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What signs might I notice that indicate a student has experienced stalking, sexual assault or relationship violence?
What signs might I notice that indicate a student has experienced stalking, sexual assault or relationship violence?
Changes in behavior or communication
Unusual absences
Requests for:
Different seat in class
Room change in the residence hall
Extensions
Placement in groups that don’t include a certain student
Stepping down from leadership in a student organization
Visible reaction to certain topics/content
Appearing visibly upset when entering, leaving or during class
I am concerned that a student is experiencing stalking, sexual assault or relationship violence. What can I do?
I am concerned that a student is experiencing stalking, sexual assault or relationship violence. What can I do?
Direct
Direct
Take the time to inquire and express your concern. Scroll down to learn more about signs to look out for and ideas for how to start the conversation.
Delegate
Delegate
If you don’t feel comfortable speaking with the student, you can submit a report to have trained campus partners reach out to the student and provide resources.
Share broadly
Share broadly
Share resource information with all students without calling attention to the student you are concerned about.
For example, “I recently attended a training about resources available on campus and I wanted to share this information with all of you.”
How can I speak to the student directly?
How can I speak to the student directly?
Utilize the "Notice, Ask, Refer" framework, linked below!
Example of how this looks in practice:
First, make sure there aren’t other people around to ensure the student’s privacy.
Ask the student if they have a moment to talk. If they say no, respect this boundary. If they indicate they can, then consider proceeding as suggested below.
Describe the behavior(s) you’ve noticed and indicate that it makes you wonder about how they are doing.
Ask if it would be okay if you shared some information about resources with them.
For example, “I’ve noticed that I haven’t seen you in class lately, and you used to be the first one here. It makes me wonder if there might be something going on in your life that makes it difficult to get here. How have you been doing?”
“I’ve noticed you seem tearful when you come to class. It makes me wonder if it might be helpful to talk with someone about what you’re experiencing. Would it be okay if I shared some information about two places on campus that offer confidential, no-cost support for students?
Important note: the student may be uncomfortable sharing anything with you, and that's okay. It’s not your job to collect information, and it's also not uncommon for survivors to prefer not to talk about it, especially if the trauma is recent/ongoing. Just knowing someone cares can be helpful, and they may come talk to you later.
Notice, Ask, Refer
Notice, Ask, Refer
Framework for responding to a variety of student concerns
How to Refer
How to Refer
Additional information on referring to resources
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