Western Michigan University students this week started logging online to take a survey about their perceptions of sexual violence on campus. WMU is one of 50 participating universities nationwide. The survey began Monday and ends April 8. It comes a year after Western implemented a new sexual misconduct policy, which included major changes in how sexual assault complaints are investigated. Felicia Crawford, WMU's director of Title IX compliance, says the survey will allow officials to assess awareness about the new policy and its impact.
The WMU Title IX Sexual Misconduct and Safety Survey asks students about sexual assault, including sexual harassment, stalking and intimate sexual partner violence, said Crawford in an interview with WMUK's Earlene McMichael that aired today. Depending on the answers given, the survey can be anywhere from 40 to 50 questions in length and take about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Results will be released this fall.
Crawford said students are also queried about their knowledge of ways to prevent sexual misconduct, where did they learn it, and, whether they would intervene if they saw someone being abused.
"That's going to help us understand, from a prevention standpoint, how we might better prepare people for prevention," she said.
The university is hoping both undergraduate and graduate students and all genders participate.
According to a WMU news release, the survey, which is being administered by the higher-education consulting group Education Advisory Board, is similar to one done last year by the Association of American Universities at 27 colleges across the country, among them the University of Michigan and Michigan State University; results were reported in fall 2015.
A longer version of the interview with Felicia Crawford will air on a future WestSouthwest show. The public-affairs show airs Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
