While 74% of students said they trust their institution to provide a supportive response if they experience a harmful or dangerous situation, they also reported that they are most likely to call family or a friend if they feel unsafe. – 2021 Campus Safety Survey by ADT and Clery Center
The Clery Act is a federal law that requires higher education institutions to:
Annually on Oct. 1st, Worcester State disseminates the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASR) to the Worcester State Community and the general public. The ASR contains statistics of campus crime for the preceding three calendar years, and summaries of current campus policies and procedures.
View the most recent Worcester State ASR
Remember that crime statistics alone do not give a complete picture of campus safety. When an institution reports higher crime statistics year-to-year, or more than another institution, it is not necessarily indicative of higher rates of crime. Higher reporting rates often indicate that a school has established efficient and accessible reporting systems and that students are encouraged to report and seek support. Additionally, interpersonal crimes are historically under-reported by those that experience them because of systemic barriers and fear of negative consequences, resulting in them being underrepresented in statistics.
By engaging in open communication, you can help promote a safe and secure college experience for your student.
Ways you can effectively engage include:
The goal of the University Police Department is to increase community awareness about the risk of campus crime through crime prevention services, tips, and alerts and to generate a sense of personal responsibility in each individual to prevent or reduce criminal opportunities.
Encourage Your Student To:
When a crime occurs and is reported, campus officials are required to evaluate if there is a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community to determine if a timely warning needs to be issued to all staff and students. In the event of an immediate, significant danger to the health or safety of the campus community (e.g. weather, disease outbreak), campus officials must issue an emergency notification. This notification can include the entire campus, or be limited to a specific area deemed to be at risk.
The Worcester State Alert System is used to notify the campus community when there is an emergency.
Student emails are automatically registered with Worcester State’s emergency notification system, but they must opt-in to receive text-message notifications. Opting in, will increase the speed at which you receive Worcester State-related weather and other emergency alerts. Have your student register your cell phone number to have notifications sent to you via text message.
If there is only an email from police or another Worcester State official, rather than a Rave Alert, then you can be sure that police have determined that no immediate danger or public safety concern exists on campus.
The Rave Guardian app is one of the best ways to improve not only your personal safety on the Worcester State campus but also your fellow guardians’ safety within your own private safety network. This app also can put you in direct contact with University Police in an emergency.
The app allows you to do the following:
Download Rave Guardian or search for it at the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Note: This app is separate from the Rave Alert software used to notify the campus community of incidents such as inclement weather closings or delays.
All incoming first year students are required to complete four online education programs (Alcohol Edu, Sexual Violence Prevention, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Mental Well-Being) to assist them in gaining knowledge and awareness around topics related to their safety and well-being on campus as well as building a community of respect. These evidence -based courses rely on proven prevention theories, educational strategies and personalized feedback to help students understand the many aspects of these issues. Your student will receive an email on Aug. 1st with instructions on completions. Checking in with your student about their requirements can open up dialog again about these important topics and the choices they are making.
While recent studies show that college students today are drinking significantly less than previous generations, alcohol and other drug use still remains a safety concern. About 27.4% of college students engage in binge drinking.
The consequences of harmful and underage drinking affect students whether they drink or not. Researchers estimate that each year:
Marijuana and hallucinogen use reported by young adults 19 to 30 years old increased significantly in 2021, reaching historic highs in this age group since 1988, according to the Monitoring the Future (MTF) panel study.
WSU considers the safety and personal well-being of the student body a priority. WSU recognizes that there may be alcohol or drug-related medical or safety emergencies in which the potential for disciplinary action could act as a deterrent to students who want to seek assistance for themselves or others.
Students who are transported to a local hospital as a result of the abuse of alcohol or other drugs will be required to meet with a member of Counseling Services for educational and assessment purposes. Failure to schedule and attend the session may result in conduct action.
When a student aids an intoxicated or impaired individual by contacting University Police or Residential Life Staff, neither the intoxicated individual nor the individual reporting the emergency will be subject to disciplinary action.
Sexual misconduct, dating violence (also known as intimate partner violence/IPV) and stalking, including cyberstalking, continue to be a concern on college campuses and one that poses a significant risk to students. All forms of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment (including IPV, stalking/cyberstalking and gender based discrimination) are prohibited at Worcester State.
Anyone who experiences gender based discrimination or sexual misconduct (including IPV, stalking, or retaliation) is encouraged to report the incident through the Title IX Coordinator and explore their options, rights and resources on the Title IX webpage.
View additional national statistics on our SAVE webpage, and results of our most recent Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey on our Title IX webpage.
