Earlier this week, results were shared of Iowa State University's participation in the Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness (HESMA) survey. Iowa State was one of 10 universities that administered the survey in spring 2024, joining California Institute of Technology; Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford and Yale universities; Washington University in St. Louis; and the universities of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh and Virginia. Iowa State participated in a nearly identical survey in 2019.
Last spring, the survey was sent via email to all current students, and 15.6% of ISU students responded. The survey sought to identify:
- Student perceptions and knowledge of sexual assault
- Student awareness and opinions about sexual misconduct resources on campus
- The prevalence of sexual misconduct, stalking and power-based personal violence
The results show a decrease in students experiencing sexual assault or misconduct, from 22.8% in the 2019 survey down to 16.9% in 2024. The data also indicates progress related to students' knowledge of campus policies, resources and what to do if they or an acquaintance experiences sexual misconduct. Broadly, the Iowa State HESMA data supports previously identified areas of strength for the institution. It also identifies areas for improvement.
Since 2019, Iowa State has implemented several community education initiatives and programs. Some of these are:
- Student Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the Iowa State police department, established a program related to consent called Green Flags training.
- More education about sexual assault resources were included in the Cyclone 101 optional course for first-year students and in campuswide initiatives such as Cyclone Support.
- Student Health and Wellness added staff dedicated to sexual violence prevention, increased involvement in the Green Dot bystander intervention network and broadened the membership of the Green Dot bystander intervention team.
What's next
In the spring, Iowa State will initiate a Sexual Violence Prevention and Response advisory board, led by Carrie Giese, student wellness; and Mary Howell Sirna, office of equal opportunity. The board will provide feedback and guidance to a team of campus experts on efforts to strengthen the culture and understanding of consent and healthy relationships while building a more responsive campus community.
"The results from this survey provide a foundation for Iowa State to increase our prevention and response efforts related to sexual misconduct," Giese said. "We are ready to dig into the data to develop strategies that build a culture of understanding and care around an important subject."
The data from the 2024 survey will help the group align its plans with current student trends. The advisory board anticipates that its first progress report will be released in summer 2025.
Questions about the HESMA survey and results can be directed to Carrie Giese.
