2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey Executive Summary Background Wake Forest University (WFU) has a longstanding commitment to addressing sexual misconduct and the harm associated with it, as well as its root causes. In 2022, WFU conducted its first campus climate survey on sexual misconduct. The University partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC), a nonpartisan research organization with decades of experience, to administer the survey. Campus climate studies serve multiple vital purposes to advance policies and practices that promote safe and supportive environments. They offer students an opportunity to report their experiences with sexual misconduct, their knowledge of campus resources, and their perceptions of the campus environment confidentially. The inaugural results from 2022 provided critical insights into the prevalence of sexual misconduct at the University and the effectiveness of existing institutional resources. In response, WFU developed and implemented a multifaceted approach to ensure high-quality, trauma-informed prevention programming and support services for all Reynolda campus undergraduate and graduate students. This approach prioritized initiatives to increase resource utilization, institutionalize prevention efforts, build WFU-specific bystander programs, and increase collaborative campus partnerships focused on preventing and responding to concerns related to interpersonal violence. Within this framework, “interpersonal violence” is used as an umbrella term encompassing sexual misconduct, dating or relationship violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault, digital sexual misconduct, and stalking. In 2026, WFU continued its commitment to institutional learning and improvement by engaging with NORC to readminister the campus climate survey. Findings from the 2026 survey will help the University assess progress since 2022, identify key priorities, and inform future enhancements to policies, support services, and prevention efforts across campus. The 2026 Wake Forest University Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey Report provides comprehensive findings and the full survey methodology. This executive summary highlights the key methods and findings most relevant to understanding the survey results.
WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
Report Terminology This report uses terminology intended to describe survey findings in a clear, respectful, and trauma-informed manner while recognizing individuals may use different language to describe their own experiences. Throughout the report, participant refers to an individual who completed the survey. When describing survey findings, the phrase participants who reported experiencing a specific form
of misconduct is used, such as sexual harassment, to refer to participants who indicated in their survey responses they had experienced those behaviors. Individuals may identify with a variety of terms, including survivor, victim, or other language that best reflects their personal experiences. No single term reflects everyone’s preferences, and use of this descriptive language is not intended to diminish or redefine individuals’ lived experiences or identities. The term person(s) who caused harm is used to refer to the individual(s) identified by participants as engaging in the reported behaviors. This terminology is intended to describe the reported conduct without making legal or disciplinary determinations regarding responsibility or culpability. The report summarizes participants’ survey responses and does not constitute a finding regarding whether misconduct occurred in any individual case. These terms are used consistently throughout the report to promote clarity, neutrality, and respect for the diverse experiences and perspectives of survey participants.
Methodology Survey instrument. The Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey’s purpose was to understand sexual misconduct experiences and perceptions among WFU students. The student survey instrument was originally developed for the 2022 survey based on the Association of American Universities (AAU) 2019 Campus Climate Survey.1 For the 2026 administration, WFU and NORC collaborated to refine and expand the instrument to better address campus-specific priorities. Key enhancements included updated measures from the baseline survey, new items addressing digital sexual misconduct, and refined response options to capture evolving aspects of campus climate. The final survey instrument included 141 items divided into 7 sections (see Appendix A in the Wake Forest University 2026 Sexual
Misconduct Campus Climate Survey Report). Survey population and sampling. The survey invited WFU undergraduate, graduate, and professional students (with the exception of School of Professional Studies or School of Medicine students) enrolled in in-person programs at WFU’s Reynolda campus to participate. The sample included 6,845 students provided by WFU. A total of 2,004 cases were determined to be complete (for an overall response rate of 29%) and were statistically 1
https://www.aau.edu/key-issues/campus-climate-and-safety/aau-campus-climate-survey-2019
Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
weighted to WFU’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional student population (see Appendix B in the Wake Forest University 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey Report for detailed descriptions of the statistical weighting procedures).2 Survey administration. The survey was administered January–March 2026 via a web-based survey programmed in Qualtrics. Students were incentivized to participate. From the start of the survey, all participants were offered a voucher via email for a free drip coffee from an oncampus coffee shop after completing the survey. Students were also informed that survey participants would be entered into a drawing to have a chance at receiving one of 100 crewneck WFU sweatshirts or a VIP study space during WFU’s Spring 2026 finals week. After four weeks of data collection, the random drawing awards were increased to include five tickets with Presidential Suite passes to a talk by Cynthia Erivo as well as one reserved oncampus parking spot for one week for a total of 107 possible random drawing awards. Data analyses. All items on the survey were analyzed. Weighted (statistical weight applied) and unweighted (actual) counts and percentages were calculated. The discussion and tables in this summary include weighted percentages for the total analytic dataset as well as for undergraduate and graduate/professional women and men participants and unweighted percentages for the TGQN participants (combined across academic level). For select measures (noted in this executive summary), findings between 2022 and 2026 participants are compared as well as across participant characteristics (i.e., academic level, binary gender identity, race and ethnicity, victimization status). Cross-year comparisons are solely descriptive (i.e., reporting proportions of responses for both 2022 and 2026), while cross-group comparisons using only 2026 data examined statistically significant cross-group differences using chisquare tests of independence.
