White House Survey

Demographics
This information is important to collect so that you can determine how well the sample who
responded to the climate survey represents the larger school sample you are drawing from.
We will not report any group data for groups of fewer than five individuals that may be small
enough to reveal identity. Instead, the researchers will combine the groups to eliminate any
potential for identifiable demographic information.
1. What is your current gender identity?
Woman
Man
Gender Queer/Gender Nonconforming
Self define: ______ (fill in)
2. What is your ethnicity (as you define it)?
Hispanic or Latino
Not Hispanic or Latino
3. What is your race (as you define it)? (mark all that apply
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
4. Which term best describes your sexual orientation?
Bisexual
Gay
Heterosexual
Lesbian
Queer
Questioning
Self define: __________________________
5. What is your current status? (Please mark only one)
First year undergraduate student
Second year undergraduate student
Third year undergraduate student
Fourth year undergraduate student
Graduate school student
Medical school student
Other (please specify) __________________________
6. What sex were you assigned at birth, meaning on your original birth certificate?
Female
Male
General Climate Questions
7. Please indicate your level of agreement to the following statements:
SCALE: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, Dont Know
I feel valued in the classroom/learning environment.
Faculty, staff, and administrators respect what students on this campus think.
I think faculty are genuinely concerned about my welfare.

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I think administrators are genuinely concerned about my welfare.

I feel close to people on this campus.
I feel like I am a part of this college/university.
I am happy to be at this college/university.
The faculty, staff, and administrators at this school treat students fairly.
I feel safe on this campus
8. Please indicate your level of agreement to the following statements:
SCALE: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, Dont Know
College officials (administrators, public safety officers) should do more to protect students
from harm.
If a crisis happened on campus, my college would handle it well.
The college responds too slowly in difficult situations.
College officials handle incidents in a fair and responsible manner.
My college does enough to protect the safety of students.
There is a good support system on campus for students going through difficult times.
Perceptions of Leadership, Policies and Reporting
9. If someone were to report a sexual assault to a campus authority, please indicate your level of

agreement to the following statements:

Scale Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, Dont Know
The university would take the report seriously.
The university would take steps to protect the safety of the person making the report.
The university would support the person making the report.
The university would take corrective action against the offender.
The university would take steps to protect the person making the report from retaliation.
Peers/students would label the person making the report a troublemaker.
Peers/students would support the person making the report.
The alleged offender(s) or their associates would retaliate against the person making the
report.
The educational achievement/career of the person making the report would suffer.
10. While you have been a student at this school, have you received training in the following
areas related to sexual assault:
Which behaviors are defined as sexual assault?
a. Yes
b. No
How to report a complaint of sexual assault?
a. Yes
b. No
The availability of confidential on-campus resources to help victims of sexual assault?
a. Yes
b. No
The procedures followed to investigate a complaint of sexual assault?
a. Yes
b. No
Prevention of sexual assault?

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a. Yes
b. No
11. Please indicate your level of agreement to the following statements:
Scale: Strongly agree, Agree, Neither agree/disagree, Disagree, Strongly disagree, dont know
If a friend or I were sexually assaulted, I know where to go to get help.
I understand [University]s procedures to address complaints of sexual assault.
I have confidence that [University] administers the procedures to address complaints of
sexual assault fairly.
Sexual Violence
This section asks about nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact you may have experienced.
The person with whom you had the unwanted sexual contact could have been a stranger or
someone you know, such as a family member, someone you were dating, or someone you met at
a party. These questions ask about five types of unwanted sexual contract:

Forced touching of a sexual nature (forced kissing, touching of private parts, grabbing,
fondling, rubbing up against you in a sexual way, even if it is over your clothes)
Oral sex (someones mouth or tongue making contact with your genitals or your mouth or
tongue making contact with someone elses genitals)
Sexual intercourse (someones penis being put in your vagina)
Anal sex (someones penis being put in your anus)
Sexual penetrations with a finger or object (someone putting their finger or an object like a
bottle or a candle in your vagina or anus)

