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This page is for informational purposes only. If you are experiencing a crisis, visit urgent resources.

Building a trauma-informed university

OSU’s approach to interpersonal and gender-based violence prevention and support is highly collaborative and evolving. It includes many programs and services already in place, as well as newer areas of focus and growth. To help communicate Oregon State's collective efforts, we have launched this new website to serve as a reference hub regarding our approach to prevention, response and support. This site brings together information on contributing programs, resources and offices, and it also shares how you can support our efforts to end all forms of interpersonal and gender-based violence at OSU.

This website includes information, media and content around sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking and other forms of interpersonal and gender-based violence. We recognize that these topics may be difficult to navigate and generate strong emotional responses. We encourage you to care for your safety and well-being as you explore this site. If you are experiencing a need for urgent support, we are here for you. Please reach out to the Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Education (541-737-2030) or Counseling & Psychological Services (541-737-2131) to connect directly with supportive care.

 

We welcome thoughts and questions

Download the networked services image as a PDF or request an alternative format.

 A Network of Care

Oregon State is fortunate to have many subject-matter experts who provide prevention and education, investigation and compliance, advocacy and referral services. Services include confidential survivor advocacy, primary prevention of interpersonal and gender-based violence, education and outreach provided by the Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Education (CAPE); medical care through Student Health Services (SHS); counseling and specialized trauma support provided by Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS); as well as many university resources provided by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (EOA), Diversity & Cultural Engagement (DCE), OSU’s Student Care Team, the Office of Advocacy (within ASOSU), and the Department of Public Safety and the Corvallis campus Police Department, to name a few. Further, the newly forming OSU Assist program will provide mental health crisis response. Progress toward our shared vision also involves advanced learning and research from university academic partners, who are positioned to increase knowledge and understanding of trauma, oppression and marginalization and their impact on our community.

Latest Updates

The Survivor Advocacy & Resource Center (SARC) and the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Team have joined together to form the Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Education (CAPE). CAPE will operate through a multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach to provide a continuum of programs and services designed to prevent interpersonal and gender-based violence (IP-GBV), and to support survivors of IP-GBV.

We believe you. We support you. We’re here to advocate alongside you.

Background

In reviewing OSU's efforts in relation to state and national frameworks, and based on the findings of last spring’s program review, we acknowledge the excellent work provided by many committed partners and stakeholders across the Oregon State community. We also acknowledge areas in need of improvement, additional investment and growth. Importantly, we have identified an opportunity to elevate primary prevention and strengthen alignment and collaboration among OSU’s network of stakeholders, both on and off campus.

Interpersonal and gender-based violence presents a significant public health concern for OSU and universities across the country. Our overall aim as an institution is to end all forms of interpersonal and gender-based violence at OSU — a tall order, but one we believe must be achieved and sustained. Making measurable progress toward this aim is a shared responsibility, one that will require individual and institutional commitment and collaboration. 

We further aim to build a trauma-informed university, where all members of the OSU community have a role to play in recognizing the signs and impacts of trauma and respond to survivors in a compassionate and trauma-informed manner. We recognize oppression as the root cause of violence, and that racism, sexism, ableism and other forms of oppression impact marginalized and vulnerable community members at higher rates. To ensure that our prevention, response and support efforts are working to address root causes of violence we are committing to continuously evaluating and reshaping our university culture to focus on equity, inclusion, civility and respect.

Vision and Purpose

OSU's networked stakeholders, departments and subject-matter experts provide leadership in ending interpersonal and gender-based violence and building a trauma-informed university. Efforts include initiatives to recognize and respond to trauma, bolster survivor support and access to direct care and resources, better align response services, provide training and education to engage the university in preventing violence, and empower all members of the OSU community to become allies in creating a nonviolent and civil university community. Tasks include:

  • Convene and engage subject-matter experts within smaller workgroups to identify and initiate short and long-term initiatives to support prevention, response and support.
  • Apply current research, established best practices and knowledge gained from other higher education intuitions.
  • Establish a comprehensive data and feedback collection plan that includes the campus climate survey and other relevant data and gathers input from survivors and university community members. Current data and feedback will serve OSU in better understanding the scope and impact of interpersonal and gender-based violence at OSU, including past trauma and barriers to seeking help.
  • Organize ongoing education and skill-building platforms for the OSU community to recognize the signs and impacts of trauma, response and referral skills, and ways to disrupt and prevent violence.

 
What do we mean by a trauma-informed university?

OSU is working to build a trauma-informed university that provides supportive and inclusive environments across the OSU system where all members can thrive. This includes centering the needs of survivors of interpersonal and gender-based violence throughout the Oregon State community and providing the care and support needed for healing.

  • OSU’s program recognizes that victims/survivors with current or past histories of trauma should be comprehensive and coordinated, both within the university landscape and with community partners.
  • Trauma-informed approaches further involve anticipating and avoiding institutional practices and processes that are likely to re-traumatize individuals with histories of trauma. They provide confidential support and advocacy for survivors, including culturally appropriate care and coordinated response to increasing access to needed resources, both on and off campus.
  • See the American College Health Association's Addressing Sexual and Relationship Violence: A Trauma-Informed Approach for additional information.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration outlines six guiding principles for a trauma-informed approach.