The Wake Forest University 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey Report explains data quality review criteria used to determine complete survey responses and provides detailed information about response rates by academic level. 2
Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
Key Findings The survey’s major findings are described in three main sections. Findings include the reported prevalence of five types of sexual misconduct: sexual harassment, digital sexual misconduct, nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact, stalking, and intimate partner and/or dating violence. This executive summary concludes by situating these findings within WFU’s current and ongoing efforts related to ending sexual misconduct on campus. •
Section 1: Reported Prevalence of Sexual Misconduct These key findings relate to the reported prevalence of the five types of sexual misconduct among WFU survey participants. Where possible, findings from the 2022 and 2026 surveys are compared.
Sections 1 and 2 present key findings in order of the reported prevalence of at least one experience of sexual misconduct among overall WFU
•
Section 2: Sexual Misconduct Characteristics and Resource Utilization participants in 2026. If participants reported experiencing any type of sexual misconduct, they were asked to describe characteristics about their experience(s), the person(s) who caused harm, to whom they reported the experience(s), the perceived helpfulness of campus-based resources (if they utilized them), and reasons for not contacting campus-based resources (if they weren’t used). These detailed findings are presented for each of the five types of sexual misconduct. Where possible, findings from the 2022 and 2026 surveys are compared.
•
Section 3: Perceptions of WFU’s Climate Related to Sexual Misconduct All participants were asked to indicate their perceptions of WFU’s prevention education and training experiences, their knowledge of WFU’s resources related to sexual misconduct, and their perceptions of the institutional perspective and response to sexual misconduct on campus. This section also examined perceptions of institutional support among participants who reported experiencing sexual misconduct, including whether WFU met their needs across various dimensions following the incident(s).
•
Current and Ongoing Efforts at WFU to Address Sexual Misconduct This section includes a description of WFU’s efforts related to addressing sexual misconduct, explains how the survey findings inform those efforts, and offers several targeted resources for WFU to consider.
For the key findings that follow, the discussion and tables include both weighted and unweighted data.3 In findings tables, when no responses were observed, it is indicated by “-”.
3 See the Data Analyses (Methodological Overview) and Statistical Weighting Procedures (Appendix A) sections in the main
report for information on statistical weighting and data analyses.
Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
Section 1: Reported Prevalence of Sexual Misconduct These findings relate to the reported prevalence rates for experiencing sexual misconduct (i.e., sexual harassment, digital sexual misconduct, nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact, stalking, and intimate partner and/or dating violence) at least once since becoming a student at WFU. Findings related to the reported prevalence of these five types of sexual misconduct among both 2022 and 2026 WFU survey participants are listed in order of reported prevalence among survey participants, starting with the highest. Forty percent of WFU’s 2026 survey participants reported at least one experience of sexual misconduct (i.e., sexual harassment, digital sexual misconduct, nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact, stalking, and intimate partner and/or dating violence) since becoming a student at WFU. This 2026 prevalence rate (40%) was notably decreased from WFU’s 2022 rate (55%) (Table 1). •
Among 2026 participants, about half of both undergraduate women (50%) and TGQN students (52%) reported experiencing any type of sexual misconduct at least once.
•
Undergraduate women reported experiencing this at a significantly higher rate compared to undergraduate men (32%).
•
Approximately one-third (33%) of graduate/professional women reported at least one experience of sexual misconduct.
•
Graduate/professional men reported the lowest prevalence of experiencing sexual misconduct at least once (26%). While a lower rate than graduate/professional women, this difference was not statistically significant.
