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Sexual Violence Prevention Survey Results

In Spring 2023, Stony Brook University conducted a survey about the prevention of sexual violence to comply with New York State Education Law 129-B, which requires public universities to survey students, faculty and staff about a variety of issues related to the prevention of sexual violence.* By SUNY policy this uniform survey ascertains faculty and staff awareness of policies and resources, and student experience with and knowledge of reporting and college adjudicatory processes for sexual harassment, including sexual violence and other related crimes.

Both the student version and employee versions of the survey were conducted at the population level and were respectively sent to all students, faculty, and staff. The survey administrations yielded a 5% response rate for students (1,307 responded out of 24,322 surveyed) and a 28% response rate for employees (2,039 responded out of 7,246 surveyed).

Results indicated that students, faculty, and staff are well aware of the policies and laws, and resources. There are also findings to suggest that still more information, outreach and follow-up is needed to provide up-to-date access and resources to students, faculty, and staff.

Summary Findings

 

Faculty and Staff

  • 95% of faculty and staff indicated they know how to report incidents of sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic/dating violence, or stalking.
  • 98% of faculty and staff recall one or more on-campus and community resources related to sexual assault.
  • 97% of faculty and staff indicated they were aware of policies and procedures at the University addressing sexual assault.
  • 94% of faculty and staff strongly agreed or agreed that Stony Brook would take the report seriously if they reported a student complaint of sexual violence
  • 92% of faculty and staff indicated it was very likely or likely they would call for help (e.g. call 911) if they hear a neighbor yelling for help; 67% indicated they were very likely or likely to talk to a student they suspect is in an abusive relationship.
  • 3% of faculty and staff indicated that in the past year, they themselves had received unwanted sexually suggestive digital communications, letters, or written communications.

 

Students

  • 93% of students were able to identify on-campus and community resources related to sexual assault.
  • 84% students were aware that consent cannot be given by someone who is incapacitated.
  • 85% of students indicated they were aware of policies and procedures at the University addressing sexual assault.
  • 70% students stated they knew how to report an incident of sexual violence to the University.
  • 78% of students indicated they were aware of SUNY’s affirmative consent definition.

A campus committee has reviewed all results and will hold a meeting with various University leaders to review specific results and to further detail recommendations based on the findings.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Stony Brook’s Office of Equity and Access (website:  http://www.stonybrook.edu/oea, email:  OEA@stonybrook.edu.

For information regarding reporting sexual misconduct, please visit our website at www.stonybrook.edu/reportit

* In 2021, SUNY changed the title of this survey from "The SUNY Sexual Violence Prevention Survey" to the "Climate Survey"; Stony Brook University continues to refer to this instrument using its original name because of the narrow focus of the survey instrument on sexual violence prevention.

Comparison of Student and Employee Responses 

Survey Items of Student and Employee findings. Survey Item 1, My Campus has policies and procedures specifically addressing sexual assault, (answering yes) Students are at 85% while Employees are at 97%. Survey Item 2 - Have you recieved written and/or verbal information about the following (multi-select) for How to report sexual assualt for students 69% and for employee 93%, where to go get help if you or someone you know is sexually assualted for students 65% for employee 90%, the definition of sexual assualt for students 64% for employee 89%, policies prohibiting sexual assualt for students 64% for employee 88%, to whom you can speak confidentially about sexual assualt for students 61% for employees 88%, "to my knowledge, I have not recieved information regarding any of the above for students 17% for employees 5%. Survey Item 3 - Do you know how to contact the Title IX Coordinator? (Answering yes) for students 42% and for employees 80%. Survey Item 4 - Which are the roles of a Title IX Coordinator in regards to sex discrimination/sexual assualt/sexual misconduct? (multi-select), recieving reports for students 75% and for employees 92%, coordinating campus responses for students 67% and for employees 84%, ensuring training education is provided to the campus community for students 65% and for employees 86%, providing reporting individuals with accommodations and services for students 63% and for employees 73%

Second Graph. Survey Item 5 - Please indicate your awareness of the following on-campus and community resources: (multi-select). University police or public safety students report 78%, and employees report 96%, campus health services students report 75%, and employees report 84%, counseling center students report 68%, and employees report 79%, office of student conduct students report 53%, and employees report 62%, local police/sheriff students report 51%, and employees report 71%, local health services (including hospitals) students report 51%, and employees report 69%, human resources students report 38%, and employees report 85%, peer counselors students report 33%, and employees report 39%, campus advocacy center students report 30%, and employees report48%, local crisis center students report 21%, and employees report 36%, health educator students report 20%, and employees report 30%, local advocacy center students report 16%, and employees report 28%, none of the above students report 7%, and employees report 2%. Survey Item 6 - can someone who is incapacitated provide consent? (answering no) students report 84%, and employees report 82%. Survey item 7 - Do you know the definition of affirmative consent? (Answering yes) students report 78%, and employees report 85%. Survey Item 8 - Do you know the difference between the college disciplinary process and the criminal justice system? (answering "yes") students report 57%, and employees report 79%. Survey Item 9 - Do you know about SUNY's alcohol and or drug amnesty policy in reporting sexual violence? (Answering "yes") students report 50%, and employees report 44%. Survey Item 10 - During the last year, have you experienced...unwanted sexual comments, sexual slurs, or demeaning jokes? (Answering "yes") students report 18%, and employees report 5%.  Data source: SUNY Campus Climate Survey SVP Dashboard. Prepared by the Students Affairs CRAFT Team and the Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness on September 14, 2023.