Campus Sexual Assault: Future Directions for Research

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Higher Education Policy
• Criminology

Background:

• Campus sexual assault (CSA) is a growing concern, leading to increased federal mandates and institutional responses.
• Rapid implementation of policies on campuses has outpaced research, creating knowledge gaps.
• Existing efforts to address CSA require an evidence-based foundation to ensure effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize empirical research on campus sexual assault (CSA) from the past 20 years.
• To identify critical research gaps in CSA prevention and response within higher education institutions (IHE).
• To align research needs with federal guidance and the expressed needs of campus communities, survivors, and students who perpetrate sexual offenses.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of empirical studies on campus sexual assault (CSA) published over the last two decades.
• Analysis of research findings in relation to key areas identified in federal guidance for higher education institutions (IHE).
• Consideration of the needs and perspectives of various campus stakeholders, including survivors and students who commit sexual offenses.

Main Results:

• Significant advancements in CSA research have been made, but notable gaps persist.
• Current research is not always aligned with federal mandates or the practical needs of institutions.
• Specific areas requiring further investigation include prevention strategies, intervention effectiveness, and understanding perpetration dynamics.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive review of CSA research is crucial for developing effective, evidence-based interventions.
• Future research should prioritize addressing identified gaps to better support prevention and response efforts on college campuses.
• Guidance is provided for future research directions to strengthen the response to campus sexual assault (CSA) in higher education.