Date Approved
4-26-2023
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Education-Higher Education (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
Education Leadership & Counseling
First Advisor
Paul Bylsma
Academic Year
2022/2023
Abstract
Sexual assault has been a concern on college campuses that has only been increasing, primarily affecting first-year women. The shame and trauma that survivors of sexual assault often experience can have a drastic impact on their mental health and academic performance. While institutions have some support resources for students victimized by sexual assault, they are underutilized. This project explains the negative consequences experienced by sexual assault survivors and what needs to be addressed by campus resources. To adequately support survivors of sexual assault and work towards changing campus culture, college campuses need to expand their support resources based in trauma-informed care and incorporate more preventative programming into already existing initiatives. In response, I describe a peer advocacy program that will train volunteer students how to respond to sexual assault survivors and provide programming to the campus community members.
ScholarWorks Citation
Clark, Elizabeth G., "Addressing Sexual Assault and Supporting Survivors’ Mental Health and Academic Performance Through Peer Advocate Support" (2023). Culminating Experience Projects. 265.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/265
