Title IX

On April 17, 2023, our campus began an online administration of the Sexual Violence Prevalence (SVP) Campus Climate Survey.  This survey was administered to students and employees and is required to address, at minimum, student and employee knowledge about:

• The Title IX Coordinator’s role;
• Campus policies and procedures addressing sexual assault;
• How and where to report sexual violence as a victim/survivor or witness;
• The availability of resources on and off campus, such as counseling, health, academic assistance;
• The prevalence of victimization and perpetration of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking on and off campus during a set time period (for example, the last two years);
• Bystander attitudes and behavior;
• Whether victims/survivors reported to the College/University and/or police, and reasons why they did or did not report.
• The general awareness of the difference, if any, between the institution’s policies and the penal law; and
• The general awareness of the definition of affirmative consent.

In reviewing the results, we highlight that the survey indicated that students are less aware than anticipated of the relevant campus support services available to them, including not being aware of the college’s Title IX Coordinator. The survey also indicated that 44.7% of student and 86.7% of staff respondents are aware of the campus policies and procedures, addressing sexual assault.  

• Of the 297 students who responded, only 13.4% knew of the Title IX Coordinators role on campus.
• Of the 234 employees who responded, 42.8% knew of the Title IX Coordinators role on campus.

The college has reviewed this information and is launching greater student engagement at new student orientation, and providing additional information in the returning student onboarding to ensure students are aware of how to contact the college’s Title IX Coordinator, and what role they provide.If you have any questions about the survey or the results included in this report, please contact Kimberli Cruell 716-270-5279.

The SVP survey is administered every other year by all SUNY campuses, who work closely with SUNY System Administration to coordinate the survey administration itself.  An effort is made to keep the questions from one administration to the next as consistent as possible to allow for reliable and meaningful longitudinal data.  System-wide IRB review takes place for each survey administration.

Our campus administered the student and employee survey between April 17, 2023, and May 7, 2023.   Excluded survey populations were individuals under 18 years of age, all incarcerated individuals regardless of age, and all students concurrently enrolled in high school regardless of age.  The survey was sent to all eligible survey participants, through email communication, and the campus offered no incentives for participation.

The college will be utilizing these results to improve communication around the importance of sexual assault prevention including providing educational materials regarding terminology that could be interpreted as unwanted sexual comments, sexual slurs or demeaning jokes. The college will also be improving communications regarding where to turn should you become a victim of sexual assault.

SUNY Erie sent 5,628 surveys to eligible students. Of this number, we received 297 responses for a response rate of 5.2%.

AWARENESS OF POLICIES AND REPORTING OPTIONS

A majority of respondents were aware of SUNY Erie policies regarding sexual violence:

• 44.7% knew that SUNY Erie has policies and procedures specifically addressing sexual assault.
• 55.6% were aware of the difference between SUNY Erie’s disciplinary procedure and the criminal justice system.
• 66.2% knew the definition of Affirmative Consent.

A lower percentage (13.2%) were aware of how to contact SUNY Erie’s Title IX Coordinator.

Most student respondents knew how to report sexual violence to SUNY Erie:

• 24.0% knew how to report a sexual assault to SUNY Erie.
• 23.2% knew how to report sexual harassment.
• 22.0% were aware of how to report domestic violence and dating violence.

A higher percentage of students (72.4%) did not know how to report sexual violence.

In terms of where people can report:

• 54.3% of students were aware of University Police.
• 13.5% knew they could report to the Title IX Coordinator.

The majority knew about supportive offices as an option for disclosure, including Counseling Services (45.2%), and the Student Health Center (36.0%).

The majority of students reported receiving written or verbal information about sexual violence policies and reporting, including:

• The definition of sexual assault (13.4%)
• How to report a sexual assault (12.2%)
• Where to go to get help after experiencing a sexual assault (15.1%)
• To whom one can speak confidentially about a sexual assault (10.1%)

SUNY Erie sent surveys to eligible faculty and staff. The survey received 234 responses for a response rate of 17.8%. 60.7% of respondents were faculty, and 38.5% were staff or administrators (the remaining 0.8% did not identify employee type). 

AWARENESS OF POLICIES AND REPORTING OPTIONS

A high percentage of respondents were aware of SUNY Erie policies regarding sexual violence:

• 86.7% knew that SUNY Erie has policies and procedures specifically addressing sexual assault.
• 61.5% were aware of the difference between confidentiality and privacy.
• 75.3% knew the definition of Affirmative Consent

A lower percentage (40%) were aware of the amnesty policy regarding alcohol and/or drug use in reporting sexual violence.