Although it can be uncomfortable, it’s important to have conversations with your student about safe sex practices, sexual violence, and navigating unhealthy relationships prior to the start of their first year in college.
Through campus-wide education and prevention programming, the Worcester State Sexual Assault and Violence Education (SAVE) Task Force the task force helps to provide a safe, healthy, and supportive campus climate, free of sexual and intimate partner violence.
Yearly prevention and education programming includes:
Learn more about the task force and yearly prevention and education programs on the SAVE webpage here, and follow @WSUSave on instagram for current programming information.
Mental health challenges are a significant problem among college students and have a direct impact on student functioning and well-being. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. In a 2019 national survey, three out of five college students reported “overwhelming anxiety” in the past year, and two out of five “felt so depressed that it was difficult to function.” In a 2022-23 national Healthy Minds Study, 80% of college students felt their emotional or mental difficulties hurt their academic performance in the prior month.
Report emergencies right away: If your student is experiencing a mental health crisis, expressing self harm, suicidal thoughts, violence or thoughts of hurting others, or sounds markedly different from usual (including disorganized or incoherent speech), call 911 or take the student to your local emergency room.
JED Campus/Fresh Check Day: As a JED Campus, a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation (JED), Worcester State University and JED believe mental health promotion, substance misuse and suicide prevention efforts are a campus-wide responsibility. Each year we host a campus wide event; Fresh Check Day, the signature program of the Jordan Porco Foundation. As an uplifting mental health promotion and suicide prevention event it includes interactive expo booths, peer-to-peer messaging, support of multiple campus departments and groups, free food, entertainment, and exciting prizes and giveaways. Fresh Check Day aims to create an approachable and hopeful atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health and helps to build a bridge between students and the mental health resources available on campus, in the community, and nationally.
ResilientU: Worcester State has partnered with a third party to offer our ResilientU resources which expand access to mental health care and well-being to include access to a 24/7 confidential support line, free subscription to Headspace, free access to a catalog of wellbeing and wellness resources, and access to free confidential telehealth sessions with licensed providers that match student gender, language, identity or racial needs. Learn more at worcester.edu/counselingservices
Training: Counseling Services staff office offers ongoing workshops, training and outreach to the community, including Recognize, Respond and Refer workshops to train all faculty and staff on mental health student response.
Active Minds: Through sponsoring activities, awareness events, speakers and late night lancer events, students in our Active Minds Chapter work to combat stigma and increase mental well being.
Student Support Network (SSN): SSN is a nationally recognized suicide prevention program on college campuses. This student leadership training, conducted through Counseling Services, is a peer advocacy program that teaches students how to recognize warning signs of distress, ask difficult questions, and refer peers to appropriate resources.
Nearly 1 in 3 (31%) of students have felt discriminated against on their campus.
Worcester State University is committed to creating and maintaining an academic and work environment, and in adherence with federal law, prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation*, gender identity*, gender expression*, genetic information, marital or parental status, or veteran status, sex: including sexual violence.
Worcester State encourages anyone who witnesses or experiences discrimination or a bias incident on campus to report it through any of the applicable venues. Reporting forms can be located on the Diversity, Inclusion, Equal Opportunity webpage.
The Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) is a multidisciplinary team responsible for providing a comprehensive approach to addressing incidents of bias that challenge the University’s mission, core values, civility policies, policies against discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and retaliation, and efforts toward improving campus climate. The BIRT team documents and monitors all reported incidents of bias or hate and makes recommendations for appropriate programs that are both preventative and responsive to bias incidents and hate crimes.
It is important for students to familiarize themselves with Worcester State’s resources and reporting procedures.
Students should be aware of individuals on campus who have an obligation to report alleged crimes. Counseling Services, Health Services and Pastoral Services are exempt from these reporting obligations due to confidentiality laws.
The Clery Act is a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics. It requires colleges and universities to:
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in all university programs and activities, including, but not limited to, admissions, recruiting, financial aid, academic programs, student services, counseling and guidance, discipline, pregnant and parenting students, class assignment, grading, recreation, athletics, housing, and employment. Sexual harassment and sexual violence (including dating/domestic violence and stalking are forms of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX. Title IX also prohibits retaliation against people for making or participating in complaints of sex discrimination.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a 1974 federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. In simple terms, FERPA gives students, or their parents if the student is a minor, the right to control who has access to their educational information.
The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to establish and report on drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs for students and employees. Specifically, these institutions must implement initiatives “to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees,” both on the institution’s premises and as part of any of its off-campus activities.
