Measuring Campus Sexual Assault and Culture: A Systematic Review of Campus Climate Surveys

Objective: To conduct a gray literature systematic review of campus climate survey reports about sexual assault to compare the measurement of sexual assault and the degree to which colleges and universities followed White House Task Force guidance on how to implement these surveys. Method: We used two Internet search engines to identify campus climate survey reports that U.S. colleges and universities implemented on campuses among students between April 2014 and September 2016. Two researchers independently screened reports and assessed eligibility. Eligible reports had to include a prevalence or incidence estimate of sexual assault. Results: We identified 107 reports from 101 colleges and universities. Most schools conducted web-based surveys (63%) and used a census approach (64%). One-third of schools reported on all six Task Force-recommended survey topic areas. One-quarter of schools used the Task Force definition of sexual assault. Conclusions: Campus climate surveys are the first step in taking a public health approach to prevent sexual assault on campus; however, there needs to be a national mechanism to systematically identify survey reports and to standardize measures and reporting. Standardization would facilitate the creation of a national database that combines student- and campus-level data. Researchers and practitioners could use this database to understand the multilevel factors associated with sexual assault and campus climate to develop prevention strategies to inform national policy. Lessons learned and potential for future survey implementation could serve as a road map for universities internationally, which are beginning to measure campus sexual assault and implement prevention programs.