•
Among 2026 participants, white women (50%), multiracial women (50%), and Hispanic/Latina women (45%) all reported experiencing any type of sexual misconduct at least once at higher rates compared to overall participants (Table 2). Though these groups reported higher prevalence rates relative to their overall peers in 2026, all three groups reported lower rates compared to 2022.
Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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Table 1. Reported Prevalence of Sexual Misconduct Across Overall Participants, Academic Level, and Gender Undergraduate a
Overall Participants
a
Women
Graduate/Professional a
Men
Women
TGQN b
Men
Sexual Misconduct
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
Any incident
39.5%
55.4%
50.0%*
75.6%
32.1%
57.3%
32.8%
32.4%
26.2%
15.9%
55.3%
65.9%
Sexual harassment
26.0%
49.2%
35.6%*
69.9%
19.5%
50.1%
20.6%†
24.8%
12.0%
11.8%
39.5%
65.9%
Digital sexual misconduct c
15.3%
-
18.3%
-
13.8%
-
8.2%
-
9.1%
-
31.6%
-
8.9%
16.3%
14.6%*
29.3%
4.9%
10.4%
7.2%†
7.3%
1.3%
1.9%
10.5%
27.3%
8.0%
18.8%
10.0%
26.5%
7.9%
19.2%
4.4%
9.3%
3.3%
4.7%
10.5%
25.0%
3.9%
10.0%
5.8%*
13.7%
2.3%
10.2%
3.1%
7.2%
2.2%
2.3%
7.9%
22.2%
Nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact Stalking Intimate partner and/or dating violence d a
Reflects weighted percentages; b Reflects unweighted (actual) percentages; c Digital sexual misconduct survey items were only included in the 2026 instrument;
Reported prevalence of intimate partner and/or dating violence determined by participants who reported any prior relationships since beginning their studies at WFU (n = 1,176) d
* For statistical comparisons between two groups, p < .05 (chi-square test for cross-group comparisons across gender among undergraduates); † For statistical comparisons between two groups, p < .05 (chi-square test for cross-group comparisons across gender among graduate/professional students)
WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
Table 2. Reported Prevalence of Sexual Misconduct Across Race/Ethnicity and Women/Men Asian Only Women
Black Only Men
Women
White Only Men
Women
Men
Sexual Misconduct
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
Any incident
34.7%
38.2%
19.9%
29.3%
36.1%
55.2%
11.9%
33.3%
49.6%
68.5%
32.8%
49.4%
Sexual harassment
22.0%
32.0%
12.3%
24.1%
18.2%
49.3%
10.9%
33.3%
35.9%
61.9%
19.5%
42.2%
Digital sexual misconduct a 13.9% Nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact Stalking Intimate partner and/or dating violence b
6.6%
13.5%
3.1%
16.8%
7.9%
6.3%
4.5%
4.9%
11.0%
15.8%
1.1%
-
13.3%
27.0%
4.7%
9.1%
11.2%
15.6%
10.4%
11.1%
12.2%
17.0%
1.0%
6.0%
8.4%
22.9%
6.9%
16.7%
-
6.0%
4.5%
5.2%
5.5%
14.5%
-
-
5.9%
11.2%
2.4%
8.1%
Hispanic/Latino Only Women
Multiracial
Men
Women
Men
Sexual Misconduct
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
2026
2022
Any incident
45.4%
57.6%
26.9%
50.9%
50.0%
74.8%
47.1%
51.5%
Sexual harassment
33.0%
54.1%
10.6%
45.4%
34.8%
66.4%
31.6%
39.7%
Digital sexual misconduct a 14.0% Nonconsensual or
13.6%
22.7%
18.3%
18.2%
19.4%
0.6%
7.8%
18.0%
29.4%
6.0%
11.8%
9.6%
20.8%
2.2%
16.0%
11.3%
26.9%
9.5%
14.7%
4.9% 14.9% 12.7% 4.9% 16.9% dating violence b Note. Reflects weighted percentages. When no responses were observed, we indicated this by -.
1.1%
17.9%
unwanted sexual contact Stalking Intimate partner and/or
a
14.0%
Digital sexual misconduct survey items were only included in the 2026 instrument; b Reported prevalence of intimate partner violence determined by participants
who reported any prior relationships since beginning their studies at WFU ( n = 1,176.)
Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
Reported Prevalence of Specific Types of Sexual Misconduct Sexual harassment. WFU’s survey measured participants’ experiences with sexual harassment by asking them whether a student or someone employed by or otherwise associated with WFU had done any of the following to them since they have been a student at WFU: •
Made sexual remarks or told sexual jokes or sexual stories that were insulting or offensive to them;
•
Made inappropriate or offensive comments about their or someone else’s body, appearance, or sexual activities;
•
Said crude or gross sexual things to them or tried to get them to talk about sexual matters when they did not want this; and/or
•
Continued to ask them to go out, get dinner, have drinks, or have sex even though they refused.
Key Findings: When comparing 2022 and 2026 survey findings, participants’ reporting of sexual harassment decreased substantially (from 49% in 2022 to 26% in 2026 among overall participants), with particularly large declines among undergraduate and TGQN students. In 2026, approximately a quarter (26%) of overall participants reported experiencing sexual harassment at least once since becoming a student at WFU. Particular student groups reported higher rates. For instance, over a third of TGQN students (40%) and undergraduate women (36%) reported the highest rates. Both undergraduate and graduate/professional women were significantly more likely than undergraduate and graduate/professional men to report experiencing sexual harassment since becoming a student at WFU. When considering rates by students’ racial and ethnic background as well as binary gender, multiracial (50%), white (50%), and Hispanic/Latina women (45%) all reported relatively higher rates compared to overall participants. Digital sexual misconduct. WFU’s 2026 survey included new measures related to participants’ experiences with digital sexual misconduct (i.e., unwanted, nonconsensual sexual behavior carried out through digital or online technologies, including smartphones, computers, tablets, apps, the internet, social media, email, learning platforms, streaming services, smart devices, and similar technologies). The survey asked whether a student or someone employed by or otherwise associated with WFU had done any of the following to them since they have been a student at WFU: •
Used digital or online technologies to communicate offensive or unwanted sexual remarks, jokes, stories, pictures, or videos to them;
•
Used digital or online technologies to communicate offensive or unwanted sexual remarks, jokes, stories, pictures, or videos about them;
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
•
Executive Summary
Made recurring sexual requests or advances to them using digital or online technologies;
•
Was suspected of tracking or making recurring contact with them of a sexual nature and in unwanted ways using digital or online technologies;
•
Threatened (regardless of whether it actually happened) to share sexually explicit messages, pictures, or videos of them on social media or elsewhere online;
•
Shared sexually explicit messages, pictures, or videos of them on social media or elsewhere online;
•
Requested revealing or nude photos of them, and then attempted to use those photos to get something from them (for example, sex, favors, or money);
•
Threatened to release revealing or nude photos of them to ruin their reputation or future plans;
•
Pressured them to send sexual content or engage in sexual acts digitally or online;
•
Recorded and/or distributed sexual content without their permission (for example, using hidden cameras, screenshots, or screen recordings); and/or
•
Digitally altered images of them (for example, using artificial intelligence, deepfake, or other applications that digitally alter something) to create sexual content without their permission.
Key Findings: In 2026, 15% of overall participants reported experiencing digital sexual misconduct at least once since becoming a student at WFU. Particular student groups reported higher rates. For instance, TGQN students reported the highest rate (32%), which is double the rate reported by overall participants. When considering rates by students’ racial and ethnic background as well as binary gender, multiracial women (23%), multiracial men (18%), and white women (17%) all reported relatively higher rates compared to overall participants. Nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact. WFU’s 2026 survey also included measures related to participants’ experiences with nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact while attending WFU. Participants were informed that nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact could have involved contact that occurred because of physical force, incapacitation due to alcohol and/or drugs, and other types of pressure and such sexual behavior may have been performed on them, or they may have been made to perform the sexual behaviors on another person. Participants were also informed that the person(s) with whom they had the nonconsensual or unwanted contact could have been someone they know (e.g., someone they are currently or were in a relationship with, a co-worker, a professor, or a family member) or someone they do not know. Participants were informed to consider anyone who had done this, regardless of whether the person(s) was associated with WFU.
Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
Key Findings: Overall participants’ survey reporting of nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact decreased from 16% in 2022 to 9% in 2026, with especially pronounced declines among undergraduate women and TGQN students. Fifteen percent (15%) of undergraduate women and 11% of TGQN students reported these experiences. Both undergraduate and graduate/professional women were significantly more likely than undergraduate and graduate/professional men to report experiencing nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact since becoming a student at WFU. Hispanic/Latina (18%), multiracial (18%), white (13%), and Black (11%) women reported the highest rates of nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact, when considering rates by participant racial and ethnic background and binary gender. Stalking. WFU’s 2026 survey also included measures related to participants’ experiences with stalking. WFU’s survey measured participants’ experiences with stalking by asking them whether someone had done any of the following to them since they have been a student at WFU: •
Showed up somewhere uninvited or waited for them when they did not want that person to be there; and/or
•
Spied on, watched, or followed them in person or monitored their activities or tracked their location using devices or software on their phone or computer.
Key Findings: Survey reporting of stalking was less than half in 2026 (8%) compared to 2022 (19%) among overall participants, with large declines across undergraduate women and men, graduate/professional women, and TGQN students. Black women (12%), multiracial women (11%), Asian women (11%), and Asian men (10%) reported the highest rates of stalking, when considering rates by participant racial and ethnic background as well as binary gender. Intimate partner and/or dating violence. WFU’s 2026 survey also included measures related to participants’ experiences with intimate partner and/or dating violence. WFU’s survey asked participants who reported being in any partnered relationship (i.e., marriage or civil union; domestic partnership, cohabitation, or nesting; steady or serious romantic, physical, and/or sexual relationship; other ongoing relationship involving physical or sexual contact; or another relationship) since they have been a student at WFU (n = 1,176) about their experiences with intimate partner and/or dating violence. WFU’s survey measured these participants’ experiences by asking them whether a partner had done any of the following to them since they have been a student at WFU: •
Controlled or tried to control them;
•
Threatened to physically harm them, someone they love, or him/herself; and/or
•
Used any kind of physical force against them or otherwise physically hurt or injured them.
Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
Key Findings: Survey reporting of intimate partner and/or dating violence declined across overall participants from 10% in 2022 to 4% in 2026, with similar patterns among undergraduate and graduate/professional students. In 2026, TGQN students (8%) and undergraduate women (6%) reported the highest rates. Undergraduate women who reported having had a partnered relationship were significantly more likely than undergraduate men to report having experienced intimate partner and/or dating violence. White (6%), Black (6%), Hispanic/Latina (5%), and multiracial (5%) women reported the highest rates of intimate partner violence, when considering rates by participant racial and ethnic background as well as binary gender.
Section 2: Sexual Misconduct Characteristics and Resource Utilization If participants reported on the survey experiencing any type of sexual misconduct, the survey included a number of items that asked them to provide details about various aspects of their experiences. These detailed findings relate to each of the five types of sexual misconduct (i.e., sexual harassment, digital sexual misconduct, stalking, intimate partner and/or dating violence, and nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact) and explain the prevalence of each sexual misconduct behavior (by type), person(s) who caused harm, impact on participants, and post-incident resource-seeking. Sexual harassment. About a quarter (26%) of 2026 participants reported experiencing sexual harassment at least once from a student or someone employed by or otherwise associated with WFU since enrolling. •
The two most common types of sexual harassment experienced by 2026 participants were inappropriate comments made about their or someone else’s body, appearance, or sexual activities (83% of those reporting experiencing sexual harassment) and insulting or offensive sexual remarks, sexual jokes, or stories (48% of those reporting experiencing sexual harassment).
•
Among 2026 participants who reported experiencing harm from sexual harassment behavior, a majority identified the person(s) who caused harm as an undergraduate WFU student. (79%)
•
About a third (31%) of 2026 participants indicated their experiences created an intimidating, hostile, or offensive social, academic, or work environment. Fewer participants reported their experiences interfered with their academic or professional performance (8%) or limited their ability to participate in an academic program (4%).
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
Digital sexual misconduct. Fifteen percent (15%) of 2026 participants reported experiencing digital sexual misconduct at least once from a student or someone employed by or otherwise associated with WFU since enrolling. •
The two most common types of digital sexual misconduct experienced by 2026 participants were someone using digital or online technologies to send offensive sexual remarks, jokes, stories, pictures, or videos to the participant (50% of those reporting experiencing digital sexual misconduct) and someone making repeated sexual requests or advances using digital or online technologies (42% of those reporting experiencing digital sexual misconduct).
