Assisting & Referring Students Reporting to Experience Sexual Assault, Dating & Domestic Violence, & Stalking
Role of Faculty & Staff in Assisting Students
Faculty/Staff Guide to Assisting Students Reporting to Experience Sexual Violence, Relationship Violence, & Stalking
Because faculty and staff members come in frequent contact with many students, they may be one of the first individuals students will turn to for assistance with personal problems.
Consequently, faculty and staff members of UW-Stout play a central role in students' help-seeking efforts, including students who may experience the fear and trauma associated with sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking. It is possible that just a few minutes of effective listening on the part of a faculty/staff member may be enough to help these students feel comfortable about what to do next.
FACULTY AND STAFF REQUIREMENT
The law requires any person employed at an institution who witnesses a sexual assault on campus or receives a first-hand report of a sexual assault from a student who is enrolled at the institution to report this information to the Chief Student Affairs Officer (Dean of Students). This includes faculty, academic staff, classified staff and student employees. If you observe or become aware of any such information, please contact the Dean of Students Office at 232-1181 or email:Dean_of_Students@uwstout.edu. The objective of this reporting exercise is to ensure that the Dean of Student's Office is aware and can report to the State of Wisconsin the incidence of sexual assault on or affecting our campus. To help avoid double counting of incidents, please plan to provide enough information that we would be able to distinguish between incidents.
Tips to Guide Your Response & Referral
- Among the most important helping tools are your concern, availability, and willingness to listen.
- To begin, attempt to normalize the experience of their difficulties and the seeking of help.
- Respect the student's request for confidentiality.
- However, avoid the promise of absolute confidentiality if a student presents imminent risk for suicide. Call the UW-Stout Police for 24-hour emergency assistance: 232-2222.
- However, avoid the promise of absolute confidentiality if a student presents imminent risk for suicide. Call the UW-Stout Police for 24-hour emergency assistance: 232-2222.
- Inquire about the student's needs for personal safety related to the situation. Include discussion/exploration of strategies to help ensure these safety needs are being met.
- Also inquire about the necessity for medical attention, no matter how long ago the incident(s) was reported to have taken place.
- Throughout your discussion:
- Believe what the student tells you.
- Validate fears and/or ambivalence associated with the situation.
- Try to reduce any stigma or self-blame the student may feel; when possible redirect such expressions of self-blame.
- Be candid about your availability and limits to assist them.
- When ready to discuss referral and resources:
- Take a collaborative approach in identifying informational and/or referral options. Many of these options are free, confidential, and available on a 24-hour basis, you can navigate a list of counseling resources here.
- Accept the student's choice about how she/he wants to deal with the situation (i.e., reporting to the police, obtaining a restraining order, etc.). Present these resources as options available for the student to consider now or in the future.
- If the student agrees to a referral, suggest that she/he call to make an appointment while in your office/room. Allow the student to make the appointment if possible.
- At some point consider asking if you can call the student back in a few days to see how she is doing. Remember, she may not have told any roommates/friends/coworkers, so be sure to ask if it's OK for her to talk at that moment, if she is not home it is best not to leave a detailed message.
Consultation Available to Faculty/Staff
If a student declines further assistance or referral, and you continue to be concerned for her/his safety or well-being, individualized consultation is available with staff of the Campus Violence Prevention Project either by phone or appointment, navigate to the campus resources page.
- Note about student confidentiality: When requesting consultation please keep in mind our staff may have made previous contact with the student, or may already be informed about the student's situation. In such cases we require students' written permission prior to discussing their situation with others, including whether the student has, in fact, received services with us. However, regardless of the situation we are always available to listen to faculty/staff and offer whatever assistance and support is possible.
University Disciplinary Process/Penalties
Students reporting to have experienced sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, or stalking may request a campus disciplinary hearing and will be informed of the outcome of such hearing, navigate to the campus resources page to see contact information for the dean of students. Possible disciplinary penalties for students found responsible for such incidents may include suspension or expulsion.
Employee Assistance Program for Faculty/Staff
Faculty and staff members may also wish to consider confidential, short-term counseling and referral services available through UW-Stout's Employee Assistance Program in managing any resulting personal stress associated with assisting students, navigate to the campus resources page.
Please click here for a list of Community and Campus Resources