Inventory and analysis of sexual assault policy and protocol at North Carolina colleges and universities

During the August 2009-May 2010 academic year, research was undertaken as part of North Carolina's Ten Year Plan to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence, a CDC-funded DELTA Project initiative. The goal was to assess the intimate partner and sexual violence [IPV/SV] policies and protocol for NC's 52 public and private institutions of higher education [IHE].

Methodology Information was collected from each IHE's student handbooks or codes of conduct, as well as from student affairs or student services websites; this method was used because information accessibility was a key criterion. The information was then assessed using a model “Sexual Assault Response Policy and Protocol” identified and approved by a statewide steering committee working with the DELTA Project.

Results In general, no IHE met all of the criteria for review. Three IHEs had no accessible SV/SA policy and seven IHEs had sexual harassment policies only. In addition, no IHE had an IPV-specific policy. Factors that showed an IHE's commitment to IPV/SV prevention include providing an inclusive definition of sexual misconduct, resources for survivors, and on-campus IPV/SV prevention programming. Factors that needed improvement include not explicitly assuring confidentiality, including consensual sex in a definition of sexual misconduct, and not providing IPV prevention programming or policies.

Conclusions In order to increase factors that demonstrate a commitment to prevention, each IHE is urged to engage in a university-wide effort that may include adopting a gender-neutral IPV/SV policy that encourages reporting and bystander intervention, ensuring information accessibility and/or convening a campus-wide coalition to support these efforts.