Online Title IX Training Now Required for All New U of A Students

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas has joined many colleges and universities across the country in adding the online training program Haven: Understanding Sexual Assault to its sexual violence prevention initiatives.

All new U of A students – undergraduate and graduate -- are required to take the course before they will be allowed to register for classes in the spring semester. The online course is mandatory for:

• All new freshmen for fall 2016
• All new transfer freshmen
• All new transfer students at any level
• All new graduate students from other institutions
• All new graduate students that were formerly students of this institution
• All new law students (both from other institutions or receiving their undergraduate at this institution.)
• All new agriculture law students – whether or not they received their law degrees from the U of A.

Chancellor Joe Steinmetz sent an email letter yesterday to all new students on campus explaining the purpose of the course, and how it fits in with the U of A’s efforts to prevent all types of sexual misconduct on campus. In the letter he wrote:

“Part of the reason that sexual misconduct on college campuses is a growing issue is that people don’t always understand what constitutes sexual misconduct, or what they can do to prevent it, how to get help, how to report it, or the connections between alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct…. This online course will help you understand key definitions relating to sexual assault and relationship violence.  It will help you learn confidence-building strategies and bystander intervention skills built around real-life scenarios.  The course also will help you recognize signs of abuse and will address situations that can be challenging or confusing regarding consent in your own relationships.”

Haven is an hour long course that also explains the legal requirements of Title IX and the personal responsibilities of everyone in the campus community.

The Haven course is mandatory for all new students, but it is also recommended for any students, faculty or staff members who have not already gone through Title IX training. The course can be accessed online at https://shib.everfi.net/login/default.aspx?id=uarkhaven