By Jeff Murphy,
November 13, 2015
WARRENSBURG, MO – As a proactive step to gain valuable feedback to aid in developing
programs and services to protect, educate, and support students , the University of
Central Missouri will administer the online Title IX Campus Climate Survey, Nov. 16
to Dec. 4. Geared specifically to students, the survey will assess the nature and
prevalence of sexual and intimate partner violence, attitudes related to this issue,
and perceptions of how such issues are being addressed by the university.
Amy Kiger, director of Violence and Substance Abuse Prevention, said UCM annually
conducts the Missouri College Health Behavior Survey, which generates data related
to students’ experiences regarding such issues. The Title IX Campus Climate Survey,
however, will provide a much more comprehensive assessment of the student body. “Some
students may believe that just because they have not been directly affected by these
issues, their opinions don’t matter. This survey gives us an opportunity to hear from
everyone, because all students’ perceptions and attitudes are important. If everyone
takes time to complete the survey, we’ll have much stronger data to help us address
issues in the most meaningful way possible,” Kiger said .
She noted that administering the survey is consistent with the university’s commitment
to provide a living and learning environment that is focused on student success. It
will enable UCM to build support and services to enhance the institution’s ability
to provide a safe and positive community for students.
Amber Clifford, associate professor of anthropology and primary investigator for this
survey project, said students will receive an email that provides more information
and a link to the survey, which takes about 30 minutes to complete online. Questions
will be answered anonymously, and will help the university to assess the prevalence
and nature of students’ experiences related to sexual assault, relationship violence
and stalking. According to Clifford, student perceptions of UCM leadership, policies
and reporting regarding these issues will also be measured, in addition to bystander
intervention norms and behaviors and students’ opinions about these issues.
The survey also includes demographic questions and those regarding academic success
as well as alcohol and drug use. This will allow for a better understanding of the
impact of victimization on student success.
Clifford said it is important that the data collection process be transparent to campus.
Once the survey is completed and data is compiled, the university plans to make an
executive summary available to students in early spring 2016. Review and ongoing utilization
of the survey data will be an important component of UCM’s commitment to student
success and experience.
The methodology used in collecting data has been approved by the UCM Institutional
Review Board, Clifford said. No information will be collected to identify those who
respond.
Once the data is collected, a group of students, faculty and staff members will review
it and make recommendations to the Strategic Leadership Team at UCM that will be included
in the executive summary.
For more information about the group reviewing the data, please contact Kiger at 660-543-8338
or kiger@ucmo.edu.
