2023 Sexual Violence Prevalence Climate Survey Results

A high percentage of respondents were aware of UAlbany policies regarding sexual violence:

• 93.5% knew that UAlbany has policies and procedures specifically addressing sexual assault.
• 77.7% were aware of the difference between confidentiality and privacy.
• 82.9% knew the definition of Affirmative Consent.

A lower percentage (50.3%) were aware of the amnesty policy regarding alcohol and/or drug use in reporting sexual violence.

Most faculty and staff knew how to report sexual violence to UAlbany:

• 84.3% knew how to report a sexual assault to UAlbany.
• 86.3% knew how to report sexual harassment.
• 68.2% were aware of how to report domestic violence and dating violence.
• 69.3% knew how to report stalking.

In terms of where people can report:

• 95.4% of faculty and staff were aware they could make a report to University Police.
• 89.2% knew about the Title IX Coordinator as an option for making a report.
• 68.1% knew about Human Resources as a reporting option.

The majority knew about supportive offices as an option for disclosure, including Counseling Services (84.2%), Advocacy Services (70.1%), and the Student Health Center (80.6%).

Most faculty and staff reported receiving written or verbal information about sexual violence policies and reporting, including:

• The definition of sexual assault (76.2%)
• How to report a sexual assault (83.2%)
• Where to go to get help after experiencing a sexual assault (77.6%)
• To whom one can speak confidentially about a sexual assault (73.6%)

In general, awareness of on campus resources was high among employees with UPD, Human Resources, Counseling and Health Services the services known by over 80% of the survey respondents. Only 1.7% of employee respondents indicated that they were not aware of any on campus or community resources. 

11.2% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that during the past year, a student or students disclosed an unwanted sexual experience, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. 87.7% reported that they did not receive a disclosure, with 1.1% preferring not to respond. Of the individuals who did receive a disclosure, 57.4% reported the incident to an office on campus, but 27.9% did not report the incident, with 14.8% preferring not to respond.

The vast majority of employees who reported the disclosed incident chose to make that report to the Title IX Coordinator (85.7%), which speaks to the awareness of the role of the Title IX Coordinator on our campus. UPD was the only other named office (17.1%) by employees who reported information disclosed to them by a student.

Unfortunately, the survey provides no insights into why 27.9% of faculty and staff chose not to report the incident disclosed to them as 82.4% selected “none of the above” to the several options provided as reasons for not reporting and the remaining employees decided not to respond to that question.

Most faculty and staff indicated that they have confidence in UAlbany’s investigatory process and ability to provide supportive measures.

• 89.0% agreed or strongly agreed that UAlbany would take a report of sexual violence seriously.
• 78.9% agreed or strongly agreed that UAlbany would conduct a fair investigation.
• 80.9% agreed or strongly agreed that UAlbany would provide the student with the necessary support through the process.

Similarly, most faculty and staff reported an understanding of UAlbany’s processes for addressing sexual violence. 80.9% agreed or strongly agreed that they would know how to advise a student who was sexually assaulted about where to get help on campus. 

Faculty and staff were asked about their own experiences with unwelcome sexual comments, slurs and demeaning jokes, as well as unwelcome digital communications.

• 6.5% of faculty and staff respondents reported experiencing unwanted sexual comments, sexual slurs, or demeaning jokes. 91.8% stated that they did not experience this, and 1.7% preferred not to respond.

The faculty and staff who reported unwelcome experiences were also asked who engaged in this conduct. They reported the status of the perpetrators as follows: a student (16.7%), a faculty member (30.6%), a staff member (22.2%), someone from off-campus (30.6%). They also identified the following locations where the conduct occurred:

• In a classroom: N/A
• In an office on campus: 29.4%
• In another setting on campus: 32.4%
• At an off-campus location: 35.3%

The faculty and staff who reported unwelcome experiences were also asked whether they took action in response.

• 22.2% reported confronting the person who made the comments.
• 63.9% took no action following the experience.
• None of the respondents indicated that they spoke to their supervisor, reported the incident to another campus office, changed their job or work hours, changed their friend group, or now avoid specific places/venues.

Faculty and staff were also asked whether they received unwanted, sexually-suggestive digital communications, either words, images, or both, including emails, texts, social media communications, or in other written communications. This question was asked by appointment type (full time with permanent appointment, full time without permanent appointment, and part time). Results were as follows:

• Full Time, Permanent/Continuing Appointment: 93.5% no, 4.8% yes, 1.7% prefer not to respond.
• Full Time, Not Permanent/Continuing: 95.5% no, none answered yes or prefer not to respond.
• Part Time: 94.5% no, none answered yes or prefer not to respond.

A majority of respondents were aware of UAlbany policies regarding sexual violence:

• 69.9% knew that UAlbany has policies and procedures specifically addressing sexual assault.

73.1% knew the definition of Affirmative Consent.

In terms of where people can report students selected the following offices of campus most frequently:

• 86.8% of students selected University Police.
• 74.7% selected the Title IX Coordinator.
• 65.3% and 59.6% selected Counseling and Student Health Services.
• 52.3% selected Advocacy Services.

