All full-time undergraduate and all graduate students at York University and across Ontario will be invited to participate in the Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey beginning Feb. 26.
The survey will be administered by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD).
“I encourage all York University students to participate in the Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey, which will support the gathering of important data on campus safety and sexual violence response resources and inform evidence-based sexual violence response and education on university and college campuses across the province,” said York University’s President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. “Supporting initiatives such as the Student Voices survey is an integral part of York’s ongoing commitment to fostering safe and inclusive campus environments, where we work together to prevent all forms of sexual violence and to ensure that survivors are supported and empowered in accessing the resources and services they need.”
Postsecondary students are being encouraged to complete the survey, which will gather quality, consistent data about students’ experiences and general attitudes and beliefs related to campus safety, unwanted sexual behaviours, and sexual violence response support and resources. It is the largest survey of its kind ever conducted in Ontario.
The survey takes 20 minutes on average and will ask questions about the survey participant’s perspective on, and experience with, sexual violence. All responses will be kept strictly confidential.
The survey will be open from Feb. 26 to March 26, and students will receive an email with a personalized link to the survey.
The student survey will provide the University with information to further address sexual violence and help inform effective sexual violence response and education. York University’s Sexual Violence Response Office has been moving forward to foster a culture where attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate sexual violence are rejected, survivors are supported, community members are educated, and those who commit incidents of sexual violence are held accountable.
A high participation rate will result in robust data that can be used for planning at all levels of the University – program, faculty, divisional and institutional – and help to better serve our students.
Visit the Student Voices on Sexual Violence website for information on the survey.
More about the Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey
On March 8, 2016, the government passed the “Sexual Violence & Harassment Action Plan Act”, which amended the Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities and Private Career College acts. The revised legislation strengthens supports for survivors of sexual violence and helps make campuses, workplaces, homes, and communities safer.
The revisions require postsecondary education institutions, including private career colleges, to participate in a student campus climate survey on sexual violence.
The Ministry has engaged with several groups to develop the survey, including: Canadian Federation of Students; College Student Alliance; Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance; College & University sector representatives; MAESD’s Sexual Violence Reporting Advisory committee (includes students); Ministry of the Status of Women (formerly OWD); and Violence Against Women Roundtable.