SUNY ESF
Sexual Harassment, Assault, and Violence Prevention
The College of Environmental Science and Forestry is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment which is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination or intimidation, or violence including that of a sexual nature. Every member of the College community should be aware that the College strongly opposes sexual harassment, assault, and violence and that such behavior is prohibited by law and by the College. It is the responsibility of the College to prevent sexual harassment, assault, and violence if possible, to correct it when it occurs, and to take appropriate action against behavior that is a violation of this policy. The scope of this policy applies to all students, employees, applicants in the admission or employment processes, and visitors.
In April 2017, ESF conducted the SUNY Sexual Violence Prevention Campus Climate Survey to assess the awareness of all ESF students, faculty, and staff regarding sexual assault prevention policies and resources. Additionally, the survey sought to understand the student experience with and knowledge of reporting and College conduct processes for sexual harassment, including sexual violence and other related crimes.
All faculty and staff employed by ESF as of April 5, 2017, as well as all students over the age of 18 enrolled at ESF as of that date, were invited to participate in the survey. This included approximately 500 faculty and staff members as well as 1,989 students. Approximately 30% of faculty and staff (n=150) and almost 11% of students (n=216) responded to the invitation to participate in the survey. Individual responses were kept strictly confidential.
Student sexual assault on college and university campuses is a national problem that occurs at ESF and elsewhere. It is unacceptable that too many students have to deal with this as a part of their educational experience. The survey results highlighted those areas where the College is making acceptable progress in its efforts to students, faculty, and staff, as well as those areas where progress remains to be made. The College of Environmental Science and Forestry remains committed to maintaining a learning and working environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination or intimidation, or violence including that of a sexual nature.
Sexual Violence Prevalence (SVP) Campus Climate Survey
October 2023
On April 7th, 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.
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 survey from April 11th, 2023 until May 1st, 2023 and the employee survey between April 7th, 2023-May 1st, 2023. Excluded in the 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. SUNY ESF hopes to gain valuable information from the campus community that include, perceptions of the supports and resources available, the extent of the issue and incidence of sexual assault on campus.
An invitation was emailed to all eligible survey participants and no incentives were offered. The following are the number of students and number of employees (overall and broken down by faculty and staff):
# of participants who received a survey invitation
1876 students
477 faculty/staff
173 faculty (36%), 304 staff (64%)
# of Survey Responses
262 students
170 total faculty/staff
69 faculty 100 staff and 1 unknown
Overall Response Rates
14% response rate for students,
35.6% overall response rate for employees
(faculty 40%), (staff 33%) and 1 unknown
In reviewing the results, SUNY ESF highlights that ESF has a much higher response
rates for this survey as compared to our SUNY peers: 14% ESF vs 6% for students and
35.6% for ESF faculty/staff which tops all other SUNY Doctoral Degree Granting Institutions
ESF students are more aware of how to contact our Title IX coordinator 59.8% ESF as
compared to 38.2% of our SUNY peers.
The majority of faculty, staff respondents have indicated that they received written or verbal information on the definition of sexual assault, how to report sexual assault, where to get help with sexual assault, whom to speak to confidentially about sexual assault, policies prohibiting sexual assault, the specific campus policies on sexual assault and addressing sexual assault, the difference between confidentiality and privacy and the definition of Affirmative Consent (higher than 70% yes/awareness across the above). The vast majority of faculty/staff know how to contact the Title IX Coordinator (86%) and the roles of the Title IX Coordinator.
ESF students are well aware of the definition of sexual assault, how to report a sexual
assault, where to get help if you or someone you know is sexually assaulted and whom
to speak confidentially about a sexual assault.
ESF students also indicated that they are aware of who a victim/survivor or witness
should contact to file a formal complaint about sexual assault on campus (Title IX
and University Police results were very high).
Student results for awareness of our campus health services (55.8% are aware) reveal
that ESF still has work to do with making sure students know where to go for such
support.