•
A majority (61%) of 2026 participants reported the person(s) who caused harm from digital sexual misconduct they experienced was an undergraduate WFU student.
•
Almost a third (29%) of 2026 participants reported their experiences caused substantial emotional distress. Fewer participants reported their experiences made them fear for their safety or the safety of someone close to them (20%).
Stalking. Eight percent (8%) of 2026 participants reported experiencing stalking at least once since beginning their studies at WFU. •
A majority (88%) of participants who experienced any type of stalking since beginning their studies at WFU reported experiencing someone showing up somewhere uninvited or waiting when the participant did not want that person to be there, while about a third (35%) reported experiencing someone spying on, watching, or following the participant in person.
•
More than three-fourths (81%) of 2026 participants who experienced stalking indicated this occurred on a WFU campus location.
•
A majority (73%) of 2026 participants reported the person(s) who caused harm from stalking behavior was an undergraduate WFU student. The relationship of the person(s) who caused harm to the participants was most commonly a friend (24%), a known or recognized person but not a friend (22%), or someone they previously had been involved or intimate with (20%).
•
Over a third of participants reported that experiencing stalking caused them substantial emotional distress (39%) and these experiences made them fear for their own safety or the safety of others (35%).
Intimate partner and/or dating violence. If participants indicated on the survey they had been in a partnered relationship at least part of the time since beginning their studies at WFU (58% of all 2026 participants), they were asked about any experiences with intimate partner and/or dating violence. Of the 2026 participants reporting having been in a partnered relationship, 4% reported experiencing intimate partner and/or dating violence at least once since beginning their studies at WFU.
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
•
Executive Summary
A majority (71%) of 2026 participants who experienced any type of intimate partner violence reported a partner controlled or tried to control them. Fewer than half (42%) reported a partner threatened to physically harm them or a loved one. Nearly a quarter (24%) reported a partner used physical force against them.
•
Five percent (5%) of these 2026 participants reported sustaining physical injuries as a result of their experiences.
Nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact. Nine percent (9%) of 2026 participants reported experiencing nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact since becoming a student at WFU. The survey asked participants about any experiences of nonconsensual or unwanted contact that occurred because of the following tactics: 1) lack of active, ongoing voluntary agreement; 2) incapacitation due to alcohol and/or drugs; 3) force or threat of physical force; and 4) verbal coercion. •
•
•
•
•
The most commonly reported experience among 2026 participants was unwanted contact involving kissing or sexual touching without active, ongoing voluntary agreement (77% of those who reported experiencing nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact), followed by unwanted contact involving kissing or sexual touching while unable to consent or stop what was happening, due to alcohol or drugs, being passed out, or asleep (46% of those who reported experiencing nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact). Around half of the time, alcohol was used by the person(s) who caused harm and/or by the participant prior to the experience, while drug use prior to the experience was much less common. The majority of nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact due to incapacitation was the result of voluntary alcohol consumption, rather than due to participants being drugged or given alcohol without their knowledge or consent. Among 2026 participants, nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact most often occurred in a residence hall, some other place, another nonresidential building, or other residential housing. The person(s) who caused harm were most often men, and their relationship to the participant was most often someone they had previously been involved or intimate with, followed by someone they were involved or intimate with at the time of the incident. The person(s) who caused harm from nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact were most often undergraduate WFU students. A majority of 2026 participants (74%–100% across the different tactics) reported nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact negatively impacted their physical or emotional health in some way. The most common impacts were avoiding or trying to avoid the person(s), feeling numb or detached, withdrawal from interactions with friends, and headaches or stomachaches. Rates of experiencing negative outcomes did, however, differ as a function of the type of tactic used. For instance, experiences involving verbal coercion were associated with greater negative academic and professional outcomes, than experience due to the use of incapacitation tactics, physical
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
force, or a lack of active and ongoing voluntary agreement. Difficulty concentrating on course projects, assignment, or exams and decreased class attendance were the most commonly reported negative academic and professional outcomes reported by participants across all types of nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact.
Participant resource-seeking. In terms of participant resource-seeking after experiences of sexual misconduct, 2026 participants who reported experiencing intimate partner and/or dating violence (35%), digital sexual misconduct (30%), stalking (30%), and sexual harassment (20%) contacted a campus resource after the incident.
