Speak Up MC

Executive Summary Montgomery College SpeakUpMC Climate Survey on Sexual Violence

As in prior cycles, results from the 2022 Climate Survey indicate that students feel safe at MC and have confidence in the College’s ability to respond in a supportive manner to disclosures of sexual misconduct. Results from this cycle continue to show that there is limited awareness about the Title IX grievance process.

For the 2022 cycle, Montgomery College (MC) administered the same survey that was adopted for the 2016, 2018 and 2020 surveys, which were based on the MHEC model survey.  Invitations to participate were sent by email to all 15,585 credit-bearing students enrolled in the Spring 2022 semester. 1,230 students participated in the survey resulting in a statistically representative sample (7.8%) of the spring enrollment.

Perceptions of Safety and General Campus Climate: The majority of respondents feel the overall MC climate is positive, safe, inclusive, and considerate of their wellbeing. The “I feel safe on this campus,” subitem strongly supports their perception of overall safety at 87.1%. In comparison with the 2020 survey, the most significant decrease (3.2%) was in response to the item “I feel close to people on this campus.” This is likely due to the effects of pandemic induced remote instruction.

Perceptions of Institution’s Readiness and Ability to Address Issues of Sexual Violence: The results suggest a significant increase in the percentage of students in the 2022 cycle who received information on how to prevent sexual misconduct, how to report sexual misconduct, and how to help a victim. In every category, the percentage of students who received critical information about sexual misconduct increased. There was a significant decrease (-6.6%) in the number of students who did not receive any written or verbal information about sexual misconduct.

Survey participants think MC would respond appropriately to an incident of sexual misconduct. When asked how MC might respond if a student reported an incident of sexual misconduct, data shows that students (average 82.4% likelihood) feel that MC would take the report seriously and respond promptly to address the issue fairly, protect the reporting party, honor their request on how to proceed, and provide support services. This has not changed from the 2020 cycle.

Results indicate a significant increase in students’ understanding about what happens when a student makes a report. This includes increases in students’ understanding of where to get help and where to make a report. While there are improvements over the last cycle, work remains in terms of increasing the level of awareness on how to make a report.

The survey measures student perception of their willingness to seek assistance from MC Offices and local community resources. Students reported a 33.8% likelihood that they would seek assistance from MC’s Title IX Office, compared to a 50.3% likelihood in 2020; this is a significant decrease in likelihood to report directly to the Title IX Office and must be resolved. The survey shows the largest percentage of students would seek assistance from the local police department, 68.1%, and the second most likely place to report is directly to MC Public Safety 66.1%.

Prevalence of Sexual Assault and Other Sexual Misconduct: The 2022 survey revealed the most frequently experienced forms of sexual misconduct by survey respondents are sexual harassment (49.2%), stalking (41.7%) and sexual exploitation (30.0%). Sexual harassment has consistently emerged as the most frequently experienced form of sexual misconduct by students and the most frequently reported to the Title IX Coordinator. Stalking remains a high frequency experience as well and is frequently reported to the Title IX Coordinator. Across the 2018, 2020 and 2022 cycles, stalking was reported as the second or third most frequent form of sexual misconduct experienced.  As in past survey cycles, a solid majority of survey participants (81.6%) say since coming to MC they have not experienced any unwanted sexual violence or unwanted sexual contact. A total of 114 respondents responded that they had experienced unwanted sexual contact since coming to MC.

Institutional Steps: In light of the 2022 survey results and incident report data, MC will take the following actions:

• Continue to work with campus stakeholders to build students’ awareness of the Title IX Coordinator’s role, where to report sexual misconduct, and specific details about the Title IX grievance process. Efforts will include a focus on orientation information supported by subsequent training opportunities so that students continue to receive valuable messaging throughout their time at MC.  The Title IX office commits to engaging the Title IX Advisory Committee in developing a new strategy to ensure consistent awareness messaging.
  
  
• Since the survey data shows that students are most likely to disclose to responsible employees, the Title IX Coordinator will advocate for required training for responsible employees. 