If you have any questions about the survey or the results included in this report,
please contact the Title IX Coordinator, Toyia Sims
For reference, below is a listing of each topic / area and where corresponding questions
and response Note that if the number of respondents for a question was small (less
than 6), that question will not be available for your campus on the dashboard.
|
Regulatory Topic / Thematic Area |
Student Tableau tab (in bold), followed by survey question(s) |
Faculty / Staff Tableau tab (in bold), followed by survey question(s) |
|
The Title IX Coordinator’s role |
Awareness of Policies Do you know how to contact the Title IX Coordinator? 59.8% To whom can a victim/survivor or witness formally disclose a sexual assault on campus? Advocacy services 47.8% Affirmative action 38.8% Counseling center 58.9% Health center 51.5% Human resources 41.0% Student affairs 32.7% Title IX Coordinator 87.7% University Police 88.8% Resources Which are the roles of a Title IX Coordinator in regards to sex discrimination/sexual assault/sexual misconduct? Receiving reports 78.6% Coordinating campus response 71.5% Training/education to the campus community 70.4% Providing reporting individuals with accommodations and services during an investigation 65.5%
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Policy Awareness 2 Do you know how to contact the Title IX Coordinator? 85.8% To whom can a victim/survivor or witness formally disclose a sexual assault on campus? Advocacy Services 63.4% Affirmative Action 46.8% Counseling Center 81.5% Health Center 74.8% Human Resources 57.4% Student affairs 58.0% Title IX Coordinators 95.4% University Police 96.7% Which are the roles of a Title IX Coordinator in regards to sex discrimination/sexual assault/sexual misconduct? Receiving reports 91.4% Coordinating campus response 80.5% Training/education to the campus community 89.3% Providing reporting individuals with accommodations and services during an investigation 70.0% Student Incidents For the most recent disclosed incident, did you report the disclosure to the Title IX Coordinator, Campus Police/Public Safety, Student Affairs, or another office on campus? 75.0%
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Campus policies and procedures addressing sexual assault
|
Awareness of Policies My campus has policies and procedures specifically addressing sexual assault. 85.3% Have you received written and/or verbal information from anyone at your campus about the following? Definition of Sexual Assault 74.4% Reporting Sexual Assault 75.2% Help for sexual Assault78.9% Who to speak to sexual Assault 70.2% Policies prohibiting sexual Assault 59.5% Do you know about SUNY’s alcohol and/or drug use amnesty policy in reporting sexual violence? 60.3% |
Policy Awareness 1 Have you received written and/or verbal information from anyone at your campus about the following? Definition of Sexual Assault 80.5% Reporting Sexual Assault 84.8% Help for sexual Assault 84.8% Who to speak to sexual Assault 81.7% Policies prohibiting sexual Assault 79.3% Do you know about SUNY’s alcohol and/or drug use amnesty policy in reporting sexual violence? 52.5% |
|
How and where to report sexual violence as a victim/survivor or witness
|
Awareness of Policies Definition of Sexual Assault 74.4% Reporting Sexual Assault 75.2% Help for sexual Assault78.9% Who to speak to sexual Assault 70.2% Policies prohibiting sexual Assault 59.5% Which of the following incidents do you know how to report to the college? Sexual Assault 73.4% Sexual Harassment 68.0% Domestic Violence/Dating Violence 59.4% Stalking 61.9% To whom can a victim/survivor or witness formally disclose a sexual assault on campus? Advocacy Services 47.8% Affirmative Action 38.8% Counseling Center 58.9% Health Center 51.5% Human Resources 41% Student affairs 32.7% Title IX Coordinators 87.7% University Police 88.8%
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Policy Awareness 1 Definition of Sexual Assault 80.5% Reporting Sexual Assault 84.8% Help for sexual Assault 84.8% Who to speak to sexual Assault 81.7% Policies prohibiting sexual Assault 79.3% Which of the following incidents do you know how to report to the College? Sexual Assault 90.7% Sexual Harassment 92.0% Domestic Violence/Dating Violence 82.7% Stalking 84.0% Policy Awareness 2 Advocacy Services 63.4% Affirmative Action 46.8% Counseling Center 81.5% Health Center 74.8% Human Resources 57.4% Student affairs 58.0% Title IX Coordinators 95.4% University Police 96.7% Which are the roles of a Title IX Coordinator in regards to sex discrimination/sexual assault/sexual misconduct? Receiving reports 91.4% Coordinating campus response 80.5% Training/education to the campus community 89.3% Providing reporting individuals with accommodations and services during an investigation 70.0% Student Incidents 75.0% To which office(s) did you report the most recent disclosed incident? Too few responses to present result Why didn’t you report the most recent disclosed incident? Too few responses to present result Unwanted Sexual Comments No 58.8% No data for Yes Unwanted Digital Communications Too few responses to present result |
