Six Point Plan to Combat Sexual Assault

While the action items listed below have been completed, the University of Iowa continues to have a committed team working collaboratively to prevent sexual misconduct and violence, as well as provide support to survivors and hold offenders accountable. There is absolutely no place for these crimes on the UI campus.

Point 1: Crack down on offenders

Strategy, Tactics, and Updates

Tactics

  • Work is guided by the UI Comprehensive Education Model.

Updates

  • No updates at this time

Updates

  • Complete. All offenders found responsible for policy violations are sanctioned.

Updates

Updates

Updates

  • Complete. Board of Regents appeal process is compliant with Title IX.

Point 2: Increase support for survivors

Strategy, Tactics, and Updates

Updates

  • Office of the Sexual Misconduct Response Coordinator (OSMRC) facilitates academic accommodations to support success and persistence throughout student’s enrollment.

 

Updates

  • Direct service providers currently receive training. The Anti-Violence Coalition offers monthly training for campus judicial members; training is open to other community and university partners. 

Updates

  • Complete
  • Communicated with our congressional offices.
    Provided institutional funding for portion of SANE program.

Tactics

  • The UI Police Department developed a sexual assault response guarantee for survivors of sexual assault. (April 2015) http://police.uiowa.edu/police/sexual-assault-response-guarantee
  • “Soft space” interview room at UIPD dedicated; designed to decrease stress and anxiety for survivors reporting sexual assault and other crimes to law enforcement. (November 2015)
  • Beginning in spring 2016, University Counseling Services (UCS) implemented 30 minute same-day appointments to speak with a counselor about an immediate crisis, get support, identify coping strategies, and specify next steps toward the resolution of the crisis. These walk-in or scheduled appointments are available every afternoon and provide the UCS a mechanism to increase the number of appointments available and greater agility to respond to students needs by determining which services would be most helpful.

Point 3: Improve prevention and education

Strategy, Tactics, and Updates

Updates

  • 2.5 FTE funded (1 at RVAP, 1.5 at WRAC). All positions have been filled.

Updates

  • The UI Anti-violence Coalition’s Campus Education Subcommittee established four goals to advance comprehensive, evidence-informed prevention education strategies to end interpersonal violence in the campus community.

Updates

  • President’s Student Advisory Committee on Sexual Misconduct met with representatives from UI Department of Public Safety, UISG, and Facilities Management to discuss the nature and scope of safety walks. The committee agreed safety walks should be completed across multiple dimensions of safety, including but not limited to, sexual misconduct.
  • Facilities Management has conducted photometric studies and made lighting upgrades in the following locations:
    • the north side of the Seamans Center along Washington Street
    • the path and bridge that connect Boyd Law Building to the Myrtle Hill parking lot
    • the north side of the College of Public Health Building drive
    • parking lot and sidewalk
    • the areas connecting Parking Lot 13 with the Quadrangle Hall, Hillcrest Hall, Rienow Hall and Pharmacy Building.
  • For capital improvement projects, a site survey is conducted prior to design development to identify exterior lighting requirements in accordance with the UI Design Standards. Projects that impact existing exterior lighting are assessed throughout the duration of the project to ensure appropriate and safe lighting conditions are maintained.

Updates

  • Complete. Additional van was purchased in March 2014; ridership has nearly doubled.

Point 4: Improve communication

Strategy, Tactics, and Updates

Updates

  • Updated internal search function and added more prominent links to OSMRC and other safety and support resources from the UI Homepage.

Updates

  • Added more prominent action links and contact information to OSMRC site and added additional information to UI police site.

Updates

  • Revised language to include a “trigger warning” to alert survivors and stronger language about potential consequences for people who commit sexual offenses.
  • In August 2015, updated to include suggestions from the President’s Student Advisory Committee on Sexual Misconduct:
    • Use a “friendly” opening salutation
    • Have the TW signed by the interim chief of UIPD
    • Move the Clery disclosure statement to the bottom
    • Link to university policy about what constitutes consent
  • Information was also put into easier to digest sections, such as “How to report” and “How to get help.”

Point 5: Add funding

Strategy, Tactics, and Updates

Updates

  • Awarded FY 2014 Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women $300,000 Campus Grant.

Updates

  • Resources have been added (Nite Ride, SANE program, prevention education)
  • The above FY 2014 grant has helped to 1) bolster coordination of pre-orientation, orientation, and post-orientation prevention education strategies, 2) enhance campus readiness for response to dating violence, 3) advance investigative expertise for campus law enforcement and judicial administrators, 4) promote culturally relevant prevention and intervention strategies and 5) strengthen victim safety and offender accountability through evidence-based sanctioning.

Point 6: Listen more and report back

Strategy, Tactics, and Updates

Updates

  • Group has formed – group is meeting regularly
  • Use the president’s website to provide updates on this plan. Updates have been posted.