To address sexual assault on college campuses, many universities have adopted affirmative consent. Despite the adoption of these policies, there has been little research understanding the nuances of sexual consent. Drawing from sexual script theory, this study uses qualitative methodology to explore how college students understand sexual consent.…

Schools are required to have written policies regarding the handling of sexual misconduct cases, but little research has examined the content of these policies. This study explored the content of Title IX sexual misconduct policies for 200 universities in the U.S. specifically assessing if the content is in line with the Title IX regulations set…

Objective: This study examined students' perceptions of campus environmental factors related to bystander intentions and behaviors, and if intentions mediated the relationship between students' perceptions and behaviors. Participants: Participants were 274 students at a southern university who observed a situation they believed was, or could lead…

Objective: Few studies have compared measures of sexual misconduct reporting, and there are few assessments of campus policies on reporting. Methods: Using data from New York institutions of higher education (IHEs) (N = 209) we compare the number of sexual misconduct incidents reported in Annual Security Reports (ASRs) and to Title IX…

Sexual assault on college campuses has been a longstanding problem in the USA. Unfortunately, relatively little has been done to look at the characteristics of these attacks and how they might relate to knowledge of sexual assault policies, participation in sex education courses, beliefs toward sexual violence, and willingness to intervene if an…

Objective: College students are a high-risk population for sexual assault exposure. This study examines (1) sociodemographic differences in student perceptions of institutions of higher education (IHEs) responses to sexual assault reporting and (2) the relationship between student perceptions, knowledge of campus sexual assault (CSA) services, and…

Underreporting of sexual assault on college campuses is a growing concern for institutions of higher education. Amnesty clauses in Title IX policies intend to reduce barriers to reporting, encouraging victims and witnesses to come forward with any knowledge or experience of an incident of sexual assault. However, little research has been conducted…

Many sexual assault education/prevention initiatives focus on sexual consent. However, little is known about how key recipients of such endeavors (i.e. college men) understand sexual consent. Using in-depth interviews, this study examined how 40 racially/ethnically diverse heterosexual college men conceptualized sexual consent. Using inductive…

To respond to the epidemic of sexual assault on college campuses, many postsecondary institutions have instituted campus climate surveys, strengthened sexual assault misconduct policies, and created sexual assault task forces to coordinate entities "within" the institutional setting. However, few colleges and universities have engaged…

Addressing the widespread problem of sexual assault in college environments requires both prevention programming and policies addressing sexual misconduct in institutions of higher education. Through the Campus Sexual Assault Policy and Prevention Initiative, nine programs funded by the Office on Women's Health approached this problem within a…

As universities face unprecedented pressure to respond to sexual violence, this article critically analyses how they engage with intersectionality in their responses. Based on research in the Canadian province of Ontario, I demonstrate that universities' commitments to intersectionality often fail to translate into practice. This failure results…

Recently, the federal government and colleges have sought new remedies to combat campus sexual assault (CSA). Additionally, there have been calls for shifts in college culture. For this reason, an understanding of attitudes about these policies and reforms is needed. To that end, the study examines three questions. First, to what extent does the…

Campus sexual violence activists (CSVAs) work to challenge their campuses by actively opposing rape culture, changing policies and practices, and educating their peers to prevent sexual violence. Despite renewed activism on campuses, little is known about how CSVAs conceive of their identities, and how their identities change through the…

Objective: Sexual violence within the collegiate environment is a pressing issue within American society. One way to address sexual violence is through the adaptation and implementation of a sexual assault policy by colleges and universities. The purpose of this study is to review sexual misconduct and assault policies of ten public universities…

Over the last decade, sexual violence in higher education has been a focus for colleges and universities, student activists, parents and families, and the media alike. As institutions responded to these complaints and students demanded action and accountability, it became clear there were too few resources available to address this issue.…