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The availability of resources on and off campus, such as counseling, health, academic assistance |
Awareness of Policies Have you received written and/or verbal information from anyone at your campus about the following? …Where to go to report, get help… Definition of Sexual Assault 74.4% Reporting Sexual Assault 75.2% Help for sexual Assault 78.9% Who to speak to sexual Assault 70.2% Policies prohibiting sexual Assault 59.5% To whom can a victim/survivor or witness formally disclose a sexual assault on campus? Lists several resources including Health Center, Counseling, etc. Advocacy Services 47.8% Affirmative Action 38.8% Counseling center 58.9% Health Center 51.5% Human Resources 41% Student affairs 32.7% Title IX Coordinators 87.7% University Police 88.8% Resources (see also Student Employee Comp 2) Please indicate your awareness of the following on-campus and community resources? Lists several resources including Health Services, Counseling Center, etc. Office of Student Conduct 45.2% University Police or Public Safety 94.0% Peer counselors 18.6% Campus advocacy center 16.6% Counseling center 80.4% Campus Health Services 55.8% Health Educator 14.1% Human Resources 46.2% Local police/sheriff 59.8% Local crisis center 35.7% Local advocacy center 26.4% Local health services 69.3% |
Policy Awareness 1 Definition of Sexual Assault 80.5% Reporting Sexual Assault 84.8% Help for sexual Assault 84.8% Who to speak to sexual Assault 81.7% Policies prohibiting sexual Assault 79.3% Policy Awareness 2 Advocacy Services 63.4% Affirmative Action 46.8% Counseling Center 81.5% Health Center 74.8% Human Resources 57.4% Student affairs 58.0% Title IX Coordinators 95.4% University Police 96.7% Please indicate your awareness of the following on-campus and community resources? Lists several resources including Health Services, Counseling Center, etc. Office of Student Conduct 63.6% University police or public safety 98.0% Peer counselors 19.2% Campus advocacy services 31.8% Counseling center 82.1% Campus Health Services 46.4% Health Educator 6.6% Human Resources 88.1% Local police/sheriff 72.8% Local crisis center 48.3% Local advocacy center 29.8% Local health services 68.2% |
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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)
|
Incidents DB Unwanted sexual comments, sexual slurs or demeaning jokes: 26.9% Unwanted suggestive digital communications: 9.6% During the last year, has someone…. Fondled kissed or rubbed without consent: Completed: 7.1%, Attempted: 7.6% Removed clothes without consent: Completed: 3.0%, Attempted N/A Oral sex without consent: Completed: 3.6%, Attempted N/A Sexually penetrated without consent: Completed: 3.0%, Attempted N/A Domestic Partner Controlled or tried to control you in the past year: 8.9% Threatened to hurt you, your family/friends, or themselves in order to influence you: 4.2% Scratched, slapped, hit, kicked, beaten, punched, or physically harmed you: 3.7% Stalking Yes: 7.3% |
Student Incidents Unwanted Sexual Comments Yes 11.6% No 87.8% Unwanted Digital Communications Faculty: No 91.9% Staff/Administrator: No 97.6% |
|
Bystander attitudes and behavior |
Incidents – Tell I did not think it was important enough: 74.1% I just did not want to deal with it: 63.1% I was ashamed or embarrassed: 29.6% I worried that it was partly my fault: 22.2% Domestic Partner – No Report Too few responses to present results Stalking – No Tell Too few responses to present results Change of Plans Too few responses to present result Student College Response Call for help is they hear a neighbor yelling help: Unlikely 11.0% Don’t Know 27.2% Likely 37.2% Very Likely 24.6% Confront a friend who tells them they had sex with someone who was passed out or who didn’t give consent: Unlikely 9.0% Don’t Know 29.1% Likely 34.4% Very Likely 27.5% Express their discomfort if someone makes a joke about a person’s body: Unlikely 26.5% Don’t Know 18.5% Likely 41.3% Very Likely 13.8% Get help and resources for a friend who tells them they have been assaulted: Unlikely 4.7% Don’t Know 14.7% Likely 41.6% Very Likely 38.9% Tell a resident assistant or other campus authority about information they have that might help in a sexual assault case even if pressured by their friends to stay silent: Very unlikely 4.2% Unlikely 14.1% Don’t Know 35.9% Likely 28.1% Very Likely 17.7% If you or a friend filed a formal complaint of sexual violence on your campus, do you think your college would…? Conduct a fair investigation: Disagree 8.5% Neither agree or disagree 28.2% Agree 41.5% Strongly Agree 21.8% Provide the student with necessary support during the process: Strongly disagree 4.2% Disagree 10.9% Neither agree or disagree 23.4% Agree 39.6% Strongly Agree 21.9% Take the report seriously: Disagree 7.4% Neither agree or disagree 19.5% Agree 44.2% Strongly Agree 28.9% |
Readiness to help Call for help if they hear a neighbor yelling for help. Don’t know: 12.6% Likely: 35.7% Very likely: 51.7% Talk to a student who they suspect is in an abusive relationship. Unlikely: 9.9% Don’t know: 35.2% Likely 29.6% Very likely 25.4% Get help and resources for a friend who tells them that they have been assaulted. Don’t know 10.0% Likely 47.1% Very likely 42.1% Tell a campus authority about information they have that might help in a sexual assault case even if pressured by their friends to stay silent. Don’t know 21.1% Likely 40.8% Very likely 34.5% |
