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Resource Hub on Addressing Campus Interpersonal Violence

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Addressing Interpersonal Violence on Campus

At Rutgers University, we are committed to addressing interpersonal violence and fostering a supportive campus community. We have provided specialized services for survivors since 1991, and since then, developed a comprehensive, evidence-based research model. Our model is supported by data gathered by the Center for Research on Ending Violence. In 2014 we began administering our campus climate surveys, in collaboration with the Obama Administration's White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.

Since then, we have continued to collect data through ongoing surveys, leading to policy changes and expanded support services. For more information, please visit the Campus Climate Assessments at Rutgers University webpage.

From Data to Action

The data from these campus climate surveys informed the development of numerous resources aimed at addressing interpersonal violence within our community. One notable initiative was the Enhancing Victim Services Throughout Rutgers University Project, funded by a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from 2017-2025, administered by the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety (V-84-16-22). This project focused on enhancing support systems for survivors of interpersonal violence, including sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking on campus and in surrounding communities. It provided resources and programs aimed at building capacity among campus and community partners, helping to integrate the latest violence prevention research into campus services and support systems, and addressing multiple levels of prevention and institutional responsibility.

As a part of the project, REV developed several resources to help equip faculty, staff, students, and community members with the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively address interpersonal violence. This Resource Hub provides a collection of resources that were developed through this project, including in the areas of victim services, programming, and evaluation.  While not exhaustive, these resources reflect the work that was conducted specific to the Enhancing Victim Services Project at Rutgers and may offer helpful lessons learned for others who are engaged in this work. Resources address the five main areas below:

Victim/Survivor Services: Find resources for supporting student survivors, from starting a campus program and developing service roles to promoting staff wellness and delivering trauma-informed, equity-centered care in person or remotely.

Educational, Prevention, and Specialized Campus Programming: Access best practices for support groups, online engagement, bystander intervention, and programming tailored for LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, veterans, and those with trauma histories.
 

Engaging and Supporting Faculty & Staff: Get tools and training to help faculty and staff respond to disclosures, support students, and foster a safe, supportive campus culture.
 

Evaluation: Explore tools and methods to assess campus victim services and strengthen programs through ongoing improvement.

 

Media: Watch webinars and listen to podcasts on addressing interpersonal violence and building safer campus communities.

Victim/Survivor Services 

This section provides information for those who work with victims/survivors of interpersonal violence on campus. It includes guidance on establishing and sustaining victim services offices, adapting in-person events for online delivery, developing comprehensive service models, and creating dedicated campus victim services positions. 

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Establishing a Comprehensive Program on Campus

Sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking are not new issues within the campus environment, however the national attention paid to these forms of violence in recent years has allowed for greater exploration of institutional response. Topics examined in this resource include crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, prevention & education, as well as partnerships & collaboration.

View the resource guide here. 

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Campus Victim Services Positions

When hiring for victim services staff positions, it may be helpful to consider what services will look like and how these positions can aid in creating and implementing them. Within this resource are items of consideration for response to campus sexual assault based on best practices for victim services that may serve as a useful tool when reviewing the background of potential candidates

View PDF here. 

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Promoting Staff Wellness

Follow along with this page and subsequent toolkit to consider how best to prioritize self-care within victim/survivor services.

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Support Groups

This toolkit provides information on running support groups with survivors/victims of interpersonal violence on campus. 

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Trauma-Informed Services

Trauma-informed (TI) approaches should incorporate an understanding of trauma throughout all features of service provision, considering how services may be perceived and encountered by trauma victims/survivors.

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Transitioning In-person Events to Online

When choosing a platform for a virtual event, consider features based on the anticipated demographics of your audience.

Program Evaluation

Remote Service Delivery

Student services are no longer provided solely in-person. Providers now need to offer support and services remotely, without meeting in-person. The resources and tools in this deck offer guidance on evolving best practices for this type of service delivery and engagement.

