SCHA Presentation

Lessons Learned from Addressing Power-Based Personal Violence at a Large
Urban Institution: Developing a Coalition, Changing University Policy, Changing
Orientation Delivery, and Pilot-Testing a Campus Climate Survey
Laura Forbes, Jonathan Davis, Larrell Wilkinson, Tiffani Adamson & Jessica Altice

Power-Based Personal Violence:
Overview
• Power based personal violence is a type of violence in
which the perpetrator asserts power, control, or
intimidation in order to harm another person.
• Types of power-based personal violence include sexual
assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking.
• Approximately, 1 in 3 (32.9%) women, in the United
States, have been physically abused by a dating partner
(CDC, 2014).

Overview
• Nearly 11.1 million women (1 in 10) in the United
States have experienced rape by a dating partner
(CDC, 2010).
• A recent study found that 14 in every 1,000
persons 18 or older have been victims of stalking
(DOJ, 2013).
• 12.7 million people are raped, physically abused,
or stalked by their partners in one year (No More,
2015).

College Students: Overview
• Women aged 16 to 24 experience intimate partner violence
at higher rates than other age groups (DOJ, 2000).
• One in four college women report surviving rape or
attempted rape at some point in their lifetime (Fisher,
Cullen & Turner, 2000; Tjaden & Thoennes, 2006).
• In the ACHA survey, 10% of students reported being in an
emotionally abusive relationship in the 12 months prior to
the survey (2013).
• 70% of women who have been raped, stalked, or physically
abused experienced this abuse before the age of 25 (CDC,
2010).

Healthy Campus 2020 Objectives
• Reduce the proportion of students who report being
physically assaulted within the last 12 months. (IVP-33)
• Reduce the proportion of students who report being in
an intimate relationship that was emotionally abusive
within the last 12 months. (IVP-39.3)
an intimate relationship that was physically abusive
within the last 12 months. (IVP-39.1)
an intimate relationship that was sexually abusive
within the last 12 months. (IVP 39.2)

Power- Based Personal Violence: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Timeline of Events

September 2012
• Samford University was awarded a DOJ grant
on behalf of the 5 higher learning institutions
in Birmingham.
• The 5 institutions formed the Birmingham
Area Consortium on Higher Education
(BACHE).

April 2013
• A campus coordinator was hired by the Crisis
Center, Inc. to work with the 5 Birmingham
institutions.
• The UAB Coordinated Community Response
(CCR) Team was formed and started to have
monthly meetings.
• The CCR Education Workgroup was tasked with
providing programming centered around the NO
MORE Campaign.

Summer 2013
• It was decided that four ads per year would be
published in the student newspaper regarding sexual
assault.
• “Speak Up Against Sexual Violence” leaflet was
disseminated across campus.
• The “Guide for Victims of Sexual Assault” and “Sexual
Harassment: What you can do” brochure was given to
undergraduate incoming students at Freshman and
Transfer orientations. It is also available in Housing,
Student Engagement, Counseling Services, and online.

Summer 2013
• SHAPE presented Healthy Relationships workshop to
incoming students in residence halls.
• RA’s decided to have a Stalking Awareness bulletin
board competition.
• Orientation leaders were trained to present sexual
assault resource information to incoming students.
• SHAPE peer educators presented to sororities.

Fall 2013
• The UAB Conduct Board was trained by the
National Center for Higher Education Risk
Management (NCHERM) on best practices for
addressing sexual assault complaints.
• The UAB Police Department received training
on the best practices for responding to dating
violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases.

Spring 2014
• The UAB Director of New Student Programs attended
Department of Justice Training focused on education
for incoming students on domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault and stalking.
• CCR team members attended Green Dot Bystander
Intervention Training.
• The CCR, UAB Student Life, UAB Student Housing, UAB
Women’s Center, and Rape Response sponsored a
“Take Back The Night” event which also showcased the
Clothesline Project.

Summer 2014
• The UAB Assistant Director of Student
Engagement attended a Department of Justice
Training on developing a Coordinated Community
Response Team on campus.
• UAB introduced the EveryChoice online module
to incoming students.
• All incoming students received information and
resources on domestic violence and sexual
assault at new student orientation.