Students were asked about their experiences with unwelcome sexual conduct over the past year.

• 34.7% reported experiencing unwanted sexual comments, sexual slurs, or demeaning jokes.
• 5.0% reported that someone viewed their sexual activity or nakedness without their consent, or took explicit pictures or recordings without their consent.
• 26.5% reported receiving unwanted suggested digital communications, including emails, texts, social media communications, or written communications.
• 12.6% reported that someone fondled, kissed, or rubbed up against their private areas without consent.
• 5.9% stated that someone removed their clothing without consent.
• 3.2% reported that someone performed oral sex on them or forced them to perform oral sex without their consent.
• 4.9% stated that someone sexually penetrated them without consent.

Respondents were asked about who perpetrated the incident. 45.4% reported that the perpetrator was affiliated with the UAlbany community, and 39.0% stated that the perpetrator was unaffiliated with UAlbany. 15.6% were unsure of whether the person was affiliated with UAlbany. They described the relationship with the perpetrator as follows:

• Stranger: 28.6%
• An acquaintance: 14.3%
• Another college student: 12.5%
• Non-romantic friend: 12.5%
• Casual or first date: 6.3%
• Current romantic partner/spouse: 3.8%
• Ex-romantic partner/spouse: 5.9%
• Unsure/other: 3.5%

Students were asked whether they told anyone about the most recent incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault. 36.4% percent stated yes and 63.6% stated no. 21.6% of students reported filing a formal complaint with the university, and 77.3% stated that they did not file a formal complaint.

When asked whom students told about the incident, they reported the following:

• A friend: 76.0%
• A romantic partner: 38.5%
• A roommate or housemate: 49.0%
• A parent or guardian: 28.1%
• Another family member: 13.5%
• Faculty, administrator or staff: 16.7%
• University Police: 8.3%
• The Title IX Office: 22.9%

Students who decided not to report or share their experience were asked the reasons why. They reported the following:

• I did not think it was important enough: 65.6%
• I just did not want to deal with it: 48.1%
• I did not recognize it as sexual assault at the time: 37.0%
• I thought I would be blamed for what happened: 23.4%
• I was ashamed or embarrassed: 30.5%
• I worried that it was partially my fault: 28.6%
• I was concerned that others would find out: 23.4%
• I did not think I would be believed: 16.9%
• I was worried that someone would act on the report without my permission: 14.3%
• I did not trust the university to take appropriate action: 21.4%
• I feared the perpetrator would try to hurt me again in some way: 16.2%
• I was afraid of losing my friend group: 10.4%
• I did not trust the police to take appropriate action: 18.8%
• I did not know the reporting procedure on campus: 15.6%

Students were asked about their experience with intimate partner violence over the past year.

• 10.0% reported that an intimate partner controlled or tried to control them.
• 5.8% stated that an intimate partner tried to hurt them, their family or friends, or themselves to influence them.
• 6.3% stated that an intimate partner scratched, slapped, hit, kicked, beat, punched or physically harmed them.

Students were asked whether they told anyone about the most recent incident of intimate partner violence. 48.1% stated yes and 51.9% stated no. 89.5% stated that they did not file a formal complaint.

Students were asked whether, in the past year, anyone repeatedly followed them, watched them, or texted, called, written, emailed, or communicated with them in ways that seemed obsessive and made them afraid or concerned for their safety. 15.1% reported experiencing this conduct. 66.0% of people who experienced this reported telling someone about the incident, as follows:

• A friend: 80.6%
• A parent or guardian: 32.3%
• A romantic partner: 21.0%
• A roommate or housemate: 41.9%
• Another family member: 11.3%

15.0 percent of individuals who experienced stalking stated that they reported this to the university.

Students who experienced sexual violence indicated that it impacted their plans as follows:

• 4.6% of students experiencing sexual violence changed their academic program.
• 14.0% of students who experienced sexual violence changed their academic schedule or housing.
• 6.7% of students who experienced sexual violence left school.
• 5.2% of students who experienced sexual violence transferred to a different school.

The majority of students expressed trust in UAlbany’s  investigatory process and ability to provide supportive measures.

• 61.3% agree or strongly agree that UAlbany would take a report of sexual violence seriously
• 49.9% agree or strongly agree that UAlbany would conduct a fair investigation 
• 54.4% agree or strongly agree that UAlbany would provide the student with the necessary support through the process 

The majority of students felt that their fellow students would assist in the event of an incident.

• 53.9% believe it is likely or very likely that a fellow student would call for help if they heard a neighbor yelling help.
• 52.3% believe a fellow student would confront a friend who tells them they had sex with someone who was passed out or who did not give consent.
• 70.8% believe it is likely or very likely that a fellow student would get help and resources for a friend who tells them that they have been assaulted.
• 39.5% felt it is likely or very likely that a fellow student would tell a campus authority about information they have that might help in a sexual assault case even if they have been pressured not to disclose it.