(PS12-C73) Mandatory Reporting: An Exploration of Student Perceptions of University Response to Sexual Violence

Many universities have implemented policies and guidelines to respond to sexual violence. One of such policies is mandatory reporting (MR), which requires university employees to report disclosures of sexual violence to university officials, often disregarding a survivor’s preference. Although federal policy allows for varied reporting options, most universities default to a Universal approach which does not allow student survivors to choose if they would like to report their experiences. The current study aims to examine student perceptions of three different approaches to MR (Universal, Selective, and Student Directed). A sample of 400 students were surveyed at a medium size, Mountain Western university. It was hypothesized that that students would prefer a Student Directed approach to MR compared to more rigid policies (e.g., Universal or Selective policies). Additionally, it was hypothesized that students who have experienced sexual violence would have more negative perceptions of MR policies compared to those who have not experienced sexual violence. Lastly, it was hypothesized that LGBQ+ students, women, and students of color would have poorer perceptions of MR policies compared to their non-marginalized peers. Results revealed that a majority of students (44.4%) preferred a Student Directed approach to MR over Selective or Universal approaches. A 2x3 factorial ANOVA was conducted to examine if survivor status impacted the likelihood of reporting sexual violence across three different reporting modalities. Results offered support for a significant interaction of survivor status and reporting modality (F=4.98, p=.01). Follow up T-tests revealed significant differences across survivor status for the Universal Approach to MR (t(1,399)= 2.51, p< .01, d=.30) such that that survivors of sexual violence (M=3.21, SD=1.29) indicated lower intent to report sexual violence under this modality compared to those who had not experienced sexual violence (M=3.55, SD=1.00). Results did not reveal significant differences in overall MR perceptions across gender, race, or sexual orientation. Exploratory analyses revealed significant differences across sexuality under the Universal approach (t(1,399)= 2.42, p=.016, d=.24) such that LGBQ+ (M=3.00, SD=1.22) individuals reported lower intent to report under the Universal approach compared to heterosexual (M= 3.38, SD= 1.26) individuals. These results suggest that overall, students prefer an approach to MR that allows for individual autonomy. For survivors who may have lost a sense of control during an instance of sexual violence, instilling a sense of autonomy could be especially important. Additionally, survivors and LGBQ+ students, are less likely to disclose to university employees when such employees must make reports regardless of the victim’s preference (e.g., under the Universal approach). This may impact survivors’ ability to learn about important campus resources such as mental health treatment options, victim advocates, and academic accommodations. Implementation of policy that supports survivor autonomy and wellbeing while remaining consistent with federal guidelines is recommended.