Summit shares work guiding sexual violence prevention strategic plan

In the final weeks of the semester, students, faculty, and staff gathered at The Inn at Virginia Tech, drawn by a key question: How can we promote a culture that stands against sexual violence in higher education?

The Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative (SVPI) launched in fall 2023 to explore answers. Over the course of this academic year, its members have examined the resources and framework needed to establish sexual violence prevention as a shared responsibility of the entire Virginia Tech community.

The SVPI Summit, held on April 18, was an opportunity to share what the steering committee learned ahead of submitting its strategic plan to university leadership.

Toward a strategic plan

The work of the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative builds upon the efforts of the Sexual Violence Culture and Climate Work Group, established in 2021 to examine how Virginia Tech addresses cases of sexual violence, how it supports victims of violence, and how to prevent its occurrence. Over two years, the work group developed a foundation of resources, programs, and assessment tools, including the establishment of a full-time gender-based violence prevention specialist, the centralization of resources on the SAFE at VT website, and redesigned timely warnings.

By its end, members recognized that the work toward sexual violence prevention needed heightened attention, leading to the creation of the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative as a presidential priority.

“Virginia Tech has historically focused on our response [to sexual violence]. But if we want to have true cultural change, you don’t accomplish that through reaction,” Kelly Oaks, associate vice president for equity and accessibility and the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative's program leader, said as she opened the summit.

The Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative's steering committee is made up of staff and faculty from across Virginia Tech whose work or research involves the safety and well-being of the university community. Undergraduate and graduate student advisory groups play a formal role in reviewing work of the steering committee and providing feedback. Additional input into strategic planning conversations has been received by other student groups.  

The thoughts and ideas of all who participated are being synthesized into a strategic plan designed to strengthen Virginia Tech’s prevention work for the near- and long-term.

Considering the data

At the summit, attendees heard from staff, faculty, and students who each hold a piece of the puzzle for developing effective sexual prevention work:

• Katie Polidoro, Title IX coordinator in the Office for Equity and Accessibility, guided the audience through the latest Title IX report, and what that data says — and doesn't say — about sexual violence at Virginia Tech.
• Jennifer A. Johnson, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology, presented her research on digital pornography’s hyperaccessibility and how that has negatively affected the sexual health of young adults.
• Meagan J. Brem, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, presented her preliminary findings on alcohol abuse as a contributing factor to intimate partner violence among college students.
• Allison Tobar, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Psychology, presented her research on Virginia Tech student responses to sexual assault crime alerts and how students believe these communications can be improved.

Resources for prevention and advocacy

These presentations were followed by an overview of some of the sexual violence prevention and advocacy work already occurring on campus:

• The CARES Program for Survivors of Violence: A confidential advocacy service helping survivors of violence decide their next steps and cope with the aftermath
• Sexual Assault and Violence Education by Students (SAVES): A peer education student group that creates educational material, outreach events, and discussions around interpersonal and sexual health
• Sexual Assault Prevention Specialist Chelsea Cleary engages and trains students in peer education programs, empowering students with the tools to recognize violence and develop healthy interpersonal relationships. She has reached over 9,300 students since the position was created by the Sexual Violence Culture and Climate Work Group in spring 2022.

Cleary emphasized the collaboration currently in place between these three programs in order to reach across the university and bring awareness and skills to students, by students, on multiple fronts.

A collaborative effort

Collaboration – between faculty, staff, and students – was at the heart of the summit’s messaging. Part of the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative’s work has been in uncovering the potential to form even more partnerships.

During the Q&A portion of Brem’s presentation, a staff member from Hokie Wellness suggested there was potential to partner on Brem’s research and better understand the effectiveness of current programming. This sentiment was echoed in other Q&A sessions, as attendees began to connect how their roles fit within Virginia Tech’s shared responsibility.

That instinct will continue to drive the work as the strategic plan is finalized for submission to President Tim Sands this summer, after which, it will be shared with the public.

Visit the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative's task force page to learn more about this initiative and see updates on its progress.