Section 3: Prevention Training, Knowledge of Campus Resources, and Perceptions of WFU’s Campus Climate These findings relate to perceptions of participants’ sexual misconduct prevention training experiences, their knowledge of WFU’s resources related to sexual misconduct, and their perceptions of the institutional perspective and response to sexual misconduct on campus. Additional findings from participants who indicated they had experienced any type of sexual misconduct are also included as they relate to their perceptions on whether WFU supported them in a variety of ways after their experiences. Sexual misconduct prevention training. Overall, 2026 participants reported the trainings they received covered: 1) the definition of and how to initiate consent (76%); 2) how WFU defines sexual assault and misconduct (73%); 3) bystander intervention (73%); 4) how to prevent sexual assault or misconduct (70%); 5) where to seek help after experiencing sexual assault or misconduct (68%); 6) resources related to sexual assault and misconduct (63%); 7) skills for fostering healthy and respectful behaviors (55%); and 8) additional training programs on how to prevent sexual assault or misconduct (40%). Awareness of WFU resources, policies, and procedures. In general, 2026 participants reported high levels of awareness of campus resources. Most reported being aware of Deacon Health (85%), University Police (78%), the Office of Wellbeing (77%), the University Counseling Center (66%), and the Safe Office (51%). Perceptions of WFU’s response to sexual misconduct. Generally, 2026 participants reported positive perceptions of the WFU campus climate related to sexual misconduct, as shown in Table 3. Most 2026 participants reported agreeing that WFU is trying to prevent sexual misconduct from happening (88%); takes training in sexual misconduct prevention seriously (86%); is educating students about sexual misconduct (86%); does not tolerate sexual misconduct (82%); is providing needed services to victims of sexual misconduct (77%); and is holding people accountable for committing sexual misconduct (66%).
Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
Table 3. 2026 Reported Perceptions of Campus Climate for Sexual Misconduct Perceptions
% Agree
This school is trying to prevent sexual misconduct from happening.
87.7%
This school takes training in sexual misconduct prevention seriously.
86.4%
This school is educating students about sexual misconduct (e.g., what consent means, how to define sexual assault, how to look out
86.3%
for one another). This school does not tolerate sexual misconduct. This school is providing needed services to victims of sexual misconduct. This school is holding people accountable for committing sexual misconduct.
81.7% 77.3% 66.1%
Note. Reflects weighted percentages. Participants were asked to indicate the extent to which they agreed with each statement, using a 5-point scale: 1 = Not at all, 2 = A little, 3 = Somewhat, 4 = Very, and 5 = Extremely. Reported values reflect combined percentages of participants who selected Extremely, Very, and Somewhat.
Ongoing WFU Efforts to Address Sexual Misconduct WFU implements a multifaceted, trauma-informed approach to provide high-quality prevention programming and support services for all undergraduate and graduate students on campus. To ensure cross-campus collaboration, the University created the Coalition Against Interpersonal Violence, which is open to all students, faculty, and staff. This collective impact coalition amplifies prevention efforts, streamlines communication, and unites the campus around the shared goal of eliminating interpersonal violence. Since the 2022 survey, the University has developed numerous new programs. One key highlight was the launch of ConsentCon, WFU’s biennial conference focused on interpersonal violence in university settings. Convening three times since 2023, the event centers campuswide conversations and practices around consent. Mandatory training for all incoming students was also updated to ensure completion before the first day of classes. Curriculum areas include Sexual Violence Prevention and Bystander Intervention, which align with best practices. Additional initiatives implemented since the 2022 survey include the Start with Safe campaign to promote confidential survivor support resources, as well as the creation and launch of Deacs Do It, a custom, multi-issue active bystander training program. Additionally, WFU expanded its organizational capacity by adding full-time staff dedicated specifically to prevention, support, and reporting. The 2026 survey results will be shared with the campus community in a variety of formats. The University will provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to ask questions, express concerns, share ideas, and engage in open discussion. Campus leadership will use Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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WFU 2026 Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey
Executive Summary
these forums to listen and learn, gaining invaluable insights to identify key priorities and improve future prevention efforts, institutional policies, and survivor resources. Ultimately, WFU aims to foster collective responsibility and a shared commitment to a campus where all students matter, belong, and thrive.
Prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago
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