Survey assessing prevalence of sexual assault, related harms opens to students
An anonymous CU Boulder survey that opened this week to undergraduate and graduate students seeks to gather data needed to assess the prevalence of sexual assault and related harms on and off campus.
The 2024 Sexual Assault and Related Harms Survey launched on Oct. 22. Students received secure emails with unique links and guidance on completing the survey.
“The more data we gather and the more we understand trends on and off campus, the better positioned we are to support students,” said Julie Volckens, OIEC’s senior director of assessment and prevention. “Making the dataset anonymous doesn’t hinder our ability to use the results to bring attention to these problems and to harness resources to combat them.”
In fact, results from past surveys have been used to better understand the impact of sexual violence and to inform enhancements in prevention strategies, education, reporting systems and support services with the overarching goal of enhancing campus culture, Volckens said.
Take the survey
- Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to participate in the 2024 Sexual Assault and Related Harms survey between Oct. 22 and Dec. 1.
- Students should check their inboxes for an email from the university with a unique link to take the anonymous survey.
- Students who complete the survey by Dec. 1 will receive a $10 deposit to their Buff OneCards about a week after they have completed the survey or can donate the incentive to the Basic Needs Center or the Graduate Student Emergency Aid Fund to help other students.
- More information is available on the survey webpage.
As an incentive and compensation for their time, students who complete the survey by Dec. 1 can opt in to receive a $10 deposit on their Buff OneCard or donate the funds to the CU Boulder Basic Needs Center or the CU Boulder Graduate Student Emergency Aid Fund.
Students who opt for the Campus Cash deposit will be redirected to a webpage completely disconnected from the survey, where they can submit their email and student identification number to receive compensation for their participation in the survey or donate the cash to a student fund. This two-step process protects student privacy and anonymity.
Like other universities, CU Boulder administers surveys every four years to identify how to support students more effectively through prevention and support services and to comply with university policy and federal Title IX guidelines.
“Data from past surveys confirmed that sexual assault, intimate partner abuse, stalking and other harms can have devastating impacts on the lives of young people and their college experience,” said Teresa Wroe, assistant vice chancellor of prevention education and deputy Title IX coordinator for prevention in OIEC. “By sharing their experiences, students can help the campus improve programs and services for current and future Buffs—and we are grateful to all who participate in the survey.”