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Whether victims/survivors reported to the College/University and/or police, and reasons why they did or did not report
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Incidents – Perpetrator Too few responses to present result. Incidents – Tell Friend 74.1% Roommate or housemate 48.1% Romantic partner 40.7% Parent or guardian 33.3% Did you file a formal complaint about this incident with anyone at the college? No 92.6% Domestic Partner Yes 33.3% No 66.7% Who did you tell about the most recent incident? Too few responses to present result. Did you file a formal complaint about this incident with anyone at the college? Too few responses to present result Stalking Too few responses to present result Who did you tell about the most recent incident? Too few responses to present result Did you file a formal complaint about this incident with anyone at the college? Too few responses to present result |
Student Incidents To which office(s) did you report the most recent disclosed incident? Too few responses to present result. Why didn’t you report the most recent disclosed incident? Too few responses to present result. Unwanted Sexual Comments No 58.8% No data for Yes Unwanted Digital Communications Too few responses to present result.
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The general awareness of the difference, if any, between the institution’s policies and the penal law
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Awareness of Policies Do you know the difference between the college disciplinary process and the criminal justice system? Student Yes: 53.7%, No: 19.5%, Not Sure: 26.8%
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Policy Awareness 1
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The general awareness of the definition of affirmative consent
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Awareness of Policies Do you know the definition of Affirmative Consent? Yes: 88.4%, No: 3.0%, Not sure: 8.6% Can someone who is incapacitated provide consent? Yes: 2.6%, No: 92.2%, Not sure: 5.2% |
Policy Awareness 1 Can someone who is incapacitated provide consent? Yes: 3.1%, No: 93.2%, Not sure: 3.7%
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When comparing the results from the 2021 SUNY SVP Survey with this most recent report, there was an increase in student survey experiences of related sexual harassment and related violence. This is concerning but not entirely surprising as the 2021 results encompassed the remote learning periods surrounding COVID where many students and employees were not fully in-person on campus and interpersonal interactions were generally more limited. It was reported in student results that there is 55.8% “awareness of our campus health services” and ESF student affairs leadership has since prioritized action in this area.. Since the survey, staff developed a website with information on health resources near campus: https://www.esf.edu/student-life/health/resources.php. We are also partnering with a company that will provide 24/7 telehealth services for students, and additional information will be sent to all students as soon as this service is available.
The Choose Action Network, an interdisciplinary, cross campus group invested in education and advocacy around preventing sexual harassment, stalking and sexual violence has worked to raise more awareness on campus of issues related to domestic and sexual violence. This group worked on a number of projects including; developing a Survivor's Guide with support resources, created a Fall Stall Talk for information and resources to put in bathrooms as a private way to access information, and developed programming for Domestic Violence Awareness Month including a survivor support circle, tabling opportunities, and encouraging the community to wear purple for National Wear Purple Day.
In 2024, the Choose Action Network team plans to develop programming for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, including our annual Take Back Our College awareness event, rally, march, and Survivor Speak Out. There will be a new focus on increased awareness through social media and training in the residence halls.
The Title IX Coordinator is a member of the Colleges Strategic Planning task force and will include related training and policy compliance requirements as a part of the roll out of the implementation plan. In addition, the Title IX Coordinator will work with the Chief Diversity Officer to engage a campus stakeholder conversation group with student affairs, academic affairs and the university police department around addressing equity, gender microaggressions, stalking, sexual harassment and violence discussing an implementation plan to create an environment of safety around student experiences-ultimately evidencing positive results in subsequent surveys pertaining to this topic.