Stakeholder Team

Subject matter experts and key stakeholders representing multiple areas to plan, coordinate and advance OSU’s comprehensive approach (meets monthly). 

  • Elizabeth Kennedy, Interim Director, Interpersonal & Gender-Based Violence Prevention (co-lead)
  • Becky Bangs, Director of Investigations and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunity & Access (co-lead)
  • Allison Wilson Riser, Director of Interpersonal & Gender-Based Violence Advocacy
  • Kelly Hower, Executive Director, Student Health Services 
  • Brittany Coté, Interim Interpersonal Violence Services Coordinator, Counseling & Psychological Services
  • Aubrie Piper, Assistant Dean, Director of the Student Care Team 
  • Whitney Archer, Associate Director of Diversity & Cultural Engagement, Hattie Redmond Women & Gender Center
  • Eric Cardella, Director of Youth Safety & Compliance 
  • Caitlin McVay, Beaver Connect Mentor Program, Educational Opportunities Program 
  • TBD, Assistant Dean, Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards
  • Kate Rockey, ASOSU Women & Gender Advocacy Coordinator (standing ASOSU seat)
  • James Yon, Administrative Lieutenant, Department of Public Safety
  • Kate Caldwell, Executive Director, Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence (CARDV) 
  • Hannah Kuehl, Assistant Director of Health & Wellness Services, OSU-Cascades

Advisory Team

Senior leadership representing multiple areas to provide oversight, high-level alignment and support 
(meets quarterly).

  • Jenny Haubenreiser, Senior Director of Community Health & Wellness, Student Affairs (convener)
  • Ian Kellems, Executive Director of Counseling & Psychological Services
  • Kevin Dougherty, Dean of Students and Associate Vice Provost of Student Affairs
  • Kelly Hower, Executive Director of Student Health Services
  • Kathryn Becker-Blease, Associate Professor and Director of the School of Psychological Science
  • Shanon Anderson, Associate Vice President for Public Safety/Chief of Police
  • Maureen Cochran, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives & Assessment, Student Affairs 
  • Standing seats for Stakeholder Group co-leads
    • Becky Bangs, Director of Investigations and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunity & Access (co-lead)
    • Elizabeth Kennedy, Interim Director, Interpersonal & Gender-Based Violence Prevention (co-lead)

Community Engagement

Allison Wilson Riser, Director of Survivor Advocacy & Interpersonal Violence, and Elizabeth Kennedy, Interim Director, Interpersonal & Gender-Based Violence Prevention, are meeting with OSU community members and other stakeholders this spring and summer; additional educational events are being planned for fall 2022.

 

    Past Events

    • Interpersonal and Gender-based Violence Prevention: A Community Approach (Feb. 9)
    • Panel Discussion: Trauma-informed Approaches in a University Environment (Feb. 24)
    • Are You Following Me? Recognizing & Responding to Stalking Behavior (March 3)
    • Compassionate Response and Referral for Survivors of Interpersonal Violence (March 16)
    • Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action (April 19)
    • Help Name Our Team! (April 11-19)
    • Survivor Support Space | Listen. Believe. Support. (May 3)

     

    Forthcoming Events

     

    Prevention & Education

    Student Health Services
     
     
     
    Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Eductation
    The Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Education provides 24/7 confidential and legally privileged advocacy services to support survivors and their allies by providing information about rights and choices, resources and referrals to other services. Survivors can meet with resource center advocates to personally discuss different options and resources available to them.
      - Confidential
    Interpersonal Violence Prevention
    Prevention and Wellness, within SHS, is dedicated to educating students on a wide variety of health issues, including interpersonal violence prevention. IVP workshops aim to create empathy and support for survivors, decrease victim blame and cultivate a safe and caring community at Oregon State; empower bystanders who promote safety for everyone; and train faculty and staff on survivor support and sexual violence prevention.
    Equal Opportunity and Access
     
     

    The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access is charged with investigating complaints of sexual misconduct and Title IX violations. As an employer and educational institution, OSU has a responsibility to take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual misconduct of any kind, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation and stalking. We must also work to prevent their recurrence and to address their effects. Review EOA resources to report sexual misconduct; find sexual misconduct support; and view sexual misconduct policy, processes and resolution options.
     
    Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence
     
     

    CARDV, located in the Corvallis community, provides services and support to those affected by sexual and domestic violence, including education and leadership within the community to change the societal conditions that cultivate these forms of violence. Contact the 24-Hr crisis and support line at 541-754-0110 or 1-800-927-0197. The live chat is available Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
    Office of the Dean of Students
     
     

    Preventive Services
    Student Conduct & Community Standards strives to create living, learning and working environments that are inclusive, successful, caring, and safe. We utilize the Code of Student Conduct to communicate values-oriented expectations for behavior and articulate processes and outcomes. The Office of Advocacy also offers training and communications focused on preventive services.

