READING, Pa. — Penn State Berks released the results of a survey of students’ experiences with and attitudes about sexual misconduct today (April 13), including a finding that 7.8 percent of students reported being the victim of at least one instance or attempt of sexual assault. The results are part of a comprehensive University-wide survey conducted last fall.

The Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey is part of a broad-based initiative by Penn State to significantly curtail sexual misconduct on all of its campuses, while at the same time expanding its efforts to ensure an effective response to any cases. The survey asked students about their experiences, as well as about their attitudes, and awareness of the resources available for preventing and responding to sexual misconduct.

“The results of this survey are important in allowing us to understand the current climate and to continuing our battle against sexual misconduct. Ensuring the safety of all of our students across the Commonwealth is our priority,” said President Eric Barron. “We recognize that the needs of all campuses are not the same when it comes to addressing these unwanted behaviors. That is why this survey is such a crucial part of our ongoing efforts.

“I want to thank all of the students who took the time to complete the survey,” he said. “Your attention to this issue and your desire to stop sexual assault, harassment and violence on our campuses will help create a safer community. Sexual misconduct is a deeply troubling issue and this survey will play a vital role in evolving our policies and practices, as well as embedding our commitment to end sexual misconduct in everything we do.”

Implementing a campus climate survey was one of 18 recommendations made by the Task Force on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment, which Barron appointed in 2014 to study the University’s resources for addressing sexual misconduct. The task force also was charged with making recommendations for areas to expand education on the issue and resources, and ways to reach out to students and the community. Many of those recommendations have already been enacted, including the creation of a University-wide Title IX office.

At Penn State Berks, 1,500 students received the survey, and the response rate was 23.9 percent. University-wide, a representative sample of 9,427 students completed the survey, including both undergraduates and graduate students. Completely anonymous, voluntary and completed electronically, the survey covered topics such as whether a student thinks the University would take a report of sexual misconduct seriously, whether the student is aware of resources available and whether they would walk a friend home who had had too much to drink.

"Addressing issues of sexual assault and relationship violence is a top priority for Penn State Berks. We are absolutely committed to educating all members of our campus community about these concerns,” states Penn State Berks Chancellor R. Keith Hillkirk.

“Penn State Berks, along with other Penn State campuses, will continue to hold Stand for State bystander intervention training sessions for students, faculty, and staff. Stand for State is the University's initiative aimed at empowering Penn Staters to stand up for one another, focusing on sexual and relationship violence, mental health concerns, acts of bias, and risky drinking and drug use. In addition, our Office of Police Services presents programs on sexual assault awareness and self defense, and our Office of Health Services holds a variety of informative programs and screenings for students throughout the academic year."

Summaries of the findings for each of the 23 Penn State campuses where students were surveyed, including Penn State Berks, can be found online at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/assessment/SMCS.

At Penn State Berks, the survey also found:

• 12.8 percent of women and 2.4 percent of men said they had been the victim of at least one instance of sexual assault or attempt;
• Among students who said they had been a victim of sexual assault or attempt, 60 percent said they
• had used alcohol or drugs just prior to the incident; 45.7 percent said the perpetrator had used alcohol or drugs just prior to the incident;
• 92.7 percent said the University would take a report of sexual misconduct seriously;
• 84.1 percent said the University would handle the report fairly;
• 25.6 percent said they “always” or “most of the time” walked a friend home who had too much to drink home from a party, bar or other social event if they had been a bystander in that situation.

The survey itself was based on the Administration Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3) survey, which was created based on suggestions from the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. Penn State’s survey was administered by the Office of Student Affairs Research and Assessment, which partnered with DatStat, a data research company the University has worked with on other survey projects.

For more information on the survey, see the Frequently Asked Questions and read "Survey sheds light on students’ attitudes, experiences on sexual misconduct."

For more information about resources to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct at Penn State Berks, contact Saundra Reichel, Title IX coordinator, at 610-396-6076 or via email at SJR3@psu.edu.