Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

[Rob Buelow <>]

This is a very important issue, Audrey - thanks for posting.

Some of the suggestions already made in this thread would be great strategies to consider. To help provide additional context/leverage, and perhaps "elevate" the nature of this concern, there was a great piece in the Washington Post two weeks ago about the impact of sexual assault on the academic performance of survivors.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/08/06/after-a-sexual-assault-survivors-gpas-plummet-this-is-a-bigger-problem-than-you-think/

"It is the responsibility of the school, not the student, to ensure the academic accommodation needs are met. One student I worked with had to fend for herself, repeatedly recounting the assault to her professors to request extensions, sometimes receiving no response in return. Rather, a designated campus administrator should be available to contact professors and assure the survivor that academic accommodations are carried out. In particular, survivors may find class participation difficult following sexual violence, and removal of a participation requirement can significantly improve a student’s grade."

Best,

Rob Buelow

On Fri, Aug 22, 2014 at 4:37 PM, Audrey Wilson <> wrote:

Good Friday afternoon.

I have a student who was the victim of a sexual assault and has been diagnosed with PTSD.  She wants to continue attending classes this fall and is asking for some leeway regarding attendance for the first month – she would do all of the work but has anxiety/panic attacks when she is on campus.  One of her professors is willing to accommodate her request but the other 2 are saying that their classes cannot be done through any way other than being present.  They both say there is a great deal of in class participation and the student will not be successful if she is not present.  One solution I suggested was for her to be on the phone during the class so she would be able to hear the lectures and answer questions and participate in any group activities. 

I tried explaining this is a “Title IX case” and talked about the institution responsibilities toward the student but have not received much willingness to work with the student.  If anyone has been in a situation like this can you please share the resolutions you and the faculty came up with that I might suggest?  I am just amazed that people are so unwilling to work to find an alternate solution.

Thanks for your help.

Audrey

Audrey D. Wilson
Director, Student Services
Angelo State University
Member, Texas Tech University System
ASU Station #11047
San Angelo, TX 76909-1047
Phone: 325-942-2047
Fax: 325-942-2211

http://www.angelo.edu/services/student_services/

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Robert Buelow 
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