University updates initiative on preventing sexual assault and misconduct

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 — Editor’s note: The following message was sent today via email from Dean of Students and Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs LT Robinson to all students, faculty and staff:

As part of our commitment to bring you updates about the work of the President’s Initiative on Preventing Sexual Assault and Misconduct, I am writing to share information regarding our ongoing efforts in prevention education, services related to advocacy, reporting options and ways you can get involved.

Prevention Education

Check out the many events and educational programs we are offering this fall on sexual violence prevention topics, including consent education, bystander intervention and healthy relationships. I encourage you to attend as many as possible. These events and trainings, even when virtual, bring our community together and provide opportunities to expand our knowledge about these important topics.

As just one highlight, this Thursday, September 17, UTSA hosts Sexual Assault and Misconduct Prevention Panel covering the various resources provided for UTSA students who experience sexual violence. You can also support these efforts on your own social media handles with our awareness campaign.

Advocacy Services

Acknowledging the importance of providing supportive services in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX requirements, UTSA has a variety of advocacy resources available. The PEACE Center includes a student advocate to assist students who have been victims of sexual violence or intimate partner violence by providing crisis intervention, safety planning, reporting option education and emotional support. Students do not need to report incidents to authorities in order to receive assistance from the student advocate, and all meetings and services are confidential. UTSA’s student ombudsperson serves as a respondent advocate in compliance with Title IX regulations.

Reporting Options

UTSA has multiple options for Roadrunners wishing to report acts of sexual violence or misconduct. These include:

• Reporting to the Equal Opportunity Services/Title IX Office
• Reporting to the UTSA Police Department

In addition, our students may visit the student advocate for support. 

As an important reminder, faculty and staff are required to report any disclosure of sexual violence to the Title IX Coordinator. Therefore, it is important to tell students about your obligation to report prior to hearing a disclosure. I encourage you to review the resources available on the Safe Campus website and familiarize yourself with referral options.

Getting Involved

We are dedicated to continuing the work to keep Roadrunners safe. Our prevention, response and education efforts are informed by our membership in the Culture of Respect and we are proud to be counted as an institution dedicated to the complex work of combating sexual violence. These efforts are led by a Campus Leadership Team, and they are currently recruiting new student, faculty and staff members. If you are interested in promoting campuswide sexual violence prevention, let us know by submitting the form to join our team.

Speaking for our team members, I am grateful for the dedication and focus that our entire university community has placed on this important issue and I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events. Please look for updates as our work continues.

Thanks to you all for helping to make our campus safe for your fellow Roadrunners.