Introduction

This past Spring, the University of Chicago participated in an anonymous sexual misconduct climate survey for all students as required by recent amendments to the Illinois Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act.

The survey helps the University understand the scope and scale of students’ experiences of sexual misconduct. It also supports the work the University does to address climate by looking at the ways in which we currently address sexual misconduct and provide resources for those impacted by it. The results of the survey will be used to inform prevention and support efforts, to further develop and use policy to address harms, and to continue to encourage safety and reduce the likelihood of sexual misconduct.

The Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey was administered by the Office of Institutional Analysis, in partnership with the University of Chicago’s Center for Awareness, Resolution, Education and Support (UChicago CARES). The survey was anonymous and voluntary. The survey launched on May 1, 2024 and was open until June 4, 2024. The survey was designed by an Illinois Board of Higher Education Task Force and is not affiliated with the University of Chicago (though the University was allowed to make minor revisions/additions to specific questions). Going forward, the University will conduct this survey annually as required by state law.

The full results of this survey are accessible via the CARES website: https://cares.uchicago.edu/the-university-of-chicago-sexual-misconduct-survey-reporting-template-2024/

(Please note that only overall results are shown, and only include the 1129 respondents who counted as a “complete response” per the Task Force’s specifications (see below for more information). In addition, all results are shown as counts rather than percentages.)

The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and the Office of Institutional Analysis will also post an Executive Summary of Key Findings later in the Fall Quarter.

Background on the Development and Design of the Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey

In 2021, a bill written by students and supported by survivor advocates was signed into Illinois law by amending the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act. This new law, Public Act 102-0325 (110 ILCS 155/35), mandates that all institutions of higher education conduct an annual anonymous campus sexual misconduct survey to assess students’ experiences, outcomes regarding their experiences, and perceptions of sexual violence and collegiate culture. The law also called for the creation of a Task Force on Sexual Misconduct on Campus Climate Surveys to develop and refine over time the “base survey” that institutions will administer and implementation guidance.

The Task Force was charged with creating a base survey to cover a range of topics outlined in the statute, including:

• The number, type, and location of reported and unreported incidents of sexual misconduct;
• Students’ awareness of institution’s sexual misconduct policies and procedures;
• Whether the student was referred to victim support services and provided information on his/her/their rights;
• Student demographic information such as race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, and immigration status that could be used to identify at-risk groups;
• The perceptions of campus safety and confidence in the institution’s ability to protect students against sexual misconduct; and
• Contextual factors of the sexual misconduct incident and any student outcomes, such as withdrawing from classes or being placed on academic probation.

The statute charged the Task Force not only with developing the base survey, but also with recommendations for implementation relating to timing, content, and application of the survey. The Task Force issued its Report and Base Survey Recommendations, including the base survey and implementation recommendations, in July 2023.

The state mandates that all higher education institutions in the State of Illinois administer and report the results of the Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey each academic year, starting in 2024.

Administration and Respondent Profile of The University of Chicago’s Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey

The University of Chicago’s Office of Institutional Analysis programmed and administered the Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey from May 1 through June 4, 2024. Prior to survey launch, the University Dean of Students sent an email communication to all department/division deans, and separately, another email communication to all students notifying them of the forthcoming survey.

In total, 17,977 students were invited to complete the survey. Of these, 1501 students responded to any part of the survey. Of these 1501 students, 1129 qualified as a complete based on the guidelines specified by the Task Force, leading to an overall completed response rate of 7%. The 1129 completed responses are those included in analysis and reporting.

Table 1: Comparison of Respondents (those counted as “Completes”) to the Overall Student Population