With crimes such as sexual assault, stalking and domestic violence on the rise nationally, it’s especially important for college students to know how to prevent and respond to those threats.
Education is the best defense in many cases, which is why for the past three years the University of Central Florida has required new students to complete an online sexual assault prevention program.
Beginning with new students enrolling this fall, students will be completing a new computer-based course called “Not Anymore.” The course is similar to the previous module, but it includes more information and several scenarios in which students can choose different options and see the potential outcomes of each choice.
“Not Anymore” also meets new federal regulations that require all public universities to educate students about prevention of sexual violence.
“The module gives students options for intervening and preventing someone from becoming a victim,” said Christine Mouton, director of UCF Victim Services. “We also want perpetrators to understand how we can hold them accountable for their actions.”
More than 46,000 students completed UCF’s older sexual assault prevention course. New freshmen, transfer students and for the first time, graduate students, will be required to complete the new module.
“We want students—no matter what education they’ve had in the past around these issues—to understand that these are the standards at UCF,” Mouton said. “Offering the online module fosters a safe environment at UCF by making all students clear about the expectations in public and private spaces.”
“Not Anymore” covers the risks of heavy drinking, which is often linked to sexual violence, and gives other tips about staying safe.
The course features testimonials of young people discussing ways to prevent and respond to sexual assault, intimate partner violence and stalking. The module also enforces strategies for bystanders to intervene and take action.
Mouton collaborated with Student Success, the module’s vendor, about the content and development of “Not Anymore,” which is being implemented at universities across the country.
The program also provides school-specific resources, such as the contact information for UCF Victim Services, UCF Police and Counseling and Psychological Services.
A victim advocate is on-call 24/7 and can be reached at 407-823-1200. UCF Police dispatchers also are available around the clock at 407-823-5555.
The services offered by these departments and others on and off campus will be highlighted at the start of the fall semester through the annual safety fair. This year’s fair will be held in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Students can access “Not Anymore” by logging into MyUCF. At the end of the module, students must pass a test with a score of 80 percent or higher. Students who do not complete the module by Aug. 18 will have a hold placed on their accounts that prevents them for registering for classes in the spring.
More information about “Not Anymore” is available at https://letsbeclear.ucf.edu/ [1].