Addressing Sexual Assault on Campus: Prevention Programs for Undergraduates

Sexual assault on college campuses is a serious issue that demands comprehensive and effective prevention strategies. Universities across the nation are implementing various programs aimed at educating students, promoting healthy relationships, and fostering a culture of respect. This article explores the landscape of sexual assault prevention programs for undergraduates, examining different approaches, student perspectives, and key components of successful initiatives.

The Landscape of Prevention Programs

Many universities now mandate sexual assault prevention education for incoming students. These programs often take the form of online courses that cover topics such as:

Healthy relationships
The importance of consent
Bystander intervention

For example, UAB requires all incoming students to complete EVERFI courses on Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates and AlcoholEdu. Similarly, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) mandates that all upcoming first-year undergraduate, transfer students, and graduate students complete Parts 1 & 2 of Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergrads and Graduate Students. Failure to complete these programs can result in a registration hold for the following semester.

The University of Iowa requires all incoming undergraduate and transfer students to complete an online sexual violence prevention course in two parts, as part of a larger credit course called Success at Iowa. These programs aim to help students protect themselves and others from sexual assault, harassment, stalking, and dating/domestic violence, as well as form healthy relationships.

Online Programs: Accessibility and Engagement

Online programs like "U Got This!" are designed as primary prevention educational resources about sexual and relationship violence.

These programs aim to reach a wide audience and provide a foundational understanding of key concepts.

U Got This!: This online program covers a range of topics, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. First-year and incoming transfer undergraduate students are typically required to complete this program.
GetWIse: At some universities, the GetWIse programs, designed by UHS Violence Prevention professional staff and student Peer Educators, help students explore violence prevention and survivor support topics more thoroughly on their own. There are four program topics to choose from, including: bystander intervention to prevent violence, healthy sexuality/sexual assault, respectful relationships/dating violence, and how to support a survivor of violence. Completing one GetWIse program is often required for all first-year and new transfer students and encouraged for all other undergraduates.
Sexual Violence Prevention for Students: The Sexual Violence Prevention for Students programs are interactive online programs designed to help students protect themselves and others from sexual assault, harassment, stalking, and dating/domestic violence, as well as form healthy relationships. The program also focuses on bystander intervention skills to help students feel empowered to speak up and intervene to prevent potentially violent situations from occurring. Students learn what constitutes sexual misconduct, how to intervene when they see it, and what resources are available if it happens to them or someone that they know. The program incorporates various interactive videos and real-life stories.

While online programs offer convenience and accessibility, some students find them less engaging than in-person sessions. As one student noted, "If it’s online, people skip through it…we’ve had [online trainings] in the past…and part of it’s timed, so you can’t hit the ‘next’ button until a certain amount of seconds. People turn off their sound for videos."

In-Person Programs: Fostering Dialogue and Connection

In-person programs can offer a more interactive and engaging learning experience. These programs often incorporate:

Small-group discussions
Role-playing exercises
Guest speakers

Some programs are facilitated by trained peer educators, which can help students feel more comfortable and connected to the material.

The University of Iowa, for example, provides Violence Prevention Education for Fraternities and Sororities. In conjunction with the Women’s Resource Action Center, all New Members must complete Level 1 of Violence Prevention Education, which discusses affirmative consent practices in a sex-positive framework and offers students concrete examples of ways to incorporate enthusiastic consent into their lives.

Read also: Guide to Female Sexual Wellness

Students in qualitative studies have expressed a preference for in-person programs delivered in small, co-ed groups of unfamiliar students. They appreciate the opportunity for candid conversation about SA outcomes and prevention strategies.

Key Components of Effective Programs

Research and student feedback suggest that effective sexual assault prevention programs share several key characteristics:

1. Peer Facilitation

Many students prefer programs facilitated by trained, relatable peers. As one student explained, "I feel like [it should be led by] a student. [For] a lot of students, as soon as a person of authority comes up, they shut down." Peer facilitators can create a more comfortable and open environment for discussion.

2. Small Group Settings

Small group settings allow for more personal interaction and facilitate deeper engagement with the material. Students have expressed that small groups (15-30 people) can make people uncomfortable, especially with a heavy topic like SA.

3. Co-Ed Audiences

The majority of participants preferred for an in-person program to be offered to a co-ed audience, rather than separated based on sex or gender. As one student noted, "I think co-ed, because it happens to both men and women, and it’s a pretty universal problem. You don’t want to just blame men for doing it, or blame females."

Read also: Preventing Sexual Abuse

4. Honest and Serious Conversation

Students value programs that facilitate free-flowing, honest, and serious conversations about sexual assault. This includes creating a safe space for students to share their thoughts and experiences, as well as addressing common misconceptions about sexual assault.

5. Comprehensive Content

Effective programs should cover a range of topics, including:

Defining sexual assault and related terms
Understanding consent
Bystander intervention strategies
Resources for survivors
The role of alcohol and other substances in sexual assault

Informing students about the linkage between alcohol and SA is also important, but it should be done in a way so that it’s not seen like the university is telling students to not drink.

6. Survivor-Informed Approaches

Incorporating survivor testimonies can be a powerful way to humanize the issue of sexual assault and increase student engagement. As one student noted, "As soon as you have someone [in the room] that’s actually experienced [SA], all the joking, all the ‘Oh my gosh, I have to go to this program’ stops."

The Role of Technology and Social Media

While in-person programs are often preferred, technology and social media can play a supplementary role in sexual assault prevention efforts. Social media can be used to:

Raise awareness about sexual assault
Promote healthy relationships
Share resources for survivors
Facilitate online discussions

However, it is important to use social media responsibly and avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes or misinformation.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite the progress that has been made in recent years, there are still many challenges to overcome in the fight against sexual assault on college campuses. These challenges include:

Lack of funding for prevention programs
Resistance from some students and faculty
Difficulty in measuring the effectiveness of programs

To address these challenges, it is important to:

Increase funding for evidence-based prevention programs
Engage students and faculty in the development and implementation of programs
Develop better methods for evaluating the effectiveness of programs
Promote a culture of respect and accountability on college campuses

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