Education and Prevention

Johnson & Wales University takes a proactive stance to educate its community regarding issues of sexual assault and relationship violence, including retaliation, and methods of prevention.

JWU's education and prevention programming includes programs, initiatives, strategies and campaigns intended to address sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. Education and programming focus on various types of prevention: awareness raising, risk reduction, bystander behavior and intervention, promotion of healthy relationships and sexuality, and addressing societal or environmental causes. These programs are both in-person and online. In addition, the programs are a mix of guest speakers, university staff members, externally created programs and university-created programs.

For students, education about sexual assault and relationship violence awareness and prevention begins at new student orientation, where incoming students and involved families participate in in-person and online sessions addressing the university’s stance against sexual assault and relationship violence.

New student orientation staff members are trained to handle issues of sexual violence and relationship violence, and participate in programming designed to help students understand university expectations and policy; the intersection between alcohol, sexual assault and relationship violence; and ways to reduce the risk of, as well as prevent, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. This programming promotes safety and introduces options to decrease perpetration, increase reporting, and empower individuals to take safe and comfortable bystander action.

Students also learn about safe and effective forms of bystander intervention to prevent harm or intervene when there is a risk of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking. Bystander intervention means safe and positive options that may be carried out by an individual or individuals that proactively promote safe and respectful interactions before the precursors to harm are ever witnessed. Bystander intervention includes recognizing situations of potential harm, understanding institutional structures and cultural conditions that facilitate violence, overcoming barriers to intervening, identifying safe and effective intervention options, and taking action to intervene.

To promote a safe and engaged community, the university addresses bystander behavior by participating in programs like Green Dot as a core component of its comprehensive violence prevention efforts. 

Prevention and education efforts continue throughout the year and are supported by multiple departments such as Student Involvement & Leadership (including student organizations and fraternities and sororities), Residential Life and Athletics. These efforts are targeted at awareness raising, self-defense, alcohol use, definition of consent, healthy sexuality and relationships, risk reduction and bystander behavior. The university provides education through its "Consent Is..." campaign, which educates students about the university's policies related to sexual assault; the definition of consent; the intersection between alcohol, sexual assault and relationship violence; where to obtain resources; and where to report violations. Literature addressing issues of sexual assault and relationship violence is available from multiple departments and individuals, including Campus Safety & Security, Counseling Services, Health Services, Health Education, the Gender Equity Center, Student Involvement & Leadership, Athletics, Residential Life and the Title IX Coordinator.

Many of the educational programs and events offered to students are open to all community members, and employees have the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs. In addition, employees are offered programming on the Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment (including Sexual Harassment) Policy, and the Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Policy. These programs inform employees of the university’s stance against sexual assault and relationship violence, and the university's prohibition against retaliation.

For information regarding sexual assault and relationship violence awareness and prevention programming, contact the Title IX Coordinator or director of the Gender Equity Center. Upcoming programs can also be found on jwuLink and the student calendar.

See additional information: Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence, Steps to Follow, Getting Help, Criminal and Disciplinary Action, Retaliation and State Laws.