College Faculty Experiences With Student Disclosures of Victimization

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Criminology
• Sociology

Background:

• Victimization among college students is a significant issue.
• Faculty responses to student disclosures of victimization can impact student outcomes.
• Understanding disclosure patterns is crucial for faculty preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the nature of student disclosures of victimization to faculty.
• To identify faculty characteristics associated with receiving student disclosures.
• To inform faculty training on responding to student victimization.

Main Methods:

• Online survey of 637 members from U.S. criminal justice and criminology professional associations.
• Analysis of faculty experiences with student disclosures of victimization.
• Investigation of factors influencing faculty likelihood of receiving disclosures.

Main Results:

• 87% of faculty reported receiving at least one student disclosure of victimization.
• Disclosures were often in-person and course-related (52.3%).
• Faculty with longer teaching experience, links to victim services, or in sociology departments were more likely to receive disclosures; graduate student instructors were less likely.

Conclusions:

• Student victimization disclosures to faculty are common in criminal justice and criminology fields.
• Faculty characteristics, not individual identities, influence disclosure reception.
• Widespread training for college instructors on responding to student victimization disclosures is recommended.