Addressing Critical Campus Issues in 2024: How NASPA’s Culture of Respect Collective is Leading the Charge on Sexual Violence Prevention and Student Well-being

In 2024, higher education institutions are under increasing pressure to address critical student affairs issues. The recent NASPA report on the top 20 issues highlights key concerns faced by Vice Presidents (VPs) and Assistant Vice Presidents for Student Affairs (AVPs). Seven out of the top 10 issues related to student well-being. Among the top ten priorities, 83% identified the need for health, safety, and well-being education, and 80% emphasized increased campus-wide collaboration in these areas. NASPA’s Culture of Respect Collective Cohort 9 is leading efforts to address these critical concerns by focusing on campus sexual violence prevention.

Strengthening Support Services: Eighty-two percent of NASPA respondents report a critical need to increase awareness of and access to mental health services for students. The Culture of Respect Collective provides a comprehensive review of an institution's support services, enabling the development of more effective goals and initiatives. As one participant shared, “The [Collective] really allowed a holistic, high-level review of our work that led to better goals and initiatives for improvement than we would have had by simply addressing the topic/issue that seemed most prevalent at the time.”

Expanding Collaboration: Seventy percent of NASPA respondents report struggling to establish greater collaboration, cross-functional alignment, and communication. Addressing and responding to sexual violence is complex, requiring coordination across multiple functional areas of the institution. Collective institutions create a Campus Leadership Team (CLT) comprising key players from diverse offices. When asked about their most memorable moment in the Collective, a participant stated, “I would say the commitment from so many staff and faculty to continue with the commitment to utilizing the Culture of Respect framework for advancing this work.”

Advancing Assessment: Sixty-seven percent of participating VPs and AVPs expressed a need for additional support in using data analytics to determine the impact of specific programs or services. Over two years, Collective institutions engage in a rigorous evaluation process, assessing their performance across six key pillars. This guided process has led to significant changes at over 160+ diverse institutions. As one participant noted, “The Individualized Implementation Plan is a wonderful road map. Additionally, going through the evaluation with the CORE Blueprint in mind actually reinforced the good work we were doing and helped us better ‘see’ and articulate that work in an organized fashion.”

Leading with Institutional Courage: Fifty-two percent of survey participants report the need to build institutional capacity for restorative and transformative sexual violence justice and community-based accountability. The Culture of Respect Collective provides the structure and support to meet this need through a time-tested action planning process and ongoing technical assistance. As one participant shared, “The Culture of Respect has helped provide the necessary framework for our Chancellor’s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence, ensuring that members are participating and continuing to advance the work that we are committed to.”

By joining the Collective, institutions take part in a community dedicated to ending campus sexual violence. This collaboration not only contributes to their campus’s safety measures, but also contributes to the broader movement for student well-being. The call to action for student affairs professionals is clear: lead with courage and commitment. The Culture of Respect Collective provides the tools, support, and community needed to make a lasting impact. Join Cohort 9 and be part of a movement that prioritizes the safety, dignity, and well-being of all students, staff, and faculty.

Institutions can learn more about Cohort 9 by visiting the Collective webpage. Applications close November 8, 2024. If you have any questions, connect with Jessica Henault, the Collective program coordinator.