Educational, Prevention, and Specialized Campus Programming

This section provides tools and resources to help campuses design and sustain prevention and education programs that address a variety of needs. Topics include bystander intervention, and responding to technology-facilitated sexual violence. You’ll also find resources for serving specific student populations, such as LGBTQ+ students, military-connected students, and students with disabilities.

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The Victim of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO)

The Victim of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) is responsible for compensating victims of crime and is supported by the NJ Office of the Attorney General.  Crime victim’s compensation benefits aim to alleviate some of the financial burden on those that have experienced some form of violence, abuse, or trauma.

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Understanding the LGBTQA+ Student Experience

These resources explore the differing gendered and power dynamics of experiences of sexual and intimate partner violence between people of different or similar genders.

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Minoritized Student Perspectives

Students identified six main categories for preventing violence, harm, and oppression on campus, listed in the attached PDF, in order of highest to lowest importance rating.

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Technology-Facilitated Violence

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, internet usage has increased, making college students more vulnerable to sexual violence online. Rutgers is committed to creating a safe environment for students, both offline and online, by providing the following information about technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV).

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Serving Survivors with Disabilities on Campus

The experience and impact of violence are different across communities. The resources within this section help to explain how various groups experience violence differently and how understanding the diversity of experience can assist in offering support and services. 

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Supporting Title IX Respondents with Disabilities 

This toolkit focuses on respondents with disabilities in Title IX processes, emphasizing equitable, accessible responses and providing guidelines for inclusion and support.

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A Social Justice Approach to Bystander Intervention 

Using a social justice approach is an important way to create and modify bystander intervention education programs.

Engaging and Supporting Faculty & Staff

This section offers guidance for faculty and staff on effectively supporting students who may be experiencing or have experienced violence, both in the classroom and in remote learning environments. It includes strategies for responding to disclosures, creating supportive spaces, and connecting students with appropriate resources.

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A guide to Supporting Survivors

As a staff or faculty member, you are not alone in providing support and these resources are here to assist you. Video 1 and Video 2 provide guidance specifically for faculty and staff on how to best support students who may be experiencing or have experienced violence. 

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Supporting Student Survivors Remotely for Faculty and Staff

Staying at home can mean greater risk of sexual violence, dating abuse and stalking for some students. A faculty or staff member may be a safe lifeline. If a student discloses to you, here's what you can do. 

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Handling Campus Disclosures while Working Remotely: A guide for Staff on supporting Students

The video linked highlights ways you can support survivors of interpersonal violence. For more videos, check out our YouTube channel!

Evaluation

Ongoing evaluation and assessment of victim/survivor services, programs, and other initiatives is integral to the work. Here you will find resources for evaluating passive programming, using programs like Qualtrics for client satisfaction surveys, and other evaluation tools.

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Evaluating Passive Programming on Campus

Passive programming includes unstructured activities such as interactive or visual displays, messaging campaigns, tabling events with brochures and information, or longer events with different programs that participants can freely flow in and out of.

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Program Evaluation using Qualtrics

The presentation below focuses on designing and implementing online surveys, using Qualtrics. Follow the link here and via clicking the image to view or download the presentation. 

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Program Evaluation

Program evaluation can help you monitor, assess, or improve a program’s services. The resulting data can guide administrative decisions, aid fundraising, support public relations, and foster accountability. This flowchart and table are a guide through the program evaluation process.

Media & Recorded Resources

Media & Recorded Resources

Recordings main page

Browse our collection of past webinars, podcasts, and videos designed to help navigate the multi-layered issue of interpersonal violence on campus.

Podcast: Anatomy of Violence

A four-episode limited series exploring campus sexual violence, available services, and the changes we hope to see in the future:

Webinars & Technical Assistance Workshops

As a follow-up to the VOCA-funded New Jersey Conference on Campus Sexual Violence (March 2019), the Center on Research for Ending Violence (REV) at Rutgers School of Social Work hosted webinars to build capacity in higher education and high schools to address sexual and dating violence. Priority topics identified by conference participants and aligned with the State Plan for Higher Education include:

Funding Statement

Supported by a Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant V-84: 16-22  Administered through The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General

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