Communications

Complete

• Information about SAFE exams has been added to the Off-Campus Resources page. Information about the exams themselves and contact information for local hospitals are included.

In Progress

• Establishing a “Responsible Employee” resources page on Retriever Courage

To Begin

• Create clear communication pieces about the types of concerns handled by the Title IX office. These pieces will also provide clarity about the role of the Title IX Coordinator
• Work in conjunction with the Title IX office to provide annual data regarding sexual misconduct to the UMBC community

Complete

• TurnAround was on campus for TurnAround 101 at the We Believe You GBM on October 30, 2019 to talk more about their available resources and begin building relationships with UMBC students
• New poster line was created that featured Prevention and Resources posters (see next section, “Update/Increase Physical Communications Presence” for further details)

In Progress

• Increasing marketing and financial support for prevention workshops

To Begin

• Design a campus-wide consent campaign

Considering

• Hire a marketing firm to create an educational marketing campaign around Title IX/sexual misconduct

Complete

• We Believe You worked with the Implementation Team to create two resource stands located in the Commons (one near the CIC, one near the Women’s Center). These brochures include information about on- and off-campus resources
• A new line of posters around central Retriever Courage themes (Consent; Title IX; Prevention; Culture Change; Getting Help) has been developed and launched. Corresponding information web pages have been developed and are available on the Retriever Courage homepage
• Resources stickers have been added to every bathroom on campus
• Candace Dodson-Reed introduced the new Office and Equity and Inclusion staff to the campus at various campus meetings in March 2020. Meetings continued throughout the Fall 2020 semester.

In Progress

• Three new brochures stands have been purchased and will be moved into their locations when the campus re-opens at normal capacity. The new stands will be in AOK Library, True Grit, and Potomac Hall.
• Retriever Courage flyers and resource brochures have been printed and will be distributed to all campus units when the campus re-opens at normal capacity.

To Begin

• Continue designing new poster campaigns to share information with the campus as progress is made
• Expand Residential Life resource guide to include more information about dating/domestic violence, stalking, and SAFE exams
• Develop/procure a wider variety of materials that address students coming to campus with existing trauma

Complete

• Designed a Retriever Courage dashboard to share organized updates with the campus community
• On-campus and off-campus resources pages have been updated on Retriever Courage website
• Removing all references to old sexual misconduct resources/programs on UMBC websites

In Progress

• Revising UMBC websites according to the changes recommended by the consultants’ report (pgs 43-44)
• Collaborating with the Counseling Center to update their website to include more detailed information about their services
• We have begun collaborating with OIA to create a social media campaign for Instagram about campus resources

To Begin

• Improve accessibility via search terms (i.e.; “help for rape” or “sexual assault help”) and improve navigation to resources

In Progress

• Continuing to utilize informal communication streams to spread information instead of email
• Key campus administrators are taking a more public role in the discussion about sexual misconduct

• UMBC announced the creation of a new Inclusion Council on June 30, 2020. This group of students, faculty, staff, and alumni began work immediately to identify short- and long-term goals and recommendations. The Inclusion Council has been given the charge of providing advice and guidance from a variety of perspectives to the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI), to act as ambassadors for the office across campus, and to provide a venue for discussion of issues as they arise. The Council will send its Working Group’s initial recommendations to OEI in May 2021.
• In May 2019, Retriever Courage partners reached out to the community to hear their concerns and recommendations. Meetings in May included the SGA, GSA, University Steering Committee, Healthy Relationships Advocates, and Campus Life staff.
• On May 7th,2019 UMBC shared three reports with recommendations on the prevention of and response to sexual violence/misconduct at UMBC. These reports were compiled, respectively, by three groups: external consultants Jody Shipper, J.D., and Cherie Scricca, Ed.D., of Grand River Solutions, Inc.; the Retriever Courage Student Advisory Committee; and the Retriever Courage Faculty/Staff Advisory Committee. The three reports include assessments of UMBC’s current practices, policies, and resources, as well as recommendations based on effective practices on our campus, evidence-based research, and best practices at other universities.
• On April 2nd, 2019 UMBC announced that new campus ID cards with emergency contact information will be available for pick-up beginning in April.
• On March 21st, 2019 two resource stands were installed in The Commons with brochures for on- and off-campus information (new location: ground floor by stairs on Yum Shoppe side and in the lobby across from the information desk). They include UMBC’s on-campus resources brochure and materials from the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault Legal Institute, Turnaround, and RAINN. The stands are a pilot project by UMBC activist/advocacy student group, We Believe You. Members will keep track of brochure quantities to determine how the stands are being used during the spring semester before making recommendations to Retriever Courage partners about expanding the project. The Retriever Courage Implementation Team is also working with partners to find additional ways to post resources and information across campus.
• In December 2018, President Hrabowski, Provost Rous, and Retriever Courage partners continued to reach out to the community to hear their concerns and recommendations. Meetings during December included the Counseling Center, Department of Theatre, and University Health Services.
• In November 2018, President Hrabowski, Provost Rous, and other leaders continued to reach out to the community to hear concerns and recommendations. Meetings during November included the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems.
• On November 2nd, Retriever Courage website is launched along with a myUMBC Retriever Courage group.
• On November 1st, UMBC faculty, staff, and students receive an email update about Retriever Courage initiative, including processes and structures for moving forward with work related to sexual violence/misconduct prevention and response.
• In October 2018, President Hrabowski, Provost Rous, and other leaders continued to reach out to the community to hear concerns and recommendations. Meetings during October included UMBC’s Student Government Association, Graduate Student Association, Professional Staff Senate, University Steering Committee, Resident Student Association, Academic Affairs directors, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, College of Engineering and Information Technology, and student paraprofessionals.
• In October 2018, UMBC announced it will issue new campus ID cards that include emergency contact information for quick access by students, faculty, and staff. We anticipate the new cards will be available in the spring.
• In October 2018, A new student Resources for Care Guide was posted in residence halls. Additional posters, signs, and other information resources will be developed for all areas of campus.
• In September 2018, President Hrabowski, Provost Rous, and other campus leaders began meetings with student groups, academic colleges and programs, departments and offices to share updates and listen to feedback. These meetings are ongoing.