AAU Survey Results

Association of American Universities (AAU)

Campus Climate Survey of Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct

The Association of American University’s (AAU) 2019 Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct asked students to report on their experiences and attitudes with respect to sexual assault and sexual misconduct at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMTC).  Nearly 13,000 degree-seeking students responded (a 29.1% response rate).

Significant 2019 Results Include:

More students are receiving training on these topics, and understand our definition of sexual misconduct, how to report an incident, what our procedures are and where to get help. 

  • 87.7 percent of incoming students indicate completing at least one training, a 47.6 percent increase from 2015.
  • 79 percent of returning students report completing at least one training since arriving on campus.
  • Knowledge about how the University defines sexual assault and sexual misconduct saw increases of 24.7 percent for graduate and professional women, and 5.2 percent for undergraduate women.

Students are being active bystanders.

  • Among students who reported witnessing a situation they believed could lead to sexual assault, more than three in four (75.5 percent) took some type of action (intervening or expressing concern).
  • Among those who indicated witnessing a situation making someone feel uncomfortable or offended, 65.2 percent took some type of action.

Too many students at UMTC, and at colleges nationwide, experience sexual assault, harassment or other misconduct.

  • 25.6 percent of undergraduate women have experienced non-consensual sexual contact (by physical force or inability to consent) since entering the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, a slight increase from 2015 and just below the national average.
  • 18.7 percent of all students have experienced harassment while enrolled, with 38.3 percent of students experiencing harassing behavior as well. Nearly half of our LGBTQIA students report experiencing this type of behavior. 

The University participated in the 2015 and 2019 surveys to better understand key issues related to sexual assault and sexual misconduct and institute policies and procedures to address them. In spring 2017, the President’s Initiative to Prevent Sexual Misconduct (PIPSM) was launched, with the goal of long-term culture change toward building a University community free from all forms of sexual misconduct. PIPSM relies on members of the University community for active involvement in assessment, prevention, evaluation, and accountability, so that everyone may experience a healthy, safe, and supportive culture.

How Can You Help?

Given the importance of this issue, we want to partner with you to make our campus safe for all students. There are a number of ways you can help: