The 2022 Vol Voices research survey was the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s next step in our ongoing commitment to creating and maintaining a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environment free from sexual harassment (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking), sexual exploitation, and retaliation. Assessing campus perceptions and experiences in the areas of Title IX is a best practice. Sexual harassment and interpersonal violence have a direct and negative impact on our students, employees, and our mission of education and research. UT last conducted a comprehensive campus climate survey of all students in spring 2017. The survey was administered across all UT System campuses and was conducted by Rankin & Associates Consulting.
The goal of the Vol Voices research survey was to assess the perceptions and experiences of our own students and employees. The information gathered will help to inform policy, shape prevention, and assist with targeted interventions.
The survey is based on an instrument created by the Administrator Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3). The ARC3 was developed for US higher education institutions by expert researchers in sexual harassment and interpersonal violence in collaboration with Title IX professionals, campus law enforcement, advocates, counselors, and student affairs personnel.
UT developed two versions of the survey: one for students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) and another for employees—both based on the ARC3. The survey instruments were reviewed, and feedback was received from Title IX Prevention Team members, the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS), faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate student stakeholders. UT’s Institutional Review Board reviewed and approved the survey. The survey was completely voluntary, anonymous, and confidential. The survey provided information about local, community, and national resources.
The initial email invitation to the UT community to participate in the Vol Voices research survey came from the chancellor at the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, April 2022. All UTK and UTIA undergraduate, graduate and professional students, faculty and staff were invited to complete the research survey so that every member of the UT community was provided the opportunity to share their experiences and perceptions. The student survey was open through May 10, 2022, and the employee survey was open through May 21, 2022. The Office of Title IX developed a comprehensive webpage for the UT community to visit if they had questions about the research survey.
The research survey was promoted via tabling events, social media, campus listservs, and to student and employee groups. Students and employees could also access the research survey via a QR code. SWOPRS monitored completion rates, and there was additional outreach to colleges and departments with lower response rates.
Students were eligible to win one of 30 VolCard gift cards. Each week, five winners were selected. The earlier a student completed the research survey, the higher the value of the gift card and the more chances they had to be selected. Students did not have to complete the research survey to be eligible to enter the drawing.
SWORPS took multiple precautionary measures to protect confidentiality. Group data were not reported for groups of fewer than five individuals because they may be small enough to compromise confidentiality. Instead, groups or other measures were combined to eliminate identifiable demographic information. No one at the Office of Title IX or other university administrative offices could see individual responses. SWORPS destroyed all research survey records after the study ended.
To access the student summary report, click here.
To access the employee summary report, click here.
If you have questions about the Vol Voices research survey, contact Ashley Blamey, Title IX Coordinator, at ashleyblamey@utk.edu or 865-974-9600.
To learn more about training and education for graduate students and employees, visit https://titleix.utk.edu/training. To learn more about ongoing education for all students, visit https://titleix.utk.edu/education-and-prevention.
Vol Voices Survey FAQs
Vol Voices is an anonymous and confidential research survey that will assess campus perceptions and experiences of our own students and employees. The information gathered will help to inform policy, shape prevention, and assist us with targeted interventions. The survey is based on an instrument created by the Administrator Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3). It was developed for US institutions of higher education by expert researchers in sexual harassment and interpersonal violence in collaboration with Title IX professionals, campus law enforcement, advocates, counselors, and student affairs personnel. The ARC3 is the recommended survey by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Action Collaborative of which the University of Tennessee Knoxville is one of the founding members. Assessing campus perceptions and experiences in the areas of Title IX is a best practice. Sexual harassment and interpersonal violence have a direct and negative impact on our students, employees, and our mission of education and research.
All UTK and UTIA undergraduate, graduate and professional students, faculty and staff will be invited to complete the research survey. Participation is voluntary, confidential, and completely anonymous.
We want every member of our community to have the opportunity to provide their experience and perceptions. The broadest possible participation will help make it possible to identify microclimates and include smaller populations.
There are two versions of the survey: one for students and one for faculty, and staff. The student survey will be open through May 10, and the faculty and staff research survey will be open through May 31.
In order to understand the campus perceptions and experiences of our students and employees, the research survey needs to ask direct questions about topics that may be very difficult for members of our community. Directly collecting this information will be helpful in preventing negative experiences and effectively responding when they do happen. Survey participation is voluntary, and we encourage everyone to consider their own wellbeing. You can choose to skip any questions or stop the survey at any time. Nobody will know who did or did not participate in the survey.
To get a complete picture, we need to hear from as many students and employees as possible. Your contribution is critical to helping the university and greater campus community accurately understand the campus perceptions and experiences of all students, faculty, and staff related to sexual misconduct. The more members of the campus community complete the survey, the more confident we can be that we have a clear and complete picture. We want the survey to represent everyone, so we need everyone to participate.
This research survey should take most people approximately 15 minutes to complete. It may take up to 20 minutes for some individuals depending on their responses.
The Vol Voices research survey was based on an instrument created by the Administrator Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3). It was developed for US institutions of higher education by expert researchers in sexual harassment and interpersonal violence in collaboration with Title IX professionals, campus law enforcement, advocates, counselors, and student affairs personnel.
The ARC3 group established eight principles to guide survey development: inclusiveness, mutual respect, and collaboration; an iterative and transparent survey development process; research independence and integrity; use of the best scientific evidence in survey development; equal focus on victimization and perpetration; a civil rights approach grounded in Title IX; adherence to principles of the Belmont Report; and sensitivity to the unique issues faced by diverse populations and higher education institutional types.
The survey was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). We utilized an instrument created by the Administrator Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3). It was developed for US institutions of higher education by expert researchers in sexual harassment and interpersonal violence in collaboration with Title IX professionals, campus law enforcement, advocates, counselors, and student affairs personnel. All survey participation is voluntary, and we encourage everyone to consider their own wellbeing. You can choose to skip any questions or stop the survey at any time. A complete list of resources and reporting options can be found at the end of the survey or at anytime on the Office of Title IX website. The survey is voluntary, confidential, and completely anonymous.
The Vol Voices research survey was based on an instrument created by the Administrator Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3). It was developed for US institutions of higher education by expert researchers in sexual harassment and gender-based violence in collaboration with Title IX professionals, campus law enforcement, advocates, counselors, and student affairs personnel.
The survey was reviewed and feedback was received from members of the Title IX Prevention Team, College of Social Work Office of Research and Public Service, and faculty, staff, graduate, and undergraduate student stakeholders.
The ARC3 group established eight principles to guide survey development: inclusiveness, mutual respect, and collaboration; an iterative and transparent survey development process; research independence and integrity; use of the best scientific evidence in survey development; equal focus on victimization and perpetration; a civil rights approach grounded in Title IX; adherence to principles of the Belmont Report; and sensitivity to the unique issues faced by diverse populations and higher education institutional types.
The Vol Voices key findings were originally scheduled for distribution in the Fall 2022. The report was not complete at that time and will be shared Spring 2023.
SWORPS will administer the research survey, process the data, and report the results. The survey is completely anonymous -that means even SWORPS will not store names, email or IP addresses of survey participants. No one at the Office of Title IX or other university administrative offices will be able to see individual responses.
Additionally, the Social Work Office of Public Services (SWORPS) will take multiple precautionary measures to protect confidentiality. Group data will not be reported for groups of fewer than five individuals, because they may be small enough to compromise confidentiality. Instead, groups will be combined or other measures taken to eliminate identifiable demographic information. Identifiable information submitted in qualitative comments will be redacted and the university will only receive these redacted comments.
All research survey records will be destroyed by SWORPS after the study is over.
Students are eligible to win one of thirty VolCard gift cards. Each week five winners will be selected. The earlier a student completes the research survey, the higher the value of the gift card, and the more chances they will have to be selected. For example if a student enters the drawing during the week of April 1-7 and is not selected to receive a gift card they will be entered into drawings during subsequent weeks. Students do not have to complete the research survey to be eligible but they do need to enter a UTK email address to enter the drawing. The earlier they complete the survey, the higher the value of the gift cards:
April 1–7 $100
April 8–14 $75
April 15–21 $50
April 22–28 $25
April 29–May 5 $15
May 6–May 10 $10
Students will be notified via email if they have won a gift card by May 31, 2022.
UT last conducted a comprehensive campus climate survey of all students in spring 2017. The system-wide survey was conducted by Rankin & Associates Consulting. Results from the 2017 survey can be found here.
The student survey will be open through May 10, and the faculty and staff research survey will be open through May 31.
Email Markie Cook at mcook51@utk.edu, and the Social Work Office of Public Service (SWORPS) team will be happy to assist you.
Contact Ashley Blamey, Title IX Coordinator, at ashleyblamey@utk.edu or 865-974-9600.