UAFS enacts programs to protect students from sexual assault, other issues

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith introduced a variety programs Tuesday (Sept. 23) at its Board of Visitors meeting that it said would protect students from sexual assault and domestic violence.

The announced programs are part of new Title IX reporting requirements placed on universities nationwide and come in the wake of several domestic violence scandals involving National Football League stars.

"Just this year, we have to report on and treat differently domestic abuse, relationship violence, and stalking cases. (Those) are sort of being shepherded under Title IX," said Dr. Lee Krehbiel, UAFS vice chancellor for student affairs.

He said a total of six new programs and initiatives have been introduced to both educate and possibly prevent abuse of students on the university's campus while complying with new Title IX requirements at the federal level. The first is an education program called "UMatter" that educates students on different focuses each month through tables set up at Volleyball matches and other university events and incorporates social media to reinforce information presented in-person. The program is not solely targeted toward domestic violence or sexual assault, but the topics and related issues could be part of the planned month-long education focuses.

Another program the university is pushing, according to Krehbiel, is a nationally-available smartphone app called "Circle of Six" that allows individuals to program the app to contact a friend or family member with just two simple taps on the screen. He said ideally students would program in four or five friends, as well as a phone number for the university police and then if they find themselves in a situation they need to escape from, they can make contact using the app to call a friend to come get them or police if they are in immediate danger. The app is free to download and can be used to contact anyone with a phone number, even if they do not have the app.

UAFS is also introducing new training for students and employees using videos to educate them on Title IX, said Beth Eppinger, director of housing and residential life.

"With all of our incoming students who go through orientation, which is registering for classes and learning more about the institution, they have a 12 minute training on Title IX," she said, adding that the videos must include information on Title IX and statistics on male and female victims as well as resources on campus and in the city of Fort Smith.

Krehbiel added that UAFS will also fall under the UA System's new Title IX policy, developed by the system's general counsel.

"One of the main changes for many of the institutions that adopted that – obviously, we can customize it, as well – but it created a unitary process. So it doesn't matter now, unlike past years, whether a complaint is made against a staff member, a faculty member or a student. There's a unitary process utilizing a single hearing panel that is now receiving specialized training in the handling of Title IX-related cases.”

The fifth program discussed included a new "Step Up" bystander intervention training, where athletes on campus, as well as resident assistants, are being trained to intervene before a situation can escalate. An example given by Krehbiel would be noting when a friend has had too much to drink and making sure the individual gets back home safely, preventing a possible situation from arising due to the individual's state.

While the program is initially being offered to resident assistants and athletes, Eppinger said the university would work with professors to introduce the training during class time on dates when a professor may be absent, offering the training instead of canceling class.

The final initiative is a student climate survey, which will gather data that will guide future programming related to domestic violence, sexual assault and other Title IX-related matters, Krehbiel said.