Executive Summary Montgomery College SpeakUpMC Climate Survey on Sexual Violence

Research shows that Montgomery College (MC) students who experience sexual violence don’t know how to report it or to whom.  MC is committed to preventing and ending all forms of sexual violence that impact our students. The Title IX office administered the 2020 SpeakUpMC Climate Survey on Sexual Violence to assess our students’ perceptions in MC’s response to safety, general campus climate, readiness and ability to address sexual violence, as well as the prevalence of sexual assault and other sexual misconduct. While the survey provides evidence that MC’s climate is safe, inclusive, and equitable, gaps exist in awareness and information on where students can seek help, how to report, and who to report to when experiencing sexual violence/misconduct. 

Overall, results indicate that most students favorably rated the campus climate, 83.0% (average), and they have a positive perception of campus safety at 88.0%. Similarly, 82.4 % (average) of students feel that MC would take a report seriously and respond promptly to address the issue fairly, protect the reporting party and honor their request on how to proceed, and provide support services for those who experienced sexual misconduct.

While students generally perceive MC’s campus climate, safety, and ability to address sexual violence as positive, the results indicate that relatively few students 30.1% (average) have received information about sexual misconduct or how to report sexual misconduct. Results reveal that only 57.9% (average) understand where to go to get help on campus, what happens when a student makes a report, or where to make a report of sexual misconduct. 

Further, when assessing students’ perceptions of their willingness to seek assistance from MC Offices, students reported a 50.3% likelihood that they would seek assistance from MC’s Title IX Office, 82.7% likelihood MC Public Safety office, 76.0% likelihood counseling faculty, and 67.2% likelihood from instructional faculty. This data support the results that students are unaware of Title IX office and strongly correlates with the incident log data, which shows 97.3% of reports the Title IX Coordinator receives are from Responsible Employees. 

Students who have experienced sexual misconduct since coming to MC represent 7.3% (58 out of 792 respondents). Of those who experienced sexual misconduct only17.2% (10 students) told someone at MC. Both the survey results and the incident log data from this cycle show that sexual harassment is most experienced form of sexual misconduct.

The survey results suggest that MC has an opportunity to address sexual violence through targeted educational programs. The following recommendations are made to respond to and prevent sexual violence/misconduct:

Recommendation #1: Significantly increase the completions of Sexual Violence Prevention for Community College Students, an online training for incoming students, by embedding it into instructional courses and making it mandatory for targeted student populations (i.e. FYE, athletics, student governance, clubs, international students, etc.) While MC has an online training for students, it has not been successfully implemented.

Recommendation #2: Expand Bringing in the Bystander Program into instructional classes and support trainers through institutional incentives. MC’s Bringing in the Bystander is an evidence-based program that demonstrates efficacy in students engaging in prosocial bystander behaviors.

Recommendation #3: Increase presence and visibility of MC’s Title IX office on all three campuses through an information campaign related to sexual harassment and the College’s response.

Recommendation #4: Implement required training, every other year, to all faculty and staff to ensure they are thoroughly trained on how to receive reports, respond to students seeking assistance, and ensure the Title IX Coordinator is consulted/receives the report. 

Featuring the 2018 SpeakUpMC Climate Survey Results

In 2016, in accordance with MHEC requirements, Montgomery College conducted its first Climate Survey on sexual violence, which had two main goals:  to measure prevalence of sexual assault and to measure how much students knew about Montgomery College’s sexual misconduct policies and reporting procedures. The 2016 Survey Results indicated that MC students experience sexual assault at rates generally equivalent to the national average. The majority of assaults reported did not occur on campus. While students felt strongly that Montgomery College would handle sexual misconduct seriously and appropriately, over half of the students reported that they did not know about the resources available.

Montgomery College spent the last two years building a Culture of Respect and the 2018 Climate Survey was designed to:

• Measure perceptions of the campus climate and to compare the 2018 data with the 2016 data.
• Measure experiences of sexual misconduct and to compare the 2018 data with the 2016 data.
• Measure perceptions of bystander behavior and a general culture of respect.

In February 2018, 1188 students participated online in the SpeakUpMC Climate Survey on Sexual Violence. The following information is a summary of the findings from that survey:

Perception of the Campus Climate
Students’ expectations that the College will respond in a positive way to reports of sexual assault is very high, with 83% of students agreeing or strongly agreeing that they feel safe on campus, which is 15 percentage points higher than 2016 responses.

