CAMPUS CLIMATE SURVEY REPORT

SUNY SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION (SVP)

Consistent with New York State Education Law 129-B and policies of The State University of New York, Cayuga Community College participated in the 2023 University-wide Biennial SUNY Uniform Campus Climate Survey. The survey gathered information about student and employee experience with sexual and interpersonal violence and knowledge of policies and resources.

Executive Summary

In Spring 2023, our campus conducted 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.

In reviewing the results, we highlight that the survey:

• Indicated that students and employees are generally aware that the campus has established policies and procedures addressing sexual assault.
• Indicated a high percentage of employees reported having received information and or trainings relating to campus policies, procedures, and/or resources relating to sexual assault, less than ½ of responding students reported having received similar training or communications.
• Indicated that employees were generally aware of the Title IX Coordinator’s role in regards to sexual discrimination, assault, and misconduct.
• Indicated that students were less aware of the Title IX Coordinator’s role in regards to sexual discrimination, assault, and misconduct. But over 50% reported an understanding.
• Indicated that employees were aware of how to contact the Title IX coordinator, the majority of students were not.
• Indicated that students were most aware of external resources such as local law enforcement and employees were more aware of human resources and campus public safety.
• Indicated that both student and employees are generally aware of Affirmative Consent and ability to consent under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Indicated that both student and employees are generally aware of differences between college disciplinary process and the criminal justice process.
• Indicated that under 20% of students and under 10% of employees reported having been subjected to unwelcome sexual advances, comments, slurs or demeaning jokes.

The College’s Title IX Coordinator and Senior Administrators have begun review of the results. A committee will communicate and meet with departments such as Wellness and Intervention Services, Campus Health Services, Campus Activities, Public Safety and Academic Affairs to review specific results and to further detail recommendations based on the findings. If you have any questions about the survey or the results included in this report, please contact:

Background

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 between March 8, 2023 and March 28. 2023 and the employee survey between March 8, 2023 and March 28. 2023. Excluded 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.

• Survey invites were sent to all eligible survey participants.
• Incentives were not offered
• Survey outreach was done through e-mail notices and invitations

Results

Survey and Response metrics:

• 1,442 students were surveyed with 170 (11.8%) responding
• 281 employees were surveyed with 96 (34.2%) responding

The Title IX Coordinator’s role includes receiving reports, coordinating campus response, ensuring training/education is provided to the campus community, and providing reporting individuals with accommodations and services during an investigation. 85% of faculty/staff respondents selected these choices in describing the role and 84% were aware of how to contact the Title IX Coordinator. 57% of student responses indicated that they were aware of the role of the Title IX Coordinator and 35% indicated that they are aware of how to contact the Title IX coordinator.

When asked about college policies and procedures addressing sexual assault, 71% of student respondents indicated that they were aware of policies and procedures specifically addressing sexual assault and 77% of student respondents reported knowing the definition of Affirmative Consent. 100% of faculty and staff indicated that they believe it is “very likely” or “likely” that reported student complaints would be taken seriously and 84% believe the student would be provided the necessary support during the process and 80% understood that someone who is incapacitated could not provide consent. 92.5% of faculty and staff understood the definition, and 89.4% understood that someone who is incapacitated could not provide consent. 19.5% of students reported that they experienced unwanted sexual comments, sexual slurs or demeaning jokes in the last year. It should be noted that the survey did provide an opportunity to describe the location of this conduct or behavior, so we are unable to ascertain whether these incidents occurred on or off campus. 80% of those students who reported experience unwanted comments, in incidents, also reported that the perpetrator was not affiliated with the college. When students were asked about reporting incidents to the college, 83% agreed or strongly agreed that the complaint would be taken seriously, 69% agreed or strongly agreed that the college would conduct a fair investigation and 78% agreed or strongly agreed that the college would provide the necessary support during the process.

Discussion and Next Steps

Cayuga Community College, working with SUNY and community colleagues (including students, faculty, and staff), will use these data to improve response to violence, develop prevention programs, and will continue to study the issue. The College will continue to review the results from the 2023 survey in order to identify areas in need of improvement and welcomes the data provided from this survey in order to continue to provide an environment that is safe and conducive to the overall educational mission of the institution. The next Climate Survey will be administered in the Spring Semester of 2025.