Education Programs for VAWA Crimes

First Institute provides education programs to promote the awareness of rape, acquaintance rape, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. First Institute provides primary prevention education to new students through interactive, online training. Courses include:

Sexual Violence Awareness (Campus Save Act):

Although federal regulations guarantee all students the right to an education free from sexual harassment and violence, sexual assault remains a significant problem on college campuses nationwide. This course is designed to promote awareness of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, as well as how to identify and respond to incidents of sexual violence on campus. Topics covered include sexual violence and related laws and mandates; what actions to take if you’re a bystander to sexual harassment; what to do if you or someone you know experiences sexual violence; and disciplinary proceedings, victim resources and supportive measures.

Sexual Violence Prevention:

Sexual violence in higher education is pervasive, and no institution is immune to the hard caused by sexual assault; dating and relationship violence; sexual harassment; and stalking. However all students have a part to play in reducing sexual violence on their campus. This course discusses the finer points of consent, provides an overview of sexual violence, and empowers students to take action to prevent further harm. Using presenter-led content, personal accounts of interpersonal violence, interactive elements, and scenarios that demonstrate key concepts, this course illustrates how sexual violence prevention goes beyond victims and perpetrators. It affects everyone and requires all of us to take action.

Alcohol and Other Drugs:

Alcohol and Other Drugs is a reality-driven online course designed to educate students on the risks of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and to teach successful strategies for handling dangerous situations related to these substances. The course features four modules: Your GPA, Your Brain, Your Peers and Your Life. Each section provides extensive, research-backed evidence of the detrimental effects alcohol and other drugs can have, and how social skills and interactions can help reduce harm associated with these substances.

The online training includes: a statement that these crimes are prohibited at the school, definitions of consent, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; safe and positive bystander intervention when there’s a risk of one of those incidents; information on risk reduction to recognize warning signs of abusive behavior and avoiding potential attacks; and information about the institutional disciplinary procedures.

All employees are required to complete online training on preventing discrimination and sexual violence including:

Sexual Violence Awareness for Employees (Campus Save Act)
Clery Act Overview
Student Drug and Alcohol Abuse

These online courses provide training that:

Educates employees to recognize sex discrimination.
Helps employees protect against sexual violence.
Sends a strong message that sex discrimination and violence are prohibited by the school.
Explains the importance of reporting sex discrimination promptly.
Defines sex discrimination and sexual violence.
Explains prohibitions against intimate partner violence and stalking.
Covers the grievance procedures available and employee rights.
Detailed coverage of Title IX.
Pertinent details of the Clery Act and Violence Against Women Act.
References to how sex discrimination and violence may be covered by other laws, including criminal laws.

In addition to First Institute’s educational programs that promote awareness, local community outreach officers provide information for crime prevention and safety on topics such as assault, theft, and vandalism, as well as education on personal safety. The Care Center in Crystal Lake, a division of the NW Center Against Sexual Assault and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) provides training workshops to First Institute students on Dating Violence and Sexual Assault .