Madelynn Hill, Mahrukh Delawarzad, and Manizha Nazari, “A Scoping Review of Perceptions of Sexual Violence among Higher Education Personnel at University Campuses”
Mentor: Rose Hennessy Garza, Public Health
Poster #166

Sexual violence is defined as any type of unwanted sexual contact or behavior that happens without the explicit and informed consent of the victim. Many students are being impacted by this problem, especially female first-year college students and LGBTQ+ students. While many efforts exist with students to address sexual violence, less is known about how the perceptions and behaviors of campus administrators and personnel influence the campus climate and sexual violence. A scoping review was conducted to answer the question, “What is the current state of research pertaining to campus sexual violence from the perspective of campus personnel, with an emphasis on those in administrative leadership positions?” A team of three undergraduate students, a research librarian, and a faculty member collaborated to design the study protocol following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Three undergraduates reviewed 1853 publications for inclusion using the RAYYAN program, read included articles, and pulled key themes for the review from 27 peer-reviewed journal articles. The scoping review found that most research is focusing on reporting and intervention, with less emphasis on prevention. Themes indicate that personnel are generally aware of sexual violence as a problem and recognize broad reporting requirements but lack an in-depth understanding of procedures and protocols. Essential actions include clearer policies, enhanced training for staff and students, and further research on the topic. The issue of sexual assault should be taken seriously by the leadership teams in all higher education institutions, with clear actions taken for prevention and intervention.