Prevention of sexual violence on college campuses

     The picture of prevention on campuses is as complex as the problem it tackles. Our knowledge of what works--and our understanding of what doesn't--is based on decades of advocacy, activism, and study. The best prevention tools will be those that are adapted most specifically to your campus, and also contain a framework of:

  • acknowledgement of the extent of the problem;
  • thorough, ongoing prevention initiatives integrated into campus life;
  • a focus on environment and social change, thereby going to the source of the problem;
  • inclusive of all people, with students at the forefront.
     When implementing any new, comprehensive sexual violence prevention program, you will see an uptick in reports. This is not to be feared, but something to be prepared for; it is actually a good thing. It is not an indication that the incidence of sexual violence has increased. Rather, it means that the rates of reporting have increased, more people are getting the help they need, and the likelihood that a repeat offender (rapists in college settings generally average 5.8 rapes each)1 will be stopped is elevated.

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What Does Sexual Violence Prevention Look Like on a College Campus?

Programs and Projects

  • A Safer Campus: A Guidebook for Prevention and Response to Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking  This guidebook from the Ohio Department of Health identifies key best practices to prevent and respond to sexual and intimate partner violence and stalking on campuses. http://www.nsvrc.org/publications/safer-campus-guidebook-prevention-and-response-sexual-and-intimate-partner-violence-and
    Tags: Campus   Prevention  Toolkit 
  • Clery Center for Security on Campus  CCSOC is dedicated to preventing violence, substance abuse and other crimes on college campuses across the US, and to compassionately assist the victims of these crimes. http://www.securityoncampus.org/
    Tags: Security  Coalition 
  • Inside Out Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives  Coaching can instill a sense of community; teach clearer and more empathetic communication; and advocate for healthy and constructive competition. http://www.insideoutcoachingbook.com/
    Tags: Athletes 
  • Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault  MNCASA is designed to assist local programs in providing state of the art advocacy and prevention programming and to affect public perception and policy in relation to sexual assault. http://www.mncasa.org
    Tags: Coalition 
  • National Sexual Violence Resource Center  The NSVRC collects and disseminates resources on sexual violence including statistics, research, position statements, statutes, training curricula, prevention initiatives and program information. http://nsvrc.org/
  • PAVE: Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment  A multi-chapter nonprofit organization that uses education and action to shatter the silence of sexual violence through targeted social, educational and legislative tactics. Start a chapter at your campus! http://pavingtheway.net/wordpress/
  • Safe Campus, Strong Voices  A national initiative for Campus Safety Awareness Month in September to raise awareness and increase advocacy on the issue of college sexual violence and the vast amount of under-reported cases as well as the injustices that many survivors face. http://www.wix.com/ange33/scsv
  • Sexual Violence Prevention and People with Disabilities  How do we meaningfully work within that community? What are some successful approaches? What knowledge do we need to begin or enrich a project? http://www.wcsap.org/sexual-violence-prevention-and-people-disabilities
  • She Fears You: Teaching College Men to End Rape (PDF:17pages/140KB)  College men can understand that they too are harmed by men's violence against women and can be motivated to examine their own socialization and behaviors and join with women. http://www.keithedwards.us/Edwards.Headrick.pdf
  • The Clothesline Project  The Clothesline Project is a visual display of shirts with messages and illustrations that have been designed by women survivors of violence or by someone who loves a woman who has been killed. http://www.clotheslineproject.org/
  • The Consensual Project  Brings students a fresh understanding of consent. The innovative curriculum, workshops, and website empower young people to incorporate consent into their daily lives. http://www.theconsensualproject.com/
  • The Men's Story Project  MSP is a public performance and community dialogue project that explores social ideas about masculinity and manhood, employing the arts for community-strengthening and social change. http://www.mensstoryproject.org/index.html
  • Using Student Orientation to Prevent Violence Against Women  Cost-effective examples of new student orientation as an entry point to a linked series of prevention efforts addressing violence across the school year and throughout the college experience. http://www.higheredcenter.org/services/training/webinars/using-new-student-orientation-to-prevent-violence-against-women
  • Walk a Mile in Her Shoes  Our mission is to create a unique and powerful public experience that educates individuals and communities about the causes of sexualized violence. http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/

Research and Data

  • Harvard University Panel on Sexual Assault on College Campuses  This forum, moderated by Marnie Shiels, Attorney Advisor for the Office on Violence Against Women, examined the prevalence, nature, and reporting of various types of sexual assault experienced by university students, including those perpetrated by "undetected" rapists, and discussed evidence-based prevention strategies. http://www.innovations.harvard.edu/xchat-transcript.html?chid=281
  • The Ecological Model of Health Behavior  This issue of Partners in Social Change explores the ecological model of health behavior. As the word 'ecological' implies, this structural model explores the relationship between human behavior and the environment. http://www.wcsap.org/ecological-model-health-behavior
  • The Sexual Victimization of College Women, US Department of Justice  The study estimates that a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes a year, a finding with serious policy implications for college administrators. http://www.nij.gov/pubs-sum/182369.htm
  • Understanding Sexual Violence Fact Sheet  A 2 page fact sheet about sexual violence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (PDF: 203KB, 2 pages) http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/SV_Factsheet-a.pdf

Grant Funding for Prevention

Role of Campus Security

Online Trainings and Webinars

  • OnLine Training Institute, End Violence Against Women International  Free trainings for professionals to expand their knowledge of cutting edge developments in the criminal justice and community response to nonstranger sexual assault. http://olti.evawintl.org/Courses.aspx
    Tags: Webinars  Response  Security 
  • Principles of Prevention, Centers for Disease Control  POP is free, for everyone interested in learning about violence prevention, the burden violence places on our society, and effective prevention efforts. http://vetoviolence.org/pop/prevention-main.html
    Tags: Webinars  Prevention 
  • Victim Assistance Training Online  A basic victim advocacy web-based training program that offers victim service providers and allied professionals the opportunity to acquire the basic skills and knowledge they need to better assist victims of crime. https://www.ovcttac.gov/vatonline/index.cfm
    Tags: Response  Security  Webinars 
  • learn@PreventConnect  PreventConnect welcomes you to this set of free courses and trainings, designed to grow and support a national community of practice for the prevention of sexual and domestic violence. http://learn.preventconnect.org/

Role of Alcohol and Other Drugs

Campus Sexual Violence Prevention Portal

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