Prevention of sexual misconduct is a priority at Ohio University. One key to prevention is ensuring that all members of the Ohio University community share a common understanding of how each of us can make a difference in building a culture of respect that does not tolerate sexual misconduct. 

Recognizing the need for greater faculty and staff education about sexual misconduct and relationship violence, the University acquired an online education module that will help achieve that common understanding. This faculty/staff education initiative was also recommended by the 2016 Presidential Advisory Committee for Sexual Misconduct (PACSM) .

Bridges: Building a Supportive Community is an online education module intended to help equip OHIO faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to build a culture of respect that prevents sexual misconduct and to prepare them to respond appropriately when such incidents occur.

The Breakfast for Progress leadership group was provided the education module for review as a pilot group in mid-September.

Starting Friday, Oct. 13, this online education module will be delivered to via email to all faculty, administrative and classified staff, excepting AFSCME bargaining unit staff, who will receive the education module at a later day.

The non-AFSCME faculty and staff will receive a link to the module via email on Friday, Oct. 13 with a 30-day window for completion. The online module takes approximately an hour to complete, is self-paced, and the program will return to where the user left off if he or she is interrupted in their viewing.

Embedded at the end of the module is an opportunity to affirm that the employee has read and understood Ohio University’s policies regarding sexual misconduct. A certification of completion is also provided after successful completion of the module.

More information will be provided in future issues of Compass and the OEN. The non-AFSCME employees will also receive information directly via email. Please contact Executive Director and Title IX Coordinator Sara Trower at 740-593-9140 with any questions.