Primary Prevention Programs and Ongoing Awareness Campaigns

Statistics & Reporting

Primary Prevention Programs and Ongoing Awareness Campaigns

DU engages in comprehensive, intentional, and integrated programming, initiatives, strategies, and campaigns intended to end dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking that:

  • Are culturally relevant, inclusive of diverse communities and identities, sustainable, responsive to community needs and informed by research, or assessed for value, effectiveness, or outcome; and
  • Consider environmental risk and protective factors as they occur on the individual, relationship, institutional, community, and societal levels.

Educational programming consists of prevention programs for all incoming students and new employees and ongoing awareness and intervention campaigns for students and employees that:

  • Include a statement that DU prohibits the crimes of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking as those terms are defined for purposes of the Clery Act;
  • Define sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking as those terms are defined under state law;
  • Define what behavior and actions constitute consent to sexual activity under state law and the University’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy;
  • Describe safe and positive options for bystander intervention;
  • Provide information on risk reduction; and
  • Include information regarding:
  • Procedures victims should follow if a crime of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking occurs;
    • How DU will protect the confidentiality of victims and other necessary parties;
    • Existing counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, visa and immigration assistance, student financial aid, and other services available within DU and in the community;
    • Options for, available assistance in, and how to request changes to academic, living, transportation, and working situations or protective measures; and
    • Procedures for addressing complaints of alleged dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Health and Counseling Center’s Department of Health Promotion

The Health and Counseling Center’s Department of Health Promotion conducts training about gender-based violence, consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention strategies. Equal Opportunity & Title IX and Campus Safety often collaborate to provide awareness materials and group education presentations for  DU programs, residence halls, Greek houses, classes and any other student and employee groups.

DU’s Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX

All DU faculty and staff are required to complete Title IX training that addresses DU’s prohibition against discrimination, harassment, and gender-based violence, and their requirements as Responsible Employees. This training for faculty and staff is introduced in new employee orientation meetings and is facilitated during either live or online training sessions. It encourages employees to connect those reporting gender-based violence and other forms of misconduct with the appropriate campus resources. This training is also available to be facilitated on request by the Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX. 

Faculty and Staff also receive training consistent with the Clery Act as amended by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and all DU employees responsible for the intake, investigation and facilitation of hearing processes associated with an incident of gender-based violence receive baseline training. This includes but is not limited to designated personnel in the Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities, outcome council members, and appellate officers.

DU offers the following primary prevention programs and ongoing prevention campaigns to promote awareness and increase understanding of all forms of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. Programs with an asterisk are also available to our Western Colorado and Four Corners Campuses virtually.

DU Students:

  • Sexual Assault Prevention Undergraduates; Sexual Assault Prevention Graduate Students*

    Mandatory online training for all new students.

    This required course identifies discrimination, harassment, and gender-based violence (all forms of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking) as prohibited conduct, defines what behavior constitutes gender-based violence under federal law, defines what behavior and actions constitute consent to sexual activity under DU’s Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX (EOIX) policy and pursuant to DU’s Comprehensive Discrimination and Harassment Procedures and Title IX Sexual Harassment Procedures, and provides information on safe and positive options and strategies for bystander intervention and risk reduction.

    Audience: Students

    Frequency: Upon enrollment

    Method: Online interactive training and test

    Awareness & Prevention Targets: Sexual harassment, discrimination, gender-based violence, bystander intervention, DU and community resources

    Primary Sponsor: Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX; Health and Counseling Center

  • Student Staff Development: Responding to Crime and Gender-based Violence

    In-person training for Resident Assistants (RA) employees.

    Designed to identify the correct reporting protocols when there is a disclosure of discrimination and harassment, including gender-based violence (all forms of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking). This course defines DU’s Discrimination & Harassment prohibited conduct, teaches RA’s about their obligation to report incidents, and information about how to respond and support students who have experienced these behaviors.

    Audience: Resident Assistants

    Frequency: Annually

    Method: In-person interactive scenario-based training

    Awareness & Prevention Targets: Prohibited Conduct under discrimination, harassment, gender-based violence, and reporting policy/protocol (responsible or confidential employee)

    Primary Sponsor: Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX; Department of Campus Safety; Health and Counseling Center

  • Red Zone Campaign*

    The Red Zone campaign focuses on providing resource information to incoming students on topics related to gender-based violence (specifically sexual assault and sexual harassment).

    The Red Zone campaign utilizes various modes of exposure (yard signs, printed material, digital media via social media accounts, informational/resource tabling, interactive theatre performances, and a late-night event) to expose new students to harm reduction and awareness behaviors that can be used during the Red Zone.

    The Red Zone is typically identified as the first six (6) weeks of the Fall-term, when new students are at a heightened risk for being targeted by perpetrators of sexual assault.

    Audience: Students

    Frequency: First six weeks of the Fall term

    Method: In-person presentation, informational tabling, digital media via social media accounts, printed materials

    Awareness & Prevention Targets: Interpersonal violence (specifically sexual assault and sexual harassment), consent, bystander intervention, risk reduction, alcohol and other drug awareness

    Primary Sponsor: Health and Counseling Center

  • Intervene: DU Active Bystander Intervention Workshop*

    This workshop is required for all incoming students to attend and is an introduction to active bystander intervention.

    This course is designed to teach students how to take action in harmful or risky situations. Intervene: DU includes scenarios and discussion about topics relevant to DU students, and how they can be active bystanders in situations including high risk alcohol and other drug use, mental and emotional health, hazing, racial bias, and gender violence.

    Audience: First-year and transfer students

    Frequency: Ongoing; Offered daily in Fall Quarter and multiple times a week in the first month of the Winter Quarter

    Method: In-person training

    Awareness & Prevention Targets: Interpersonal violence (specifically sexual assault and sexual harassment), consent, bystander intervention, risk reduction, alcohol, and other drug awareness.

    Primary Sponsor: Health and Counseling Center

  • Unpacking Interpersonal Violence*

    This course will define ‘what is interpersonal violence?’, discuss the impact perpetration has on a community, and review strategies for preventing interpersonal violence.

    Attendees will be able to practice their skills and reflect on their own values.

    Audience: Students

    Frequency: Ongoing; periodic throughout the year

    Method: In-person training

    Awareness & Prevention Targets: Interpersonal violence (including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, sexual harassment, and stalking), bystander intervention, risk reduction.

    Primary Sponsor: Health and Counseling Center

  • Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Outreach Programs*

    Custom workshops, presentations, and other outreach efforts to students and the DU Community regarding topics that relate to interpersonal violence.

    Audience: Students

    Frequency: Ongoing; periodic throughout the year

    Method: In-person workshops, presentations, informational/resource tabling, etc.

    Awareness & Prevention Targets: Interpersonal violence (including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, sexual harassment, and stalking), consent, bystander intervention, risk reduction

    Primary Sponsor: Health and Counseling Center

  • Thrive Peer Educators

    The Thrive Peer Educators are a select group of undergraduate students who educate the DU community

    Thrive Peer Educations focus on health and well-being topics, such as interpersonal violence prevention, active bystander skills, sexual health, healthy masculinities, mental health, and alcohol and other drugs through outreach, programs, and training.

    Audience: All students

    Frequency: Ongoing; periodic throughout the year

    Method: In-person workshops, informational/resource tabling, awareness campaigns, and events

    Awareness & Prevention Targets: Interpersonal violence (including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, sexual harassment, and stalking), consent, bystander intervention, risk reduction, alcohol and other drug awareness

    Primary Sponsor: Health and Counseling Center

DU Students, Faculty, and Staff:

Next Section: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Back to homepage and table of contents