The questions below ask about unwanted sexual contact that involved force or threats of force
against you. Force could include someone holding you down with his or her body weight, pinning
your arms, hitting or kicking you, or using or threatening to use a weapon against you
Response choices are Yes/No followed by follow up questions if Yes is selected.
14. Has anyone had sexual contact with you by using physical force or threatening to physically
harm you?
YES
NO
15. Has anyone attempted but not succeeded in having sexual contact with you by using or
threatening to use physical force against you?
YES
NO
These situations might include times that you voluntarily consumed alcohol or drugs and times
that you were given drugs without your knowledge or consent.
16. Has someone had sexual contact with you when you were unable to provide consent or stop
what was happening because you were passed out, drugged, drunk, incapacitated, or asleep?
This question asks about incidents that you are certain happened.
YES
NO
17. In the past, I pressured or forced someone into sexual contact without his or her explicit
consent (e.g., used physical force or threatened to physically harm them; manipulated them

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through lies, threats, or pressure; took sexual advantage of them when they were significantly
impaired or incapacitated by drugs/alcohol).
a. Yes
b. No
c. Not sure
17a. (If Yes to 17) When did this occur?
a. Before I arrived on my campus as a student
b. After I arrived on my campus as a student
c. Both before and after I arrived on my campus as a student
Follow-up Questions: (If you answered yes to any of the questions above (14-16)
If no on questions above, branch to question 21
The next questions ask more about the time since TIMEFRAME that someone had sexual contact
with you when you were unable to provide consent or stop what was happening because you
were passed out, drugged, drunk, incapacitated, or asleep.
LANGUAGE

At UVM students have the right to report the assault if you consumed alcohol underage
and/or other drugs without being held in violation of the Code of Student Rights and
Responsibilities.
This may not excuse individuals who repeatedly violate the Code of Student Rights and
Responsibilities and appropriate follow up regarding students safety concerning alcohol
and/or other drug use will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
18. Just prior to (the incident/any of the incidents), had you been drinking alcohol? Keep in mind
that you are in no way responsible for the assault that occurred, even if you had been drinking.
YES
NO
Dont know
18a. If yes, were you drunk? Keep in mind that you are in no way responsible for the assault that
occurred, even if you had been drinking.
YES
NO
Dont know
19. Just prior to (the incident/any of the incidents), had you voluntarily been taking or using any
drugs other than alcohol?
YES
NO
Dont know
20. Just prior to (the incident/any of the incidents), had you been given a drug without your
knowledge or consent?
YES
NO
DONT KNOW
Sample Context and Disclosure Questions

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For the next set of questions, please pick the MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT if you had more than one,
and answer the questions below about this experience. If you had no unwanted sexual
experiences, circle no experience for each of the questions below.
21. Who did the UNWANTED BEHAVIOR involve? (Check only one)
Stranger
Family member
Acquaintance
Coworker
Employer/supervisor
College professor/instructor
College staff
Non-romantic friend
Casual or first date
Current romantic partner
Ex-romantic partner
Other (specify) ___________
22. Was this person a student at UVM?
Yes
No
I do not know
23. Was this person affiliated with UVM, as an employee, staff, or faculty member?
Yes
No
I do not know
24. What was the gender of the individual who did this to you?
Man
Woman
Gender queer/gender nonconforming
Self define: ____
Dont know
25. Where did the incident occur? (Mark ALL that apply)
On-Campus: grounds or non-residential buildings
On-Campus: residential buildings
Off-Campus: in a building, structure or facility UVM owns or rents
Off-Campus: during or in connection with a UVM-sponsored program or activity
Off-Campus: in a building, structure or facility owned or controlled by an officially
recognized student organization
Public property immediately adjacent to campus (includes sidewalks, streets, etc.)
Unknown location
26. Who did you tell about the incident? (check all that apply)
No one (BRANCH TO 29 Why did you not tell anyone)
Roommate
Close friend other than roommate
Parent or guardian
Other family member
Counselor
Faculty

