Primary Prevention Programs and Ongoing Awareness Campaigns

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, 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 Well-being Promotion

Health and Well-being Promotion conducts training about DVSAS, referred to as gender-based violence within the training, consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention strategies. Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity and Campus Safety often collaborate to provide awareness materials and group education presentations for DU programs, University owned or operated housing, Greek houses, classes and any other student and employee groups.

DU’s Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity

All DU faculty and staff are required to complete Title VI and Title IX training that addresses DU’s prohibition against discrimination, harassment, and DVSAS, 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. This training encourages employees to connect those reporting discrimination, harassment, DVSAS and other forms of misconduct with the appropriate campus resources. This training is also available to be facilitated on request by the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity. 

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 DVSAS receive training. This includes but is not limited to designated personnel in the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity, 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 virtually to our Western Colorado and Four Corners Campuses.

Offered to DU Students:

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

    Mandatory online training for all new students.

    his required course identifies discrimination, harassment, and gender-based violence (all forms of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking) as Prohibited Conduct under DU’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy, defines what behavior constitutes interpersonal violence under federal law, defines what behavior and actions constitute consent to sexual activity under DU’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy and pursuant to Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (“CREO”) 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: Ongoing training that emphasizes healthy relationship skills, tactics for bystander intervention among close friends, and survivor empathy

    Primary Sponsor: Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity; Health and Well-being Promotion

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

    In-person training for HRE student workers

    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 Prohibited Conduct under DU’s Discrimination & Harassment Policy, teaches HRE student workers about their obligation to report incidents, and information about how to respond and support students who have experienced these behaviors

    Audience: HRE student workers

    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 Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity; Campus Safety; Health and Well-being Promotion

  • 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, in-person presentations, 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. 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).

    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 Well-being Promotion

  • 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, and interpersonal violence.

    Audience: First-year and transfer students

    Frequency: Ongoing; Offered daily in Autumn Quarter multiple times a week. Deadline for all new students in the Autumn Quarter is October 30th

    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 Well-being Promotion

  • Open Workshop - “Swipe Right: Introduction to Healthy Relationships”*

    This workshop uses a fictional relationship as it develops between two people to explore topics such as: relationship red/green flags, conflict resolution, consent, and interpersonal violence

    (including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking). Students will be introduced to violence prevention strategies as well as resources that support those who may have experienced harm.

    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 Well-being Promotion

  • 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 Well-being Promotion

  • Thrive Peer Educators

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

    Thrive Peer Educations focus on on health and well-being topics, such as interpersonal violence prevention, active bystander skills, sexual health, , mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and holistic well-being through awareness tables, pop-up events, and other Health and Well-being Promotion 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 Well-being Promotion

  • FSL New Member Orientation

    This workshop is designed to support new members of Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) as they explore topics such as alcohol and other drug education, consent and violence prevention, social scripts, and accountability.

    Audience: All new members of fraternities and sororities

    Frequency: Autumn Quarter

    Method: In-person training

    Awareness & Prevention Targets: Interpersonal violence prevention, hazing, bystander intervention, risk reduction.

    Primary Sponsor: Health and Well-being Promotion & Fraternity and Sorority Life (“FSL”)

  • NCAA Title IX Compliance Training – “Swipe Right: Introduction to Healthy Relationships”

    This workshop uses a fictional relationship as it develops between two such as: people to explore topics

    relationship red/green flags, conflict resolution, consent, and interpersonal violence (including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking). Students will be introduced to violence prevention strategies as well as resources that support those who may have experienced harm

    Audience: First-Year and Transfer Student Athletes

    Frequency: Autumn Quarter (extending into Winter Quarter as needed)

    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 Well-being Promotion and The Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (“CREO”)

  • NCAA Title IX Compliance Training - “Choose Your Own Adventure: Healthy Relationships Edition”

    This workshop helps students:

    1.) discuss the impact that substances can have on consent – including ways to navigate consent when substances are involved, 2.) identify strategies for intervening on friends’ harmful behavior and holding them accountable, 3.) review the cycle of relationship abuse, and 4.) explore how to cope with rejection and break-ups in healthier ways – including how to support others.

    Audience: Second-Year Student Athletes

    Frequency: Autumn Quarter (extending into Winter Quarter as needed)

    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 Well-being Promotion and The Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (“CREO”)

Offered to DU Students, Faculty, and Staff:

Next Section: Violence Against Women Act ("VAWA")

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