Families

We provide the following information and resources in an effort to assist you either as you prepare your student to attend Hope College or as you support them through a challenging situation. If you are unable to find the information you need, we encourage you to contact the Title IX coordinator, Campus Safety or the Dean of Student’s Office for further support.

WHY IS MY STUDENT LEARNING ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT DURING ORIENTATION?

There are a couple of reasons why the topic of sexual harassment and sexual assault are covered during new student orientation. First and foremost, it is because we care about your son or daughter and we want to make sure they are aware of support services and policies in place at the college that exist to ensure they are able to spend their energy focused on their education. Our intent is to bring awareness, provide prevention education and increase their ability to be active bystanders on our campus. Second, it is the law. Both Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) require institutions receiving Federal Financial Aid to educate students about sexual misconduct and about the policies and resources we have in place accordingly.

WHAT SHOULD I DISCUSS WITH MY STUDENT BEFORE THEY ARRIVE ON CAMPUS?

We encourage you to have discussions with your student before they arrive on campus that will help them define their values, determine who they want to be in college and help prepare them to be on their own for the first time. The topics listed below are all important to consider as they embark on this amazing journey:

• Healthy relationships (e.g., friendships, dating, expectations, setting boundaries, respecting boundaries, decision-making based on their morals/values, staying safe)
• Decision making around alcohol and drugs (as well as safety precautions such as staying with groups of friends, not walking alone, being aware of what is in their drink if partaking)
• Knowledge of campus safety and other campus resources 
  

It can also be helpful to discuss how your son or daughter might let you know if they have experienced or are experiencing something they feel might hurt you or make you less proud of them (if they are feeling shame or regret or fear). Knowing you will be there for them both for their successes and for their challenges could go a long way when it comes to them reaching out during a time of need.

IF MY SON/DAUGHTER DISCLOSES AN INCIDENT TO ME BUT HASN’T REPORTED TO CAMPUS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Encourage your student to speak to someone on campus, whether it is the Title IX coordinator or one of our confidential support persons. If they are not ready or unsure, you could review the resources on this website with them to help them consider their reporting and support options.

If they are still not willing to speak to someone and you believe they could either be in physical danger or are struggling in school because of this incident, you could choose to make us aware of the incident on their behalf by calling the Title IX coordinator, Campus Safety or filing an online report.

HOW DO I ACCESS THE ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT?

Campus Safety publishes our Annual Security Report (ASR) by October 1 each year, which will detail the