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Staff (e.g. including coaches, advisors to student organizations, identity center staff, etc.)
Health provider
Police
Romantic/dating partner (other than the one who did this to you)
Campus Victims Advocate
Community Advocate or Hotline
Other (specify)________________
27. Did you go through the campus investigative process to report the incident(s)?
YES
NO
28. If yes, did university formal procedures help you deal with the problem?
Didnt help me at all
Helped me a little
Helped, but could have helped more
Helped me a lot
29. BRANCH FROM q 26: If you did not tell anyone, why? (check all that apply)
Ashamed/embarrassed
Is a private matterwanted to deal with it on own
Concerned others would find out
Didnt want the person who did it to get in trouble
Fear of retribution from the person who did it
Fear of not being believed
Person who did it is well-recognized at my school/in my community
I thought I would be blamed for what happened
Didnt think what happened was serious enough to talk about
Didnt think others would think it was serious
Thought people would try to tell me what to do
Would feel like an admission of failure
Didnt think others would think it was important
Didnt think others would understand
Didnt have time to deal with it due to academics, work, etc.
Didnt know reporting procedure at the University
Feared I or another would be punished for infractions or violations (such as underage
drinking)
I did not feel the campus leadership would solve my problems
I fear others would harass me or react negatively toward me
I thought nothing would be done
Didnt want others to worry about me
Wanted to forget it happened
Had other things I needed to focus on and was concerned about (classes, work)
Didnt think the school would do anything about my report
Other (specify) __________________
Additional Climate Questions to Consider
Optional Module 1: Bystander attitudes and behaviors
BYSTANDER CONFIDENCE
This module focuses on key aspects of bystander attitudes. These include bystander perceptions
of the problem, confidence and intent to intervene, and perceptions of peer norms about taking
action. These questions are intended to assess community norms; they are not intended to or
designed to measure, assess, or predict individual respondents future behavior.

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Please read each of the following behaviors. Indicate in the column Confidence how
confident you are that you could do them. Rate your degree of confidence by
recording a number from 0 to 100 using the scale given below:
0
not confident

3
0.
3
1.

10

20

30

40
50
60
70
moderately confident

80

90
100
completely confident

You may interpret the phrase do something to mean acting in some way, such as asking for
help, creating a distraction, or talking directly.
Confidence
Challenge a friend who uses insulting words to describe girls/women or womens
%
bodies.
Confront other students who make inappropriate or negative sexual comments and
gestures?

3
2.
3
3.
3
4.
3
5.
3
6.
3
7.
3
8.
3
9.

Express my discomfort if someone says that rape victims are to blame for being raped.

Call for help (i.e. call 911) if I hear someone in my residence yelling help.

Talk to a friend who I suspect is in a sexually abusive relationship.

Get help and resources for a friend who tells me they have been raped.

Ask a stranger who looks very upset at a party if they are ok or need help.

Ask a friend if they need to be walked home from a party.

Ask a stranger if they need to be walked home from a party.

Criticize a friend who tells me that they had sex with someone who was passed out or
who didnt give consent.

4
0.

Check in with a person who looks drunk when they go to a room with someone else at
a party.

4
1.

Do something if I see someone who looks very uncomfortable surrounded by a group

of people

4
2.

Tell an RA or other campus authority information I have that might help a sexual
assault case even if pressured by my peers to stay silent.

4
3.

Speak up to someone who is making excuses for forcing someone to have sex with
them.

4
4.

Speak up to someone who is making excuses for having sex with someone who is
unable to give full consent.

4
5.

Choose not to report sexual assault out of concern they or others will be punished for
infractions, such as underage drinking or fraternization

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4
6.

Be interviewed as or serve as a witness in sexual assault case if they knew relevant

information?

