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2024 Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness Survey

In the spring of 2024, the University of Pittsburgh participated in the Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Awareness Survey (HESMA), the third sexual assault and sexual misconduct study of undergraduate and graduate students. The survey was used also by nine other members of the Association of American Universities and was similar to the surveys in 2015 and 2019. The full results, as well as summary data sheets, are now available online. 

More About WESTAT

The 2024 Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness (HESMA) Survey, conducted by Westat, provides information on the prevalence, knowledge, and perceptions surrounding sexual assault and misconduct for the 10 participating colleges and universities.

The goal of the research is to help inform administrators and staff at these schools as they create strategies to evaluate and address sexual assault and misconduct on their campuses. Participating schools were California Institute of Technology, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Iowa State University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, Washington University at St. Louis, and Yale University. Learn more at the Westat site.

TW (Sexual assault, violence): These reports contain data about sexual misconduct that some may find distressing. There are resources available to support the Pitt community. 

University of Pittsburgh Summary

  • 20 percent of undergraduate women reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact by physical force or inability to consent since entering Pitt, a statistically significant decline from 2019. We see a decline from 2019 across all surveyed populations. 
  • 54 percent of students perceived that it is very or extremely likely that campus officials would take a report of sexual assault or misconduct at Pitt seriously, a decrease in trust from 2019. 
  • 12 percent of students who had been in a partnered relationship since entering Pitt indicated that they experienced at least one type of intimate partner violence, a decrease from 2019 but the highest number among participating schools. 
  • While sexual misconduct and assault can and does affect everyone, we see significant difference across populations, with women and nonbinary, transgender, questioning or self-identified students, as well students with disabilities, experiencing the highest rates of victimization.  

National Summary

  • Among undergraduates, women (18.9%) and nonbinary, transgender, questioning, or self-identified students (21.1%) had rates three times higher than men (6.5%).
  • Relatively few victims of nonconsensual penetration by physical force or inability to consent made contact with a program or resource after the incident (32%).
  • A significant number of students experienced sexual harassment; overall,18.7% of students reported sexually harassing behavior that met the federal standards defining sexual harassment

Conclusion

Sexual assault is a national public health crisis, affecting all colleges and communities. The results of the 2024 survey at Pitt emphasize that. They also show that we have considerably more work to do.

These results help us know where our efforts are moving the needle, and where we need to invest more resources, especially in building trust and addressing intimate partner violence.  

A significant decrease in undergraduate women who have experienced sexual assault is progress, and we are hopeful to see an increasing number of students recognizing that sexual misconduct is a pervasive and serious problem. Our shared recognition of that helps us to combat it as a community.

Resources

  • PAAR Walk-In Hours: Confidential advocates from Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) hold weekly office hours in the Prevention at Pitt office for anyone at Pitt.  
  • Mini-Grant Program: Prevention at Pitt facilitates a prevention mini-grant program, a dialogue-based prevention program with student organizations. 
  • CARE Advocates: This summer, Student Affairs and the Office for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion partnered to hire professional advocates to work with students who have been impacted by sexual misconduct, harassment and/or discrimination. 
  • Intimate Partner Violence Support Locker at Prevention at Pitt: IPV Survivors can stop by the Prevention at Pitt office, located on the 31st floor of the Cathedral of Learning, to pick up pre-made support bags or they can take whatever supplies they need from the locker. 

Download the Reports