CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Detailed findings from a sexual misconduct survey administered to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign students are available at http://wecare.illinois.edu/. Sexual misconduct refers broadly to various forms of misconduct including sexual assault, stalking, sexual harassment and dating violence.
The Sexual Misconduct and Perceived Campus Response Climate survey was distributed in fall 2015 to the more than 44,000 students on campus at the time. While respondents reflect the demographic diversity of the campus, findings should be interpreted with caution given that only a small portion of students (about 6 percent) completed it.
Among the findings:
- Both women and men report experiences of sexual misconduct on campus including sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking/cyber harassment and dating violence.
- A significant number of students who are victims of some kind of sexual misconduct do not tell anyone.
- Students who tell someone most often confide in friends, family or others first.
- Students trust university officials to treat reports seriously and confidentially.
- Many are not aware of the campus resources for help and support.
The full report provides a detailed description of the survey design and methodology, survey response rates and survey responses, including the results to questions about peer responses, possible outcomes including well-being and engagement with academic work, affirmative consent, peer norms and bystander intervention.
“This research will advance our ongoing design and implementation of programs that educate and inform the campus community about issues that revolve around the concept of sexual misconduct,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Renée Romano. “Our objective was to gain a clearer picture of the perceptions students hold and of their awareness and use of resources. We have accomplished that near-term objective, but the work of enhancing campus safety is never-ending.”
Another survey will be distributed to students in 2017.
