Jessica Todtman, The State University of New York

2015 Higher Education Government Relations Conference

December 11, 2015

A System Approach to Sexual

Assault Prevention & Response

Section titles are always placed on the

right and right justified, at the same

height as content titles.

Outline

• Background about how SUNY came

to craft a uniform sexual assault

prevention and response policy

• Overview of policies and resulting

state legislation

• Lessons learned

Section titles are always placed on the

right and right justified, at the same

height as content titles.

Governor Cuomo

BOT Resolution

“The adoption of a comprehensive, uniform, system-

wide sexual assault prevention and response plan to

be implemented at all SUNY campuses that will

include uniform:

• Sexual assault Victims’ Bill of Rights;

• sexual assault student reporting amnesty policy;

• freshman orientation training;

• confidentiality and reporting protocol;

• campus climate assessment; and

• definition of affirmative consent.”

Working Group

Campus presidents from all sectors,

University police and community college public

safety officers,

Title IX coordinators,

Orientation and judicial affairs directors,

Counseling center leaders,

Chief student affairs officers,

Faculty and students, and

External advocacy organizations – including

national experts on this topic.

Key Policies

• A uniform, system-wide definition of affirmative

consent

• An amnesty policy to protect victims and

bystanders reporting sexual assault

• Onboarding and ongoing education guide

• Victims' Bill of Rights and Response Policy

• Access to supportive resources, including options

for confidentially disclosing incidents

• Campus climate assessment policy

Governor Cuomo

“Today, SUNY is taking a critical step toward

combating the epidemic of sexual violence and

misconduct on our college campuses…By

implementing a uniform sexual assault prevention

policy, we are better protecting our students and our

communities and setting an example for other states

and schools to follow.”

Enough is Enough • Leader Nancy Pelosi;

• Lady Gaga, who also co-authored an op-ed with the Governor;

• 17 of 18 county executives statewide;

• Whoopi Goldberg, who also filmed a video for the campaign;

• More than 40 city mayors from across the state;

• More than 100 elected officials from across the state;

• Nearly 20 members of New York’s Congressional Delegation;

• More than 50 statewide and local organizations, in addition to

30 advocacy groups, community organizations and unions and

14 labor groups;

• 28 public safety officials from across the state; and

• Student advocates.

Key Policies

• Reporting requirements for campuses to submit data

annually to the State Education Department

• A new “sexual assault victims unit” within the State

Police

• $10M to help combat campus sexual assault

• A requirement for first responders to notify survivors

of their right to contact outside law enforcement

Lessons Learned

• Student-friendly policies

• Earn your seat at the table

• Implementation can be costly

• Resources, resources, resources

Resources

• Sexual Violence Workgroup site - 30,590 hits

• SUNY VAWA guidance – 30,000+ downloads

• SAVR Resource – 3,325 hits

• VAWA Immigration Resource – 1,432 hits

Jessica Todtman, The State University of New York

2015 Higher Education Government Relations Conference

December 11, 2015

A System Approach to Sexual

Assault Prevention & Response