Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Jacqueline Fraser

Abstract

While anyone can be a victim of sexual violence, college-aged females between the ages of 18 and 21 are more likely to be victimized than any other group. Sexual violence continues to be a barrier to education, and colleges/universities make it challenging for students to report on campus. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors, intervention/prevention strategies, and policies/procedures used to address sexual violence on a university campus. The framework used was the ecological model, which focuses on factors and influences within the environment that affected individual behavior. The research questions focused on participants describing their experiences of how campus sexual violence incidences were addressed, including the university’s sexual assault response system and best practices. The research design was a qualitative instrumental case study. The method was in depth individual interviews, and the data analysis included content analysis, coding and categorizing data from the interview transcripts, observation notes, and other materials to increase the understanding of the phenomenon. There were four key findings, which included (a) sexual violence was still a concern on this campus, (b) barriers to reporting and accessing services, (c) online programs currently required by the university and the state were inadequate, and (d) Title IX policies and procedures were unclear for students, faculty, or staff. Recommendations included addressing barriers to reporting and accessing services, providing adequate educational programs, and providing clarification on Title IX for students, faculty, and staff. This study provides data that may lead to changes in legislation, policies, and procedures in combating sexual violence on this college campus.

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