8
%

Please indicate how likely you are to engage in each of the following behaviors using
this scale:
Please read each of the following behaviors. Indicate in the column Confidence how
confident you are that you could do them. Rate your degree of confidence by
recording a number from 0 to 100 using the scale given below:

4
7.

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
not confident
moderately confident
completely confident
Ask for verbal consent when I am intimate with my partner even if we are in a long%
term relationship.

4
8.
4
9.
5
0.
5
1.
5
2.
5
3.
5
4.
5
5.
5
6.
5
7.

Stop sexual activity when asked to, even if I am already sexually aroused.

Say something to my friend who is taking a drunk person back to their room at a party.

Confront a friend who plans to give someone alcohol to get sex.

Refuse to participate in activities where girls/womens appearances are ranked/rated.

Confront a friend who is hooking up with someone who was passed out.

Confront a friend if I hear rumors that they forced sex on someone.

Report a friend that committed a rape.

Stop having sex with a partner if they say to stop, even if it started consensually.

Decide not to have sex with a partner if they are drunk.

Ask for verbal consent when I am intimate with my partner even if we are in a longterm relationship.

5
8.
5
9.
6
0.
6
1.
6
2.
6
3.

Stop sexual activity when asked to, even if I am already sexually aroused.

Say something to my friend who is taking a drunk person back to their room at a party.

Confront a friend who plans to give someone alcohol to get sex.

Refuse to participate in activities where girls/womens appearances are ranked/rated.

Confront a friend who is hooking up with someone who was passed out.

Confront a friend if I hear rumors that they forced sex on someone.

Please answer the following questions based on your experiences:

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64. Since the start of the current academic year, I have had a friend or acquaintance tell me that
they were the victim of an unwanted sexual experience.
YES
NO
65.Since the start of the current academic year, I have observed a situation that I believe was, or
could have led to, a sexual assault.
YES
NO
[If answered yes to above question:]
In response to this situation: (Select the one response that most closely resembles your
actions)
a. I stepped in and separated the people involved in the situation.
b. I asked the person who appeared to be at risk if they needed help.
c. I confronted the person who appeared to be causing the situation.
d. I created a distraction to cause one or more of the people to disengage from the
situation.
e. I asked others to step in as a group and diffuse the situation.
f. I told someone in a position of authority about the situation.
g. I considered intervening in the situation, but I could not safely take any action.
h. I decided not to take action.
RAPE MYTH ACCEPTANCE
Measures of rape myth acceptance have been validated but are becoming less useful because
students increasingly know the right answer and do not answer truthfully. More subtle options
such as the vignettes above may more accurately capture student attitudes but have not yet
been validated. Some of the terms used in this section may be offensive. Researchers have
validated these questions as the most effective means to assess rape myth acceptance.
Please read each of the following statements and circle the number that indicates
how true each is of you:
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
6 If a girl is raped while she is drunk, she is at least somewhat
1 2 3 4
5
6. responsible for what happened.
6
7.

When girls go to parties wearing revealing clothes, they are asking

for trouble.

6
8.

If a girl goes to a room alone with a guy at a party, it is her own fault
if she is raped.

6
9.

If a girl hooks up with a lot of guys, eventually she is going to get into
trouble.

7
0.
7
1.
7
2.
7
3.

When guys rape, it is usually because of their strong desire for sex.

If a guy is drunk, he might rape someone unintentionally.

If both people are drunk, it cant be rape.

It shouldnt be considered rape if a guy is drunk and didnt realize

what he was doing.

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10

7
4.

If a girl doesnt physically resist sexeven if protesting verballyit

really cant be considered rape.

7
5.
7
6.

If a girl doesnt physically fight back, you cant really say it was rape.

A lot of times, girls who say they were raped agreed to have sex and
then regret it.

7
7.
7
8.

Rape accusations are often used as a way of getting back at guys.

A lot of times, girls who claim they were raped just have emotional
problems.