Subject: An important message from the Office for Violence Against Women Grant

Dear Siena Heights Community,

On Monday, our undergraduate students will be receiving an invitation to participate in a

Campus Climate Survey, designed to provide insight about the needs of our students regarding
sexual misconduct and campus response. The survey will be open for three (3) weeks – March
18th through April 5th – in effort to encourage as many responses as possible.

As the well-being of our students is the highest priority, participation in this survey is voluntary,
the survey is anonymous, and the responses are confidential. Every voice is important to
capture a true understanding of the needs of our community. We appreciate any support that
you can provide in spreading the message of this survey’s importance and encouraging your
students to participate. As a thank you for participation, students have the opportunity to
submit, in a separate form-fill, an entry into the drawing for one of several prizes upon
completing the survey.
The content of this survey is highly personal and can potentially trigger traumatic memories for
the students who participate. As a member of the Siena Heights community our students come
to rely on you as a member of their support system and may readily seek to confide in you when
distressed. To protect both the student and yourself, it is important that everyone has a clear
understanding of the federal mandatory reporting requirements regarding sexual misconduct.
Attached you will find a mandatory reporter ‘Stop Card’. This card is designed to help you to give
a systematic explanation of the limitations placed upon you and simultaneously provide
additional resources to aid the student.

Private vs. Confidential:

Though The Clery Act and University policy do mandate that specific information cannot be kept
confidential (shared with no one), if you and the student decide to continue the conversation,
you can assure them that information can be kept private (shared only with parties who must
know).
Understanding Services Available:
Services offered by the SHU Counseling center are completely free to our students. In addition
to the services that Sandy can provide directly, funds are available through the counseling
center to help victims of gender based violence with the cost of services such as transportation,
outside counseling, housing accommodations, etc.

Should a student express specific preferences regarding their counseling experience (e.g. types
of insurance accepted, culture or gender of counselor, faith-based services, etc.) they will need
to call individual agencies to inquire about availability. Three off-campus counseling services are
listed on the back of the stop card based on proximity to campus. The SHU Counseling Center
can help guide students further. If you have questions regarding the services available to our
students, please contact the Director of Counseling Services, Sandy Morley at
smorley@sienaheights.edu or 517-264-7193.

Reporting:
This information is specific to issues of gender-based violence and does not capture the laws or
policies for all discrimination. If you need to report an incident, or have questions regarding Title
IX or reporting requirements, please contact Cynthia Birdwell, Title IX Coordinator at
cbirdwel@sienaheights.edu or 517-264-7194.

Your partnership is vital and deeply appreciated. If you have questions regarding any of this –
including the Stop Card and survey - please feel free to contact me at
khavens@sienaheights.edu or 517-264-7602.

Kindest Regards,

Kristen
Kristen Havens
Project Coordinator – OVW Grant
Siena Heights University
517-264-7602