Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS) Whittier College Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey Prepared by the Title IX Committee and the Office of Institutional Research Assessment November 2017 Background All Whittier College
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Presentation Transcript
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Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS) Whittier College Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey Prepared by the Title IX Committee and the Office of Institutional Research & Assessment November 2017<br>
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Background All Whittier College students were sent four invitation emails by various student leaders, administrators, and faculty members from February 6 to March 20 of 2017. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. HEDS did not allow incentives for participation or adjustment of the survey questions. Students were provided with supportive resources and options for reporting sexual assault to the College and police in their invitation to participate, as well as after taking the survey.<br>
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2017 Survey Demographics Total WC students emailed: 1,523 WC Response Rate: 13% (200) | Small Institution Response Rate: 23%
Class Standing: Freshman/First Year: 28% | Sophomore: 28% | Junior: 18% | Senior: 27%
Residence: 50% on campus | 50% off campus<br>
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2016 Survey Demographics Total WC students emailed: 1,613 WC Response Rate: 20% (323) | National Response Rate: 21%
Class Standing: Freshman/First Year: 26% | Sophomore: 15% | Junior: 31% | Senior: 27%
Residence: 49% on campus | 51% off campus<br>
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Contents of the Survey The Sexual Assault Climate Survey was broken into four different sections:
General Campus Climate
Response to Difficult or Dangerous Situations
Views on Sexual Assault at Your Institution
Views on Institutional Response to Report of Sexual Assault<br>
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General Campus Climate Percent that “agree” or “strongly agree”<br>
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Campus Climate - Reporting Sexual Assault Percent that “agree” or “strongly agree”<br>
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Education and Outreach Answered “yes” to having received information or education about…<br>
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Definitions in HEDS Survey: Sexual Assault and Unwanted Sexual Contact Unwanted verbal behaviors – such as someone making sexual comments about your body; someone making unwelcome sexual advances, propositions, or suggestions to you; or someone telling you sexually offensive jokes or kidding about your sex or gender-specific traits.
Unwanted nonverbal behaviors – such as sending you sexual emails, texts, or pictures; posting sexual comments about you on blogs or social media; showing you sexually offensive pictures or objects; leering at you or making lewd gestures towards you; or touching oneself sexually in front of you.
Unwanted brief physical contact – such as someone briefly groping you, rubbing sexually against you, pinching you, or engaging in any other brief inappropriate or unwelcome touching of your body.
Sexual assault includes touching of a sexual nature, oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex, anal or vaginal penetration with a body part other than a penis or tongue, or by an object, like a bottle or candle.<br>
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Rates of Unwanted Verbal Behaviors (Sexual Comments/Advances, etc.) Since starting College, considering incidents that happened on campus, at an event/program connected with the College, or at a social activity or party near campus. Sometimes 21% Sometimes 19% Often/Very Often 10% Often/Very Often 8% Sometimes 22% Sometimes 21% Often/Very Often 8.7%<br>
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Rates of Unwanted Brief Physical Contact (Groping/Rubbing, etc.) Since starting College, considering incidents that happened on campus, at an event/program connected with the College, or at a social activity or party near campus. Sometimes
9% Sometimes
10% Often/Very Often 7% Often/Very Often 5% Sometimes
13% Never/Rarely 82% Never/Rarely 85% Never/Rarely 87% Never/Rarely 83% Sometimes
10% Often/Very Often 6% Often/Very Often 4%<br>
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Rates of Students Experiencing an Attempted Sexual Assault Since starting at Whittier College, have you been sexually assaulted while you were (a) on campus; (b) off campus at an event or program connected with Whittier College, including study abroad and internships; or (c) at a social activity or party near campus such as at an apartment, restaurant, or bar?. Yes 10% Yes 9% Not Sure 5% Not Sure 4% No 87% Yes 11% Yes 10% No 87% No 84% No 83% Not Sure 4% Not Sure 7%<br>
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Limitations of Survey There is no distinction between urban, suburban, and rural college
“Small Colleges” are defined as less than 8,000 students
Whittier College has a large commuter student population compared to other small, private institutions
Men are underrepresented in survey sample
Survey did not include questions about violence other than sexual violence that could also impact student perception of safety
Staff, faculty, administrators, and campus officials are all evaluated in this survey but the terms are undefined and sometimes undistinguished<br>
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Next Steps After receiving the results in Fall 2017, the Office of Institutional Research & Assessment, and Title IX Committee met to discuss the results and devise a plan, including:
Meet with various groups to discuss the results, including Senior Staff, Faculty Executive Committee, ASWC, and other Student Groups. Possibly repeat the survey in Spring 2019 to assess trends.
Develop a plan to address key areas of concern in Fall 2017.<br>
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Resources For full results of the survey, visit www.whittier.edu/XXXX
For the Whittier College’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and Student Affairs Procedures, visit www.whittier.edu/SMAP
For resources for victims/survivors, visit www.whittier.edu/studentlife/victimsupport
For information about the Title IX Committee, visit www.whittier.edu/studentlife/titleix<br>