    Response, Support & Clinical Care

    Student Health Services
     
     
     
    Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Eductation
    The Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Education provides 24/7 confidential and legally privileged advocacy services to support survivors and their allies by providing information about rights and choices, resources and referrals to other services. Survivors can meet with resource center advocates to personally discuss different options and resources available to them.
      - Confidential
    Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
    Registered nurses with specialized training in the forensic care of a patient who has experienced sexual assault or abuse. Connect to the resources and services available at 541-737-9355 (WELL).
      - Confidential
    Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence
     
     

    CARDV, located in the Corvallis community, provides services and support to those affected by sexual and domestic violence, including education and leadership within the community to change the societal conditions that cultivate these forms of violence. Contact the 24-Hr crisis and support line at 541-754-0110 or 1-800-927-0197. The live chat is available Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
    Counseling & Psychological Services
     
     
    CAPS provides various services to the OSU community to address the challenges and difficulties students face. These services are designed to help students understand themselves better, create and maintain satisfying relationships, improve their academic performance, and make healthy and satisfying career and life choices. View CAPS crisis resources.
      - Confidential
    Interpersonal Violence Support
    The IVS program strives to provide survivors with unconditional support in their recovery choices, honor each survivor’s unique experience, hold space for each survivor to process and heal from trauma, and connect survivors to supportive resources on campus and in the community. OSU student survivors can access individual counseling without being placed on the waiting list for services. Additionally, experienced team members are available to consult with family, friends and staff about how to best support a survivor.
    Support Groups
    Aims to provide survivors with a safe setting to share thoughts and feelings, connect with other survivors, and learn information to support healing.
    Office of the Dean of Students
     
     
     
    Emergency Support
    The Office of Dean of Students offers a broad range of emergency support services to students and the broader Oregon State community in support of students. The office also oversees OSU Assist, a multidisciplinary support team, that provides compassionate mobile crisis response and wraparound services for students facing mental health challenges or experiencing other forms of distress.

    Advocacy & Referral 

    Student Health Services
     
     
     
    Survivor Advocacy & Resource Center
    The Survivor Advocacy & Resource Center provides confidential and legally privileged advocacy services to support survivors and their allies by providing information about rights and choices, resources and referrals to other services. Survivors can meet with resource center advocates to personally discuss different options and resources available to them.
      - Confidential
     
    Counseling & Psychological Services
     
     
     
    Interpersonal Violence Support
    The IVS program strives to provide survivors with unconditional support in their recovery choices, honor each survivor’s unique experience, hold space for each survivor to process and heal from trauma, and connect survivors to supportive resources on campus and in the community. OSU student survivors can access individual counseling without being placed on the waiting list for services. Additionally, experienced team members are available to consult with family, friends and staff about how to best support a survivor. View CAPS crisis resources.
      - Confidential
    Office of the Dean of Students
     
     

    Advocacy and Care Services
    Student Care focuses on solution-oriented methods for students navigating university processes or enduring traumatic experiences, such as recovery from sexual assault. Student Care is designed to help students understand OSU policies and procedures, problem solve within the university community, and access referrals for personal matters or emergencies. Also view the care folder available for faculty and staff, which provides guidance on working with students in distress.

    Policy, Investigation & Compliance

    Equal Opportunity and Access
     
     

    The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access is charged with investigating complaints of sexual misconduct and Title IX violations. As an employer and educational institution, OSU has a responsibility to take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual misconduct of any kind, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation and stalking. We must also work to prevent their recurrence and to address their effects. Review EOA resources to report sexual misconduct; find sexual misconduct support; and view sexual misconduct policy, processes and resolution options.
    Public Safety
     
     

    The Department of Public Safety provides emergency and public safety services at OSU’s campuses in Corvallis and Bend and supports public safety at OSU facilities throughout Oregon. Services on the Corvallis campus include licensed law enforcement by trained sworn officers. Public safety is an important component of the Community, Wellness, Education & Safety Network at OSU. The department offers a free app, called DAMSafe, to enhance user’s safety while they move around campus.
    Office of the Dean of Students
     
     
    Student Conduct & Community Standards strives to create living, learning and working environments that are inclusive, successful, caring, and safe. We utilize the Code of Student Conduct to communicate values-oriented expectations for behavior and articulate processes and outcomes. 
     

    Socio-ecological Approach

    OSU takes an ecological approach to interpersonal and gender-based violence prevention, response and support. This approach focuses on individual, group and population-level interventions and actions and provides a multi-disciplinary view of the many connections among OSU’s network of stakeholders and contributors. Addressing interpersonal and gender-based violence requires a university-wide understanding of the serious impact this type of violence has on the members of our campus communities and a commitment from all levels in creating a culture of compassion, civility and respect.

    • Individual: Personal factors that influence interpersonal violence.
    • Relational: Influence from peer groups, family, friends and partners that impact norms and values.
    • Community: Culture, social norms and values that impact behavior.
    • Institutional: Practices and policies that influence interpersonal violence within organizations.
    • Societal: Laws and mandates that promote an environment in which interpersonal violence and oppression cannot thrive.

    Credit: University of California, Berkeley