Notre Dame’s Office of Institutional Equity recently released the results of its seventh Sexual Conduct and Campus Climate Survey, continuing the University’s effort to assess students’ knowledge, perceptions and experiences related to sexual assault and sex-based misconduct. The 2024-25 report revealed a boost in student confidence regarding the University’s handling of sexual misconduct cases. However, the self-reported incidents of assault and harassment remained steady compared to previous years.
91% of student respondents felt that the University’s response to sexual assault was at least “somewhat effective.” This was a 10 percentage point increase from the previous survey. The percentage of students who rated the response as “mostly” or “very” effective rose by 19 points. Similar gains were seen in perceptions of the University’s response to other forms of misconduct, including a 16-point increase for dating or domestic violence and a 17-point increase for hostile environment conduct.
However, there was a notable decline of 9% in the number of students who said they would report instances of sexual assault, other sex-based misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or other conduct that creates a sexually
hostile environment to the University.
Lauren Mulhern, the program director for education, outreach and prevention in the Office of Institutional Equity, connected this trend of increased confidence in the University’s response to sexual assault to the recent staffing changes and increased education efforts made by the University.
“We believe this increase reflects efforts made by the Office of Institutional Equity to provide clear expectations and educational resources surrounding University policies, support services and resolution procedures,” Mulhern said. “Since the last survey, two new full-time positions have been established within OIE to refine and enhance campus-wide prevention, education, outreach and training efforts.”
Compared to last year, the self-reported experiences of sexual assault remained consistent. The survey revealed that 3% of students overall, 6% of women and 1% of men, said they had experienced sexual assault during their time at Notre Dame.
“We view even one incident of sexual assault as an incident too many and take the stability of these rates as a critical reminder of the importance to continue to engage in comprehensive and responsive prevention efforts,” Mulhern said.
It was reported in the survey that 47% of incidents took place between the beginning of the fall semester and Thanksgiving break. 60% of these incidents involved incapacitation due to sleep, drugs, alcohol or another reason. 34% of women and 28% of men said they experienced the use of force during their reported assault.
Students shared several reasons for not reporting these incidents to the University’s Office for Institutional Equity. The top reasons included a desire to forget what happened (61%), feelings of self-blame (52%), the belief that reporting wouldn’t lead to any change (50%) and discomfort with the reporting process (45%). Mulhern pointed out that the rise in self-blame and the wish to move on without reporting illustrates the deeper issues at play.
“Survivors often experience self-blame or a desire to put the incident behind them, which can make reporting and accessing resources difficult,” Mulhern said. “This year’s increase suggests we must do even more to change destructive social norms that reinforce and cause internalization of victim-blaming narratives.”
The survey also revealed that most students are well-informed about the resources available to them and how to ask for help. The survey revealed that 85% of those who responded were aware of the University’s resources, while 79% knew how to report issues. Nine out of ten students also felt confident in their ability to step in as active bystanders when it’s safe to do so.
Mulhern mentioned that educational initiatives are offered through various platforms, making them accessible at different stages of students’ time at college.
“As part of new student orientation, both undergraduate and graduate students complete virtual training followed by in-person sessions with [Prevention, Outreach, Education and Training] staff,” Mulhern said. “Various forms of print resources, including posters, hand-held cards and mirror clings, are displayed and available in every residence hall, and digital resources are also made available on the OIE website.”
The Office of Institutional Equity highlighted the importance of customizing resources for the diverse needs of the Notre Dame community. Mulhern pointed out that the University works hand in hand with various departments, including the Gender Relations Center, International Student and Scholar Affairs and Multicultural Student Programs and Services, to make sure that the resources provided are culturally sensitive. “Students’ backgrounds, identities and experiences directly impact how they approach intimate situations, including conversations involving consent, boundaries and expectations,” Mulhern said.
