According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, college campuses reported over 5,000 forcible sex offenses in 2013 – but a recent study shows that the actual number of offenses is estimated to be at least six times that number.
Rather than protect survivors and hold assailants accountable, colleges and universities are incentivized by the current federal laws to sweep cases under the rug. A recent survey of colleges and universities found that 41 percent of colleges have not conducted a single investigation of sexual violence on their campus in the past five years.
Currently, 118 universities are under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for alleged violations of Title IX related to the handling of sexual violence.
In recent years, college and university administrators have become increasingly concerned with Title IX, particularly the requirements related to sexual assault, harassment, and misconduct. Though Title IX was once thought of only in relation to college athletics, most student affairs professionals and higher education administrators will attest to the prominence of sexual misconduct discussions concerning Title IX. Administrators are now waiting to see if new legislation may change the expectations related to investigating and combating issues of sexual misconduct. As demonstrated by the quote from Senator Gillibrand’s website above, legislators and federal regulators are concerned with the number, and handling of, sexual misconduct cases.
As the information provided by Senator Gillibrand indicates, sexual misconduct on our campuses is occurring at a rapid rate, and higher education administrators are responsible for aiding survivors as well as adjudicating these cases. College and university leaders are being asked to do more and in many cases, accomplish new directives in the absence of new staff and funds. These new initiatives include providing new types and levels of education around issues of sexual misconduct, as well as increased awareness to protect students and support victims of sexual misconduct.
Much of the Title IX sexual misconduct discussion is also playing out in the courts, actions taken by the Department of Education, and increased social awareness on campuses. We are seeing numerous lawsuits; Office of Civil Rights (OCR) complaints and investigations; and protests, articles, and commentaries at the national, state, and local levels. Given the new dynamic of the sexual misconduct conversation, it is a difficult for administrators to navigate the delicate balance of meeting the needs of all campus constituents (students, faculty, staff, and surrounding communities), and many administrators find themselves searching for the best path forward on issues of sexual misconduct.
While there is no easy answer, it is important to continue to follow the current state and federal laws and campus policies, while watching and being prepared for changing requirements that may manifest in federal and state legislation. One hotly debated potential legislative outcome that is worthy of paying close attention to is requiring campus climate surveys.
A campus climate survey is an ideal way to understand the experiences of individuals on your campus as it pertains to sexual misconduct. The information gathered through a campus climate survey can serve as a guide for campus leaders to know how to better serve the university or college community. A climate survey may indicate aspects of campus interaction that are shining moments, while also providing areas in need of improvement.
The difficulty in administering a campus climate survey lies in crafting a survey that captures the necessary information, while being inclusive of all concerned parties. We, at eduOutcomes, have worked on crafting such a survey, but are, by no means, the only offering. We underwent a comprehensive and thorough development and review process to ensure that items were worded in a valid and inclusive manner. Additionally, feedback from current survey participants is routinely considered in reviews and updates to the survey. We encourage college and university administrators who are considering developing a climate survey to follow a similar, detailed process in crafting an instrument. While this may take longer to create the survey, it will aid in ensuring a reliable instrument.
Of course the most important piece of a climate survey is that after administrators collect the information, they must then act on the information. Those in the field of assessment know that data is only good if you use it. It is imperative to our students and campus community that data gathered from a campus climate survey be used to change the culture of a campus. Making informed decisions and using targeted initiatives based on data gathered from a campus climate survey will assist in changing the culture of a campus community in manner that will benefit everyone.
For more information on the creating a sexual misconduct survey, specifically pertaining to the challenges, see our blog on ACPA’s Convention Continued website
