Support Resources
Confidential Resources
- The Center for Awareness, Response, and Education (CARE) is confidential space for students impacted by sexual violence, relationship violence or stalking, including friends or partners of survivors.
- Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) provides a variety of mental health services for students on the Evanston and Chicago campuses. There is no charge for services.
- TimelyCare is a free mental health app that provides access to virtual well-being resources, including scheduled counseling, the TalkNow on-demand service, Health Coaching, and Group Sessions.
- Religious and Spiritual Life provides programs, staff, and spaces to help students explore meaning and purpose, grow in their religious or spiritual traditions, practice social justice, and create community.
- The Office of the Ombudsperson provides confidential and informal assistance for resolving university-related concerns, is independent of the university's formal administrative structure, and considers all sides of an issue in a impartial manner.
- SupportLinc is Northwestern's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider. The EAP is available to faculty, staff (including staff who are also students), and household members and provides 24/7/365 free and confidential access to a variety of mental health and well-being services and resources, including short-term counseling.
Survivor Resources
The University has a comprehensive list of on-campus and community survivor resources, including the Center for Awareness, Response, and Education (CARE).
NUhelp
For more information on Northwestern’s wellness, safety and crisis resources, visit the NUhelp website.
Sexual Assault Action Month
Reporting
How long does the survey take?
The survey takes about 30 minutes to complete, although the exact time will vary. You can skip any questions that you do not wish to answer, and you may stop your participation at any time.
Is the survey required and am I allowed to skip a question?
Participation is voluntary, and you can skip any questions that you do not wish to answer.
Who will be able to participate in the survey?
Students who were enrolled at Northwestern during the 2023-2024 academic year in at least one course and are physically located within the United States at the time of the survey will be eligible to participate.
All respondents must be at least 18 years old to complete the questionnaire.
How can I take care of myself or support a friend before, during, or after the survey?
Caring for Yourself
Any responses to this survey are valid, and may be different from what you might expect, or how others may respond. Whether for yourself or others, there are many steps you can make to take care, but having a plan in place can be very helpful. Some options to take might include finding and creating a private and calming environment to take the survey. This might include being in your room, or with trusted friends. This could also include having items nearby that help soothe you such as a coloring book, fidget toys or another item you find calming. Remember to take breaks as needed.
No matter how you feel while taking the survey, this feeling is valid. If you have techniques or skills you’ve used in past triggering situations that have worked, those may be helpful in this situation as well, or take a look at CARE’s healing resources page, that include journal prompts, guided meditation, and other techniques. Another helpful resource is CAPS self-help resources.
Supporting Others
You can support a friend by listening to their experience, acknowledging their feelings, and believing them unconditionally. Thank them for sharing their experience with you, and remind them that they have options. Do not minimize their experience, or the survey content that triggered them. Refer your friend to further support, either on or off campus, if they are interested, but do not pressure them into any decisions.
For more information on Northwestern’s wellness, safety and crisis resources, visit the NUhelp website.
If I am interrupted while taking the survey, will my answers be saved?
Because the system will not collect identifying information in order to maintain anonymity, if you are interrupted while taking the survey, you will have to start over from the beginning.
Who created the survey questions and what types of questions will be asked?
The survey questions were written by a State of Illinois Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct Climate Surveys and provided to the University. Northwestern had the option to add questions and did so around student classification (undergraduate, graduate, professional), and Northwestern school affiliation.
The survey asks questions about perceptions of student wellness and campus safety, understanding of resources, consent, and your experiences with the following types of harm in the last 12 months: sexual and gender harassment, stalking, dating and domestic violence, and sexual violence.
Is the survey anonymous?
Per state law, the survey responses are anonymous. Northwestern will not know who has completed the survey based on the results. No identifiable information is retained in the survey responses.
How is the University ensuring that I am not identified in reports of the survey results?
To protect your privacy, no one from Northwestern will know who completes the survey. We are required to report aggregate data for each question to the Illinois Board of Higher Education. However, we are very sensitive to the possibility that aggregated reports of survey data could unintentionally identify university community members who belong to unique or small demographic groups.
Questions about age, gender identity, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, citizenship status, and if you have a disability are asked in the survey. Additionally, the survey collects information about participation in campus services/activities, but it will not ask for details about your specific organization, club, team, etc.
You can skip any questions that you do not wish to answer.
Who will have access to the responses?
The data will be collected and analyzed by the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Student Affairs, and the Office of the Provost. Data will be reported in aggregate only. Aggregate data will be sent to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) per state law.
Where will the results be published?
An aggregate summary of the results will be submitted to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) for publication. In addition, campus level results will be published on the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance website.
How often will this survey be administered?
In accordance with state law, the survey will be administered annually.
Has Northwestern done a Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey before?
Who do I contact if I have questions about the survey?
To ask a question about the survey, contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance at OCR@northwestern.edu. If you wish to report an instance of sexual or gender harassment, dating or domestic violence, sexual assault/violence, or stalking, report to OCR at www.northwestern.edu/NUReportSexualMisconduct.
To speak with someone confidentially about your survey experience or discuss reporting options, speak to a confidential advisor through CARE.