IU Southeast Campus Climate Survey Results

Complete data and a summary of key findings can be found in the full report. As with any voluntary study, results reflect only the reponses of survey participants. Response bias is expected, given the sensitive nature of the topic. Repondents who completed at least 50% of the survey, were age 18 or older, and identify as male or female are included. While the data is not a complete representation of the experiences of all undergraduate and graduate students at IU Southeast, it is important to our understanding of experiences and perceptions on campus.

• Instances of sexual misconduct experienced prior to coming to IU Southeast exceeds, in every case, those experienced while at IU Southeast. (There were not enough graduate men participants to report responses for this group.)

• 5% of undergraduate women reported experiencing attempted or completed nonconsensual sexual penetration while at IU Southeast. This tracks much lower than the most-cited study, which indicates that 1 in 5 women experience attempted or completed rape during their collegiate experience (Fisher et al., 2000).

• Nonconsensual sexual touching, stalking, and sexual harassment were reported by undergraduates as the types of sexual misconduct most often experienced since coming to IU Southeast. 10% of undergraduate women experienced nonconsensual sexual touching, 8% experienced stalking, and 8% experienced sexual harassment. 2% of undergraduate men experienced nonconsensual sexual touching, 2% experienced stalking, and 2% experienced sexual harassment.

• The majority of undergraduate women (n=38) spoke to someone about the incident: 66% told friend(s), 37% spoke to a romantic partner, and 34% spoke to someone at IU Southeast. 66% of those who spoke with someone received responses that made them feel supported.

• Among undergraduate women (n=24) who did not tell anyone about the incident (11%), 50% said they felt it was a private matter that they wanted to deal with on their own, and 67% said they did not think what happened was “serious enough to disclose to others.”

• 50% of undergraduate women (n=20) reported that the incident occurred at an off-campus residence, and the majority (n=38) indicated that the assailant was known to them in some way.

• When asked how the incident affected them, 69% of undergraduate women participants (n=42) reported that the incident negatively impacted their mental/emotional health.

• Participants across genders and levels in school reported high rates of feeling valued in the classroom and learning environment, as well as feeling that faculty, staff, and administrators are genuinely concerned about their welfare. The majority of participants additionally felt that faculty, staff, and administrators at IU Southeast treat students fairly. (There was not enough participation by graduate men to report on rates for this group.)

• The majority of undergraduates and graduate women felt that the university would take a report of sexual assault or other sexual violence seriously, and that the university would likely take steps to protect the safety of the person making the report. (There was not enough participation by graduate men to report on rates for this group.)

• Overall, graduate women reported the lowest rates of understanding and knowing where to get immediate help, how to follow up with campus officials, and how to find more information about IU’s sexual misconduct policies and procedures if they or a friend were sexually assaulted.

• Among undergraduate men and women, the majority had previously spoken to friends and a romantic/sexual partner about consent. Undergraduate women had the highest rates of having talked about the issue of consent with a romantic/sexual partner (66%). (There was not enough participation by graduate men or women to report on rates for these groups.)

• Undergraduate participants and graduate women reported high rates of agreement that the more alcohol a person has consumed, the less able they are to consent to sexual activity. (There was not enough participation by graduate men to report on rates for this group.)

• Only 6% of undergraduate men and 6% of undergraduate women reported thinking sexual misconduct is a problem on the IU Southeast campus, and around half of undergraduate participants reported that they think they can do something about sexual misconduct.

• Participants across all genders and class levels reported high levels of confidence to express discomfort when someone says that rape victims are to blame for being raped, and that they would help someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs get away from a potentially vulnerable situation to a safe place.