In the past two years, Montgomery College has increased awareness of resources available to students who experience sexual misconduct. As the table below demonstrates, students have received written information about a variety of resources on campus, which increases the likelihood that they can locate resources when needed. In fact, 52.2% of students surveyed indicate that they would “know where to go to make a report of sexual misconduct,” an increase of 5.8 percentage points from 2016.

Respondents Who Answered Yes

In addition, students indicate that if they were to experience an incident of sexual misconduct, they are very likely to seek assistance from internal offices such as the Title IX Office (19.6%), Counseling and Advising (34.5%), Public Safety and Security (48.6), Student Life (18.5%), Student Affairs (17.0%), Athletics (8.2%) and an MC Faculty Member (21.7%). This highlights the importance of clarifying the role of faculty and staff as “Responsible Employees” who are required to notify the Title IX Coordinator of reports and who are strategic allies in making connections with campus and community resources.

Since 2016, there has also been an increase in the number of students who have received education about sexual misconduct. In 2016, 37.6% of students indicated that they had received no prior information or education about sexual misconduct before coming to Montgomery College. In 2018, this number decreased to 26.8%.

Overall, the topic of sexual misconduct is being infused in the classroom and non-academic spaces. In 2018, 32.8% of students reported that they had discussed sexual misconduct in class, compared to 23.3% in 2016. In addition, 15.3% had attended a Montgomery College event or program on the topic, compared to 9.6% in 2016.

Experiences of Sexual Assault and Violence
In the 2018 survey, 9.5% of students surveyed reported that since coming to the college, they have experienced unwanted sexual violence or contact. The most common forms reported include sexual harassment, defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other unwanted behavior of a sexual or gender-based nature; stalking, defined as engaging in a pattern of behavior such as following someone or leaving repeated unwanted messages, texts, emails, etc. that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or to suffer substantial emotional distress; and nonconsensual sexual activity. While a majority of respondents reported the incident, they are less likely to tell someone at Montgomery College about this, which means that they are less likely to learn about the resources available to them to mitigate the impacts of such trauma on their educational success.

As was shown in the 2016 survey and again in the 2018 survey, those students who experience sexual violence reported they feel depressed (64%), have difficulty focusing on schoolwork (58%), arrive late to class (31%), miss an assignment (28%), miss one or more class (25%), or fail a class (19%). This data highlights the negative academic outcomes that often result from experiencing sexual misconduct. Further, this supports the critical role of the Title IX Program in ensuring access to educational accommodations designed to mitigate the effects of experiencing gender based violence.  It also reinforces the urgency in reporting to the Title IX Coordinator.

Perceptions of Bystander Behavior and a Culture of Respect
Some misconceptions about sexual misconduct still exist and in some cases, have gained support within the college community. For instance, in 2018, 42.9% of students surveyed agree, strongly agree that, or do not know if sexual assault happens because “men get carried away.”  Similarly, 32.9% agree, strongly agree, or do not know if rape and sexual assault happens because people put themselves in bad situations. While more efforts should be focused on combating these rape myths, there are other areas where institutional efforts such as consent workshops have helped to produce desired effects. In 2018, 20.3% of surveyed students strongly disagree, disagree, or do not know if, “consent to engage in sexual activity can be withdrawn at any time,” a decrease of 10 percentage points from 2016.

Since 2016, Montgomery College has increased programming about Bystander Intervention and baseline data indicate that students are willing to intervene in situations when necessary. For instance, 76.9% of students indicate that they are likely or very likely to call campus security if they saw a group bothering someone in a parking lot or similar setting. 87.5% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they would confront a friend who was hooking up with someone who was passed out. In addition, 93.8% of students surveyed indicated that they would go with a friend to the police department if the friend said she or he was raped. These results are encouraging, suggesting that institutional efforts to promote prosocial bystander behavior resonate with the student population and may likely be used in situations to de-escalate problematic behavior.  
 
Suggestions for Future Research
In looking ahead to 2020, MC will continue to educate students and the community about ways to foster a Culture of Respect. MC has introduced a Title IX module via the online new student orientation, while also updating its online sexual assault prevention training from Haven to Sexual Assault Prevention for Community Colleges. The new module addresses the unique characteristics of a 2-year commuter institution attended by a large number of nontraditional students. All faculty are encouraged to have their students participate; the training is available from the Title IX homepage. Additionally, MC will continue to offer bystander intervention training; contact the Title IX office to request a training.