Summer 2014
• UAB sponsored a workshop entitled “Creating
a Trauma-Informed Community of Providers:
Focusing on the Client's Experiences.”
• The Campus Climate Survey was piloted at
UAB.

Power-Based Violence:
Summer 2014-Campus Climate Survey
• The survey was developed by Dr. Davis at
Samford University.
• Survey items came from a survey administered by
Hines et al., (2012) and items specific to the
university were added such as locations, types of
services available, and extra-curricular activities
available.
• IRB approval was gained by submitting an
expedited Human Subjects Protocol application.

• The survey platform utilized was Qualtrics.
• UAB Office of Institutional Effectiveness assisted
with survey administration by generating a
sample of 2,000 students based on Spring 2014
enrollment data.
• The sample generated was based on the gender
demographics of the university (58% female and
42% male).

• Once the sample was generated, it was sent to Dr.
Forbes and only included email addresses.
• Students were sent an email that explained the intent
of the survey and a link to the Qualtrics survey.
• Two weeks later, the same 2,000 students were sent
the same email which served as a reminder.
• Approximately 200 students completed the pilot
survey.

Fall 2014
• UAB revised the Student Violence and Sexual
Misconduct policy.
http://www.uab.edu/policies/content/Pages/UAB
-UC-POL-0000761.aspx
• UAB Conduct Committee received training on
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.
• UAB Title IX webpage was launched.
http://www.uab.edu/titleix/

Fall 2014
• The university opened a new Student Health
and Wellness Center.
• Which allows for medical and counseling
services to be integrated.
• Thus the ability to coordinate clinical services
for students impacted by interpersonal
violence may be enhanced.

Fall 2014
• UAB president, Dr. Watts, sent a campus-wide email
alerting students to the Student Violence and Sexual
Misconduct Policy.
• An incident occurred on campus where students were
robbed and sexually assaulted
– http://www.alabamas13.com/news/four-uab-students-robbed-
at-gunpoint-in-16th-street-parking-deck/29193502
– http://www.alabamas13.com/news/Bond-reduced-for-suspect-
in-UAB-parking-deck-robbery-sexual-assault/29783884
• Following the incident, the University Provost sent an email
to faculty addressing Title IX, prevention resources, and
how to address student concerns.

Spring 2015
• Following the incident in October of 2014, the University
President convened a Campus Safety Task Force charged with
assessing campus violence and sexual assault.
• A report was released in January of 2015, and recommended
– improvements to the student/faculty alert system
– revisions to the internal administrative communication protocol
– improving student safety in isolated areas (i.e. parking decks),
Blazer Express (university transportation, and safety escort
service
– use of smart application to increase student safety
– increase communication with Crimestoppers and tip line
– resources to hire 2 full time employees (campus safety
coordinator & coordinator for sexual assault education)

Where do we go from here?
• UAB is a large, public, urban university but
many of our strategies can be applicable to
your college or university.
• At the core of our story is a partnership
between faculty, staff, community agencies,
and campus police department.

• Form partnerships with local agencies that focus
on dating violence or sexual assault.
• Discuss with health center staff about how to
screen patients for signs of dating violence.
• Plan to discuss laws, mandatory reporting
policies, and resources available with faculty and
staff.

• Train Resident Assistants on how to respond
to reports of power-based violence.
• Provide information on resources to students
at orientation.

References
• ACHA (2013). National College Health Assessment.
http://www.acha-ncha.org/docs/ACHA-NCHA-
II_UNDERGRAD_ReferenceGroup_DataReport_Spring2013.
pdf
• CDC (2010). National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence
Survey. http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/
• CDC (2014). Intimate Partner Violence.
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnervi
olence/definitions.html
• DOJ (2000). Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report:
Intimate Partner Violence.
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ipv.pdf

References
• DOJ (2013). Stalking.
http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=973
• Fisher, et al. (2000). The Sexual Victimization of College
Women.
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf
• No More (2015). Resources.
http://nomore.org/resources/
• Tjaden & Thomas (2006). Extent, Nature, and
Consequences of Rape Victimization: Findings from the
National Violence Against Women Survey.
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/210346.pdf

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