Academic institutions must be responsible for making efforts to prevent sexual misconduct and create a safe space for the community, as sexual misconduct remains โa prevalent and consequential experience for university students.โ
A recent study by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) highlights the severe consequences of sexual misconduct on studentsโ well-being and academic success, hindering the studentโs learning process. The study says students who experience sexual assault are at a heightened risk of developing long-term mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This disorder, in turn, is โassociated with decreased neurocognitive functioning in areas such as verbal learning, information processing, working memory, and verbal memory,โ all of which are critical to the learning process.
Students often perceive campuses as safe havens where their primary goal is to learn in an environment that values respect and equality. Universities must serve as sanctuaries for education and personal growth; therefore, all AUA community members should be aware of the consequences of sexual misconduct, who victims should talk to, and how the university addresses the issue.
Regular workshops, awareness campaigns, and clear communication channels can help dismantle these barriers and foster a culture where respect and accountability are prioritized.
In October 2024, AUA published a revised sexual misconduct policy that aims to address a sensitive but vital issue that requires awareness, understanding, and active participation from everyone in our community.
Policy Overview
The policy defines sexual misconduct as โan umbrella term for multiple types of offenses, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking.โ Each of these offenses is further clarified to help community members understand the scope and implications of such behavior.
Sexual harassment is โunwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature (including sexually suggestive advances or touching).โ
Sexual assault is strictly prohibited by the Armenian Criminal Code and AUAโs policies, which align with these legal standards. The policy states that AUA is committed to upholding the law, ensuring accountability, and fostering a safe environment for all community members.
Stalking is another critical issue addressed in the policy, defined as โthe repeated occurrence of behaviors that cause the victim to fear for their safety or force them to significantly change their lifestyle.โ This includes following someone, using information or communication technologies to harass them, visiting their residence or workplace, leaving digital traces on personal belongings, or impersonating them online. The policy states that, by addressing stalking, AUA recognizes the evolving ways in which harassment can occur in modern contexts.
One of the main changes in the new policy is that all AUA community members must complete online sexual harassment training every two years. AUAโs HR Director Arina Bekchyan mentions that everyone must score 100% on the accompanying quiz; failing to complete it will result in disciplinary action.
There are unlimited attempts to complete the quiz, so everyone has the opportunity to get a perfect score. This way, the university aims for all students, faculty, and staff to learn about sexual misconduct and its definitions, as well as the confidentiality of reporting cases to the DEI coordinator or another trusted party.
Student Involvement
The faculty, staff, and some AUA students participated in drafting the policy. The involvement of the students in this process is a major milestone as they raise their concerns and opinions about the new policy and try to help improve it by providing valuable perspectives on the new policy.
Meghrie Yaacoubian, an EC junior, who contributed to the drafting process, says, โMy role was to make comments or highlight passages that I thought were not discrete enough or mention what I thought about the new changes.โ
The policyโs primary purpose is to ensure the studentsโ safety, so their involvement in the drafting process brought a different perspective that might have otherwise been missed.
โAs a student, it was motivating to know this was being done for a very important cause,โ Yaacoubian explains. โHaving students involved in something that had to do with the studentsโ safety was validating.โ
Implementation Challenges
One of the challenges of this new system is the effectiveness of the online quizzes. Laura Prokiฤ, a former AUA lecturer, who also contributed to drafting the policy, believes that organizing multiple trainings per year for all community members at AUA would be difficult. โI could quickly see that if we went that route, it would never happen, or it would only happen once; so, we decided it is better to have something that works than nothing,โ she adds.
Reporting & Support
All members of the AUA community have the right to contact Sarkis Keshishian, the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) coordinator and student counselor at AUA, to discuss concerns regarding any form of sexual misconduct. Bekchyan says the DEI coordinatorโs responsibilities range from welcoming claimantsโ reports to collecting data and implementing the quiz.
AUA Provost Dr. Alina Gharabegian says โIt is the DEI coordinatorโs job to protect the confidentiality of all parties involved, it is likewise the job of any authority figure at AUA to protect such confidentiality if a case comes to him/her.โ
She explains that the DEI coordinatorโs role is โto listen to complaints with care and confidentiality and assist the claimant in considering possible ways to address the issue.โ
The claimant can seek help handling the case personally, request informal resolution from the university, or get DEI support for formal reporting.
โWe have a whistleblower mechanism at the university whereby a witness to an ethical breach can report an incident,โ Dr. Gharabegian explains. โIf the incident is reported through this mechanism, then it will be handled by the university authorities.โ
In other words, the whistleblower mechanism requires the claimant to file a report on the assault, which will be submitted to the DEI coordinator. They will then share it with AUAโs Board of Trustees to investigate the case closely.
In any case, it is essential to report any form of assault. โIf a claimant herself/himself does not report the incident directly and a witness does not report the incident through the whistleblower mechanism, then how would the DEI coordinator become aware of the incident?โ Dr. Gharabegian says.
AUAโs renewed sexual misconduct policy informs victims of their rights and reporting options. Also, they can always seek assistance from AUAโs free counseling services.
Spreading Awareness
All members of the AUA communityโstudents, staff, and facultyโmust familiarize themselves with the policy to ensure its proper implementation. Proactive efforts must be made to tackle common barriers like poor communication, stigma, and lack of understanding.
By ensuring that everyone understands their rights and responsibilities, the university can strengthen its commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment. Taking the training seriously, staying informed, and actively engaging in awareness efforts are crucial steps toward real change.
Community members must also be proactive in reporting misconduct and supporting those who come forward. Change begins with collective action, and by working together, we can create a campus where everyone feels safe and valued.
