessible to faculty, staff, students, and parents (website) • Partnering with nearby institutions • Emphasizing reporting over consequences for other violations, such as underage drinking • American Association of University Professors (AAUP ): The freedom to teach is inseparable from the maintenance of a safe and hospitable learning environment • Faculty support in accommodating victims of sexual misconduct regarding class, exams, projects, etc.

10. Best Practices Taking Action to Break the Circle of Violence White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault Create an interagency network for collaboration and information-sharing among key federal agencies and local colleges and universities Discuss best practices to prevent sexual assault Provide support for victims Ensure addressing the needs of victims who have historically been overlooked (LGBT, immigrants, tribes, etc.) Provide educational institutions with best proactive and reactive practices Mandate educational institutions’ full compliance to their legal obligations Improve transparency of the government’s enforcement activities Increase the public’s awareness of an institution’s track record in addressing the issue Enhance coordination among federal agencies to hold schools accountable if they do not confront sexual violence in their campuses.

11. Best practices of the Board • Stakeholders should be educated and invested in this effort for it to be truly effective • Continue to focus on campus sexual assault • Remain well informed on the topic, especially as it relates to the campus • A top-down administrative approach is crucial to the success of any programming/campaign • Examine current campus culture and work to improve it • Continually assess and evaluate current policies and procedures for effectiveness • Support prevention programs • 1 is 2 Many Campaign (get men involved) • Circle of 6 app • When the professor is away • Physical and electronic prevention (campus lighting, widespread distribution and publication of campus security information) • Be transparent • Publicize efforts (press releases, brochures, posters, radio and video posts, and web-based messages) • Incident-reporting guidelines

12. Immediate goals • Begin working toward a campus culture of intolerance toward sexual violence and misconduct • Violence prevention can’t just focus on the perpetrators and the survivors. It has to involve everyone. • Increase reporting • Revisit policies and procedures regarding sexual misconduct on campus • Assess feasibility of potential campus-wide campaigns and educational tools

13. Questions?