As defined by federal regulation, primary prevention programs are programming, initiatives, and strategies informed by research or assessed for value, effectiveness, or outcome that are intended to stop dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking before they occur through the promotion of positive and healthy behaviors that foster healthy, mutually respectful relationships and sexuality, encourage safe bystander intervention, and seek to change behavior and social norms in healthy and safe directions. Ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns are programming, initiatives, and strategies that are sustained over time and focus on increasing understanding of topics relevant to and skills for addressing dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, using a range of strategies with audiences throughout the institution.

The University’s primary prevention programs and ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns cover the following:

  • The University’s prohibition of all forms of discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking.
  • The University’s Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy, including a discussion on what it covers, how it works, the definitions of consent and policy violations, and the University’s obligation to promptly report, and fairly and impartially investigate and resolve all reports of that policy.
  • Bystander intervention strategies which are safe and positive options that may be carried out by an individual or individuals to prevent harm or intervene when there is a risk of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.
  • Risk reduction information, which includes options designed to decrease perpetration and bystander inaction and to increase empowerment for victims/survivors in order to promote safety and to help individuals and communities address conditions that facilitate violence.

Provision of the University’s primary and ongoing prevention and awareness programs for students and employees is the joint responsibility of the Title IX Coordinator, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Director of Public Safety, and the Alcohol/Drug & Sexual Assault Prevention Education Coordinator (ASAP).

Primary Prevention Programs

Rider University conducts annual primary prevention programs regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking for all new students, faculty, staff and administrators. The programs occur as follows:

  • At new student orientation during the summer and fall prior to the start of the academic year. Additionally, all new first year and transfer undergraduate students complete an online education program.
  • At new faculty orientation held each summer prior to the start of the academic year.
  • At new employee orientation held throughout the year.

Ongoing Prevention and Awareness Campaigns

The University also conducts ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns for all students, faculty, staff and administrators as follows:

Faculty, Staff and Administrators

  • Annual notification of the Policy and available resources.
  • Annual training for Public Safety, Student Affairs, Residential Programs and Athletic staff.
  • Annual training for University faculty and staff who serve as investigators, mediators and hearing board and Appellate Panel members for addressing allegations of violations of the University’s Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy. This training includes, but is not limited to, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; how to conduct investigations and hearings; protecting individual safety and promoting accountability.
  • Annual training for freshman seminar coordinators.
  • Training for all other faculty and staff via regularly scheduled or special department and divisional meetings:

Students

  • Annual notification of the Policy and available resources.
  • Annual orientation for all new and returning student-athletes prior to the start of each academic year.
  • Annual training provided to sororities and fraternities, students clubs and organizations and to resident students via residence hall and other programming on both campuses.
  • Campus-wide events such as It’s On Us Campaign, Stalking Awareness, The Clothesline Project, Rider Cash Cab, The Vagina Monologues, Denim Day, These Hands Don’t Hurt, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April), Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) and Safer Spring Break Awareness Week.