One in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted on college campuses while they are students, according to national statistics. The University of Hawaiʻi wants to compile the most accurate picture of the climate on its ten campuses when it comes to sexual harassment and gender-based violence and is asking students to help by participating in an online survey from January 20 to February 20, 2017.

Student perspectives are vital to to help the university address sexual harassment and gender-based issues moving forward. UH has recently strengthened its policies and programs on Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act and established an executive policy prohibiting consensual romantic relationships between faculty and students in their class, students and their advisors and other situations with clear power differentials.

“To better understand our campus environments and how the university’s policies, programs and resources have affected your educational experience at the UH , I urge you to complete the UH Campus Climate Survey On Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Violence,” said UH President David Lassner in an email to UH students. “Your voice and those of thousands of other students are critical to the University’s efforts to continue to create and sustain a path for your success.”

Current UH students 18 years and older are eligible to take the confidential, voluntary UH Student Climate Survey on Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Violence, which is easily accessible on personal computers and mobile devices. The 20-minute survey will ask students about:

Their campus environment related to sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

How well students believe the UH community responds to and addresses their concerns.

community responds to and addresses their concerns. Their awareness of resource and reporting options for those experiencing sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking and interpersonal violence (domestic and dating violence).

Prevalence (e.g., how widespread) and incidence (e.g., how often) of sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking, and interpersonal violence on the campuses.

Student participation is essential. Those who participate are asked to tell their fellow students to take the survey, promote #BeHeardUH , and encourage everyone to speak up about gender-based violence.

Data from the survey will also be used to inform UH about marginalized groups on the different campuses and their varying levels of risk, and to address the needs of its students.

The survey is being coordinated by the UH Office of Institutional Equity and guided by the UH Student Campus Climate Survey Advisory Group, consisting of faculty members, Title IX coordinators, staff and students.

President Lassner’s message

Dear Students,

It is the University’s responsibility to provide a safe, supportive environment where you can achieve academic success and personal growth. Unfortunately, the issue of sex assault and gender-violence is prevalent on college campuses nationwide. As you may know, the University of Hawaiʻi has made significant progress towards addressing this critical problem, but we can do even more.

To better understand our campus environments and how the University’s policies, programs and resources have affected your educational experience at the UH , I urge you to complete the UH Campus Climate Survey On Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Violence. Your voice and those of thousands of other students are critical to the University’s efforts to continue to create and sustain a path for your success. The survey is:

Purely voluntary . You can take the survey if you are at least 18 years of age. Once you begin, you may exit the survey at any time and for any reason. Some students may find participating in the survey uncomfortable or upsetting because it asks about their experiences. If this happens to you then you can stop right away and seek help or support from the resources noted in the survey. You can return to complete the survey any time before February 20, 2017.

. You can take the survey if you are at least 18 years of age. Once you begin, you may exit the survey at any time and for any reason. Some students may find participating in the survey uncomfortable or upsetting because it asks about their experiences. If this happens to you then you can stop right away and seek help or support from the resources noted in the survey. You can return to complete the survey any time before February 20, 2017. Confidential . You will have a unique access identifier that absolutely no one else will know. You can confidently share information about your experiences and opinions without being identified. Your individual responses will not be reported to the University, which will be reviewing aggregate survey information.

. You will have a unique access identifier that absolutely no one else will know. You can confidently share information about your experiences and opinions without being identified. Your individual responses will not be reported to the University, which will be reviewing aggregate survey information. Comprehensive in scope. However, the survey should only take about 20 minutes to complete.

in scope. However, the survey should only take about 20 minutes to complete. Designed to capture important data that will help the University gauge what is happening on our campuses from your perspective as a student and how the University can improve. A report about the survey results will be available in late May 2017.

that will help the University gauge what is happening on our campuses from your perspective as a student and how the University can improve. A report about the survey results will be available in late May 2017. Critical to helping the University develop a plan of action to address the findings and improve our campuses for our entire University ʻohana.

Your experience at the University of Hawaiʻi truly matters. To help us improve, please take the survey by clicking on this link: UH Student Climate Survey on Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Violence

With my deepest appreciation and thanks,

David Lassner

President