Here is what your fellow students had to say about the climate of Sexual Violence at Montgomery College

Perception of Safety & College Responsiveness:
Students’ expectations that the College will respond in a positive way to reports of sexual assault is very high, hovering at about 80% for a range of questions that reflect faith in MC’s good intentions. Similarly, 60-67% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they feel safe on campus, with neutral response ratings hovering between 24-30%. Students asked whether Montgomery College has created an environment where sexual harassment, stalking and sexual violence are recognized as problems indicated “yes” at 68.31%; 79.91% said that these issues are safe to discuss at Montgomery College.

Knowledge about available resources:

• 1,038, 53.6% of students surveyed indicated that they would NOT “know where to go to make a report of sexual misconduct.” This figure was similar for questions asking about students’ understanding of what happens when a report of sexual misconduct is made, and about “where to get help on campus.”
• 64.9% of students reported that they are “not at all aware” of the Title IX office; 75.3% reported that they are “not at all aware” of the Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program.

Education:

• 23.3% of students reported that they had discussed sexual misconduct in class; only 9.69% had attended a Montgomery College event or program on the topic.
• Close to 40% of students (726) indicated that they had received no prior information or education about sexual misconduct before coming to Montgomery College.

Attitudes:

• 33.4% agree, strongly agree that, or don’t know if sexual assault happens because “men get carried away.”
• 36.6% agree, strongly agree that, or don’t know if “dressing provocatively or engaging in promiscuous activity is inviting sexual assault.”
• 27.6% agree, strongly agree that, or don’t know if rape and sexual assault happens because people put themselves in bad situations.
• 41.1% agree, strongly agree that, or don’t know if “many women who claim they were raped had sex and regretted it afterwards.”
• 30.4% strongly disagree, disagree that, or don’t know if, “consent to engage in sexual activity can be withdrawn at any time.”
• 305 students reported that they has experienced sexual intimidation and186 indicated, “I’d rather not answer;” twenty-five students reported that this happened on a Montgomery College Campus.
• 461 (23.71%) of students reported that they had experienced sexual harassment, and 137 indicated, “I’d rather not answer;” 51 indicated that the experience had happened on a Montgomery College Campus.
• 348 students (18%) reported that they had experienced stalking and 100 indicated “I’d rather not answer;” 50 of these students indicated that the experience had happened on a Montgomery College Campus.

Dating Violence:
155 students reported that they had experienced dating violence and 75 indicated “I’d rather not answer;” six reported that the event had occurred on a Montgomery College campus.

204 students indicated that they had experienced domestic violence, and 105 reported that they would “rather not answer;” eight students reported that they had experienced domestic violence on a Montgomery College Campus
 
Sexual Activity without Consent:
254 students reported that someone had engaged or attempted to engage in sexual activity or behavior with them without their consent; 140 students said “I’d rather not answer;” ten of these students reported that the incident had happened on a Montgomery College campus.

Sexual Assault:
194 students indicated that they had experienced sexual assault and 129 indicated that they would “rather not answer;” six students reported that they have been sexually assaulted on a Montgomery College campus.

Rape:
94 students told us that they had experienced rape and 123 indicated that they would “rather not answer;” NO students said that rape had occurred on a Montgomery College campus.

Secondary Impact:
573 students told us that someone close to them had experienced sexual violence, and 161 indicated that they would “rather not answer.” Impacts on these students’ well-being were similar to those of students who reported experiencing sexual violence victimization.

Comments by students:
341 students commented on the survey. Comments discuss students’ experiences of sexual violence and document the pain and suffering of victims: “I feel really depressed about the situation;” and, “I was so young and scared, I didn’t know what to do;” and, “I was going through a violence relationship [that] made me want to drop my classes.” One student wrote about “being assaulted in a classroom full of people” and, when the professor “[did] nothing,” “feeling out of place, scared, disgusted.”

Some comments reveal the dominance of destructive attitudes in some students’ understanding of sexual violence: “some students expose themselves by the way they dress;” and, “people who are abused are the ones who asked for it;” and, “ban women from wearing yoga pants.” One student wrote that “if I saw a girl getting sexually harassed, I probably wouldn’t do anything… I would probably watch if it’s entertaining.”

Overall, students expressed a strong desire to receive more education, to have more opportunities to be involved in violence prevention.