Building a Harassment-Free Campus

 2005-06 Campus Action Project Teams

Sexual harassment is a problem on college campuses nationwide, but many campus professionals and students are confused about what constitutes sexual harassment and how it affects students’ educational experience. What do we mean by sexual harassment? How often does it occur, to whom, and at what cost? Where do we draw the line between freedom of expression and the right to a learning environment that is free from bias and harassment?

Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus is a national research study of college students and their experiences regarding sexual harassment on campus. The study looks at a nationally representative survey of undergraduate students – male and female 18-24 year olds, enrolled full- or part-time at a two-year or four-year college or university – and examines the groups' harassment experiences throughout the college campus and these incidents' impact on their educational and college experience.

To create action on campus in response to this study, AAUW’s Leadership and Training Institute supported several Campus Action Projects (CAP). The CAP teams implemented a project that extended awareness of campus sexual harassment as a way to begin to create an impact and affect change in the campus climate, and provide an avenue for ongoing leadership training and support of women leaders. At the conclusion of the project, CAP teams sent a representative to present their outcomes at the June 2006 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.

Get ideas on how to get the word out about this research.

Questions? Call AAUW's Leadership and Training Institute at 202/785-7719 or send an e-mail to cap@aauw.org.