Charting the Path Forward: National Data Highlights on Promising Trends and Continuing Challenges in Campus Sexual Assault Prevention

In the six years since the release of the Dear Colleague Letter, and the four years since the the passage of the VAWA amendments to the Clery Act, colleges and universities across the country have devoted unprecedented attention, time, and resources to preventing sexual assault on campus. EverFi’s Campus Prevention Network, in collaboration with It’s On Us, has examined the current state of sexual assault prevention to identify positive national trends in higher education and spotlight areas that schools need to continue to focus their attention. Among the findings, this report highlights:

• Nearly 50% of college presidents have spoken publicly about sexual assault three or more times in the past year; only a quarter of college presidents did not speak about sexual assault publicly in the past year;
• While fewer than a third of campuses (27.9%) reported stable, consistent funding for evaluation efforts of their prevention programming, nearly all campuses are engaging in at least one evaluation effort of their prevention programming despite funding challenges;
• Peer educators are playing an increasingly prominent role in delivering sexual assault prevention programming on campus; schools and colleges need to ensure peer educators receive appropriate supervision and training to fulfill their responsibilities successfully;
• Significant differences in funding and staffing levels for prevention exist across institutions, particularly in relation to school size; increased investment in prevention is necessary for ongoing impact and progress.