Back-to-School Checklist

College campuses across the country are opening back up this fall and we would like to be among the first to say, welcome back!

Navigating campus life as we continue to face Covid-19 can surely bring up many fears, discomfort, and questions about how to keep yourself and your friends safe from sexual violence. College-aged students are at the highest risk of being sexually assaulted. The Association of American Universities has found that, among undergraduate students, 26.4 percent of females and 6.8 percent of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.

According to Jessica Leslie, director of RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline, "College students are in a really important place in their life where they can make a lot of change and really influence a lot of folks.” For this reason, it’s important for students to connect with resources as they head back to campus and help educate their peers. With the excitement of moving back on campus, it is important that we all take steps to prevent sexual assault and learn more about staying safe before situations arise. Use this checklist to be sure you have just what you need to know when you head back to campus.

Know Before You Go

The resources below can help you educate yourself on relationships and safety before returning to campus. These resources provide supportive, educational content for you to know how to safely navigate potentially dangerous situations around sexual assault and sexual violence beforehand.

Steps to take include:

Campus Connections

No matter what university you attend, there are safety and security resources available on and off campus. Below are resources and connections that you can access for emotional support, medical help, safety planning, academic support, and campus and community contacts. For more campus resources, check your college’s website.

Things you can do include:

  • Sign up for sexual assault prevention trainings.
  • Read your school’s Title IX policies and safety protocols.
  • Save the campus emergency number in your phone.
  • Sign up for RAINN Day, an opportunity for college students to demonstrate to their peers that they are an ally in the fight against sexual violence.

Resources for Parents

Parents should also familiarize themselves with the safety and security measures on their child’s campus. Below, you will find RAINN resources for parents, and tips that you can use to ensure that your child is protected as they step into a new stage in their lives.

Parents can learn how to:

  • Spot warning signs of sexual assault.
  • Connect to important campus resources like: Campus Police, Student Affairs, and the Office of Residence Life contact and departmental information.
  • Find and familiarize yourself with your child’s school’s Title IX school policies.

If you or someone you love has been affected by sexual violence, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 with free, confidential support from anywhere in the U.S. in English and Spanish at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or online at online.rainn.org.

Eight out of 10 sexual assaults are committed by someone who knows the victim.

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