Student Onboarding and Ongoing Education Guide

The State University of New York and its State-operated and community colleges believe that sexual violence prevention training and education cannot be accomplished via a single day or a single method of training. To that end, SUNY campuses will continue to educate all new and current students using a variety of best practices aimed at educating the entire college community in a way that decreases violence and maintaining a culture where sexual assault and acts of violence are not tolerated.

All new first-year and transfer students will, during the course of their onboarding to a SUNY State-operated or community college, receive training on the following topics, using a method and manner appropriate to the institutional culture of each campus:

• The institution prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, other violence or threats of violence, and will offer resources to any victims/survivors of such violence while taking administrative and conduct action regarding any accused individual within the jurisdiction of the institution.
• Relevant definitions including, but not limited to, the definitions of sexual violence and consent.
• Policies apply equally to all students regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
• The role of the Title IX Coordinator, University Police/Campus Security, and other relevant offices that address violence prevention and response.
• Awareness of violence, its impact on victims/survivors and their friends and family, and its long-term impact.
• The Students’ Bill of Rights and Sexual Violence Response Policy, including:
  • How to report sexual violence and other crimes confidentially, and/or to college officials, campus law enforcement and security, and local law enforcement.
  • How to obtain services and support.
• Bystander Intervention and the importance of taking action, when one can safely do so, to prevent violence.
• The protections of the Policy for Alcohol and/or Drug Use Amnesty in Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Cases
• Risk assessment and reduction including, but not limited to, steps that potential victims/survivors and potential assailants and bystanders to violence can take to lower the incidence of sexual violence.
• Consequences and sanctions for individuals who commit these crimes.

The onboarding process is not limited to a single day of orientation, but recognizes that students enroll at different times at different SUNY campuses and gives campuses the flexibility to best educate students at a time and manner that can most effectively bring these points to light. SUNY will conduct these trainings for all new students, whether first-year or transfer, undergraduate, graduate, or professional. Each campus shall use multiple methods to educate students about sexual violence prevention. Each SUNY institution will also share information on sexual violence prevention with parents of enrolling students.

Students at SUNY State-operated and community college campuses shall be offered general and specialized training in sexual violence prevention. Each institution will conduct a campaign, compliant with the requirements of the Violence Against Women Act, to educate the student population. Further, institutions will, as appropriate, provide or expand specific training to include groups such as international students, students that are also employees of the campus, leaders and officers of registered/recognized student organizations, online and distance education students. Institutions will also provide specific training to members of groups identified as likely to engage in high-risk behavior.

Beginning in the 2015-2016 academic year, SUNY State-operated and community colleges will require that student leaders and officers of registered/recognized student organizations and those seeking recognition complete training on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking prevention as part of the approval process and require student-athletes to complete training in domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking prior to participating in intercollegiate athletics.

Methods of training and educating students may include, but are not limited to:

• President’s welcome messaging;
• Peer theater and peer educational programs;
• Online training;
• Social media outreach;
• First-year seminars and transitional courses;
• Course syllabi;
• Faculty teach-ins;
• Institution-wide reading programs;
• Posters, bulletin boards, and other targeted print and email materials;
• Programming surrounding large recurring campus events;
• Partnering with neighboring SUNY and non-SUNY colleges to offer training and education;
• Partnering with State and local community organizations that provide outreach, support, crisis intervention, counseling and other resources to victims/survivors of crimes to offer training and education. Partnerships can also be used to educate community organizations about the resources and remedies available on campus for students and employees seeking services; and
• Outreach and partnering with local business those attract students to advertise and educate about these policies.