The response rate for the University of Iowa’s 2017 Speak Out Iowa campus climate survey on sexual misconduct more than doubled from its first iteration, and data have been used to inform a new three-year campus plan developed by the UI Anti-Violence Coalition.

In fall 2017, all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students were invited to participate in the Speak Out Iowa survey. The UI again used the Administrator-Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3) survey. Nearly 7,000 students participated, resulting in a response rate of 22.8 percent, similar to response rates on other college campuses. The response rate for the 2015 survey was 9.3 percent.

“We thank the students who took the time to complete the survey, as their input continues to be at the core of the UI’s comprehensive strategy to respond to sexual misconduct, dating violence, and stalking on our campus,” says Melissa Shivers, vice president for student life. “The University of Iowa is steadfast in our commitment to create a community in which all of our students feel safe, secure, and free from harm.”

According to the 2017 survey, 17.2 percent of undergraduate female students and 6.1 percent of undergraduate male students reported being raped since enrolling at the UI, and a majority of students indicated the person who committed the act as someone who was known to them/non-stranger.

Some key findings include:

• Except for sexual harassment by faculty/staff, undergraduate students reported significantly higher rates of all types of sexual misconduct compared to graduate students.
• For female and male undergraduate students, there was a notable increase in all types of sexual violence victimization from the first to second year.
• For students who reported experiencing sexual violence victimization, alcohol and/or drug use prior to the incident is common for both the victim and perpetrator.
• Among UI students, bisexual men and women, lesbians, and gay men all reported significantly higher rates of several types of sexual misconduct compared to heterosexual students.
• Students were more likely to disclose their experience to informal supports (i.e., friends, roommate) than formal supports (i.e., an office, department, or agency that provides services to address sexual misconduct).

Survey data from 2017 have been used to inform a new three-year campus plan developed by the UI Anti-Violence Coalition. The plan was created in collaboration with a wide spectrum of campus stakeholders, including student leaders and shared governance representatives.

Some action items include:

• Ensuring campus prevention and education efforts meet the needs of racial and ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, international students, and LGBTQ communities on campus;
• Expanding student prevention and education so every student develops the   knowledge and skills to engage in healthy relationships, serve as active bystanders, respond effectively to disclosures, and report problems; and
• Identify and utilize a variety of mechanisms to collect campus feedback to inform policy review and revision, including working with the Student Advisory Committee on Sexual Misconduct and others.

The UI has a committed team working collaboratively to prevent sexual misconduct and violence, provide support to survivors, and hold offenders accountable—and the university will continue to tailor its efforts to address specific campus needs, including seeking input from those impacted, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

“The plan doesn’t reflect all the work being done on campus but rather additional work to address sexual misconduct, dating violence, and stalking. The work on these issues is never done,” says Monique DiCarlo, sexual misconduct response coordinator, Title IX coordinator, and chair of the Anti-Violence Coalition. “We’re looking forward to getting started on the new plan and are committed to providing an update on our progress each semester on the plan’s website.”

“We will use every available resource to combat sexual misconduct, dating violence, and stalking,” says Shivers. “Monique DiCarlo and the Anti-Violence Coalition have worked tirelessly on a plan for our campus, and their commitment to this work is unparalleled. I deeply appreciate their efforts. It’s on all of us to create a safe and healthy environment on our campus.”