New data from a province-wide survey will help bolster McMaster’s programs and education about sexual violence.
After receiving a summary report in the winter of 2019, universities have now received the full results from the Student Voices Sexual Violence Survey which was undertaken by the province.
“The survey helps us to better understand what our students know and think about sexual violence, what they may have experienced and whether they are aware of and reaching out to supports available to them at the university. The survey is helpful in reinforcing the areas of education, support and response that we can improve upon for our diverse student body,” says Arig al Shaibah, McMaster’s associate vice president equity and inclusion.
The Survey asked questions around student experiences of harassment, stalking and non-consensual sexual experiences on and off campus. It also gave students an opportunity to provide information of knowledge of sexual violence supports and what they think about how institutions respond to sexual violence. The survey is available on the Council of Ontario Universities website.
Al Shaibah says, “McMaster has actively developed supports and programs to combat sexual violence.” The university undertook a campus consultation process this past fall in order to review and update its 2017 Sexual Violence Policy. The revised policy was approved in December of 2019 providing greater clarity in how to report incidents of sexual violence and reinforcing McMaster’s survivor-centric approach.
McMaster has also:
- Added new funds to the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office and is establishing a new director role to provide leadership and trauma-informed support and response, including helping to facilitate academic accommodations
- Created a new prevention education coordinator position which will expand educational programs and will also work with university partners on awareness-raising and prevention efforts
- Undertaken bystander intervention training for faculty, staff and students. This began in 2019 and will be enhanced as part of the expanded education programs
- Provided sexual violence prevention and response training sessions for faculty, staff and students. These sessions were revamped in 2019 to help community members understand the myths about sexual violence, how McMaster’s Sexual Violence Response Protocol works and how to recognize, respond and refer a disclosure. This included providing training for Residence Life staff; Welcome Week student leaders for Residences and Faculties; Students Union student leaders and management; and faculty, staff and students at large
- Provided sexual violence prevention and response presentations for student support units, including Student Wellness counselling staff; Indigenous Studies and Student Services staff
- Provided sexual violence prevention and response training to all Welcome Week leaders and McMaster Students Union leadership, Teaching Assistants and other student groups
- Established a new psycho-educational group for student survivors of sexual assault, which started last year
- Worked to strengthen McMaster’s Sexual Violence Education Team, which is a network of education partners, to broaden its campus prevention and response focus
“With all of the survey information now available, it is encouraging to see how many students spent the time needed to fill out the survey and share their experiences and perceptions,” says Sean Van Koughnett, associate vice-president, Students and Learning and dean of Students.
Nearly 164,000 Ontario university, college and career college students participated in the survey which was conducted in 2018.
“Sexual violence continues to be a problem across our society, and we know that people of university age have a greater likelihood of experiencing some form of sexual violence. We must continue to engage all students so they can learn about the problem, become part of the solution, and provide whatever assistance we can to those who need support,” says Van Koughnett.
According to Statistics Canada:
- There were 22 incidents of sexual assault per 1,000 Canadians aged 15 and older in 2014
- Nearly nine in 10 sexual violence incidents in 2014 were committed against women
- Students and non-students face similar rates of sexual assault but almost half of sexual violence incidents in 2014 were committed against women aged 15-24.
Read the full report of the Ontario Student Voices on Sexual Violence Survey.