What You Should Know

The Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity (OAGE), formerly known as, the Office of ADA and Title IX Compliance, was originally created to lead institutional prevention and response efforts regarding sexual misconduct. It has expanded its efforts over the last several years from an entity specializing in support once harm has occurred, to additionally providing prevention-focused initiatives and resources for a safer and healthier campus community. This shift has resulted in an expanded prevention mission that includes healthy relationship education.

2015

• Full-Time Title IX Investigator hired (Shared between HR and SCCR)

2016

• First AAU survey conducted
• First dedicated full-time Title IX Coordinator hired

2017

• Office of Title IX Compliance created
• New Title IX Coordinator hired
• Launched new employee sexual harassment prevention course
• Began offering face to face training with departments and student organizations
• Began offering informal resolution option for parties engaged with Title IX process

2018

• Hired a Second Title IX Investigator
• Launched a new student sexual assault prevention course
• Changed student course to EverFi product
• Began training entire athletic department and student-athletes in sexual assault and violence prevention annually

2019

• Created a student advisory board
• Moved to Yon Hall into a completely renovated office suite
• Second AAU survey conducted
• President Fuchs created sexual assault prevention task force
• Expanded mission of violence prevention

2020

• Engagement and Prevention Coordinator hired
• Name change to Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity
• Began healthy relationships education
• Developed an institutional blueprint for violence prevention
• Expanded the student advisory board membership and scope

2021

• Launched new student course with an expanded curriculum and differentiated content for undergraduate and graduate students
• Brought a new app to campus to support students’ and employees’ understanding of reporting, resources, and processes and with embedded tools to support personal safety
• Launched several new employee courses focused on preventing discrimination and harassment
• Trained 56,844 employees and students

2022

• Expanding the uSafeUS app to include additional University of Florida campuses
• Equity Ambassador hired

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AAU Survey

Results from a 2019 campus-wide survey of students regarding sexual assault and misconduct at the University of Florida identify the extent of nonconsensual sexual conduct, harassment, and violence, an increase of awareness of resources for help on campus, and communities at most risk.

The survey was conducted at 33 universities across the country in a partnership with the Association of American Universities as a follow-up to a 2015 survey. The respondents include undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

Key findings from the 2019 survey include:

• 30.1% of undergraduate women and 7.7% of undergraduate men experienced nonconsensual sexual contact by force or inability to consent.
• 19% of graduate women and 3.9% of graduate men experienced nonconsensual sexual conduct by force or inability to consent.
• Almost half of UF students (45%) experienced at least one type of harassment.

Nationally, the AAU survey found that:

• Almost 1 in 4 undergraduate women experiences sexual assault or misconduct.

While sexual violence affects people of all genders and abilities, this study showed that students who identified as non-heterosexual, having a disability, or as transgender, nonbinary, or genderqueer, disproportionately experienced non-consensual sexual contact.

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Evidence-Informed Prevention Efforts

In 2021, the OAGE launched a new student course for violence prevention which has a more comprehensive curriculum and includes prevention education on:

• Consent and Sexual Assault
• Hazing and Intimidation
• Alcohol and Other Drugs

This expanded undergraduate course was selected to better address the intersectional concerns which lead to relationship violence. UF’s approach is informed by multiple evidence-based models and focuses on consent, healthy relationship skill development, allyship, and support.