Most faculty and staff knew how to report sexual violence to SUNY Erie:

• 72.7% knew how to report a sexual assault to SUNY Erie.
• 77.3% were aware of how to report domestic violence and dating violence.

In terms of where people can report:

• 89% of faculty and staff were aware of Pubic Safety.
• 42.4% knew about the Title IX Coordinator.
• 87.1% knew about Human Resources as a reporting option.

Most faculty and staff reported receiving written or verbal information about sexual violence policies and reporting, including:

• The definition of sexual assault (72.7%)
• How to report a sexual assault (72.7%)
• Where to go to get help after experiencing a sexual assault (68.4%)
• To whom one can speak confidentially about a sexual assault (61.5%)

STUDENT DISCLOSURES TO FACULTY AND STAFF

8.6% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that during the past year, a student or students disclosed an unwanted sexual experience, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. 91.4% reported that they did not receive a disclosure. Of the individuals who did receive a disclosure, 33.3% reported the incident to an office on campus and 46.6% did not report the incident, with 13.3% preferring not to respond.

Faculty and staff reported disclosing the incident to the following offices:

• Title IX Coordinator (30.0%)
• University Police (30.0%)
• Counseling Services (20.0%)
• Student Affairs (10.0%)
• Other Office (10.0%)

37.5% of faculty and staff who did not disclose the incident reported that this was because they were a confidential resource. The remainder did not provide a reason.

READINESS TO HELP

Most faculty and staff have confidence in SUNY Erie’s investigatory process and ability to provide supportive measures.

• 79.4% agree or strongly agree that Erie would take a report of sexual violence seriously.
• 69.3% agree or strongly agree that Erie would conduct a fair investigation.
• 66.3% agree or strongly agree that Erie would provide the student with the necessary support through the process.

Similarly, most faculty and staff reported an understanding of Erie’s processes for addressing sexual violence. 74.4% agreed or strongly agreed that they would know how to advise a student who was sexually assaulted about where to get help on campus. 53.2% agreed or strongly agreed that they understood what happens when a student reports sexual assault at SUNY Erie.

The majority of faculty and staff had confidence in the willingness of their colleagues to assist in the event of an incident.

• 72.5% believe it is likely or very likely that an employee would call for help if they heard a neighbor yelling help.
• 61.7% believe it is likely or very likely an employee would talk to a student who they suspect is in an abusive relationship.
• 72.4% believe it is likely or very likely that an employee would get help and resources for a friend who tells them that they have been assaulted.
• 77.0% felt it is likely or very likely that an employee would tell a campus authority about information they have that might help in a sexual assault case even if they have been pressured not to disclose it.

FACULTY AND STAFF REPORTS OF UNWELCOME EXPERIENCES

Faculty and staff were asked about their own experiences with unwelcome sexual comments, slurs, and demeaning jokes, as well as unwelcome digital communications.

• 8.6% of faculty and staff respondents reported experiencing unwanted sexual comments, sexual slurs, or demeaning jokes. 91.4% stated that they did not experience this.

The faculty and staff who reported unwelcome experiences were also asked who engaged in this conduct. They reported the status of the perpetrators as follows: a student (42.1%), a faculty member (26.3%), a staff member (5%), someone from off-campus (5%). They also identified the following locations where the conduct occurred:

• In a classroom: 15.7%
• In an office on campus: 31.5%
• In another setting on campus: 26.3%
• At an off-campus location: 26.3%

The faculty and staff who reported unwelcome experiences were also asked whether they took action in response.

• 15.7% reported confronting the person who made the comments.
• 15.7% spoke to their supervisor.
• 10.5% reported the incident to another campus office.
• 31.8% stated that they had a different reaction (not specified).
• 26.3% took no action following the experience.

Overall the student knowledge of the Title IX Coordinator, their role, and the policies and procedures surrounding affirmative consent and sexual assault were much lower than in the 2021 survey.

Next Steps:

The college intends to increase student and staff awareness and experience with the college’s sexual and interpersonal violence policies and resources.

• Enhance student awareness of the Title IX office through increased presence at student events, during new student orientation and also continuing student onboarding communications.
• Continue to engage Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources and Title IX in planning meetings tasking them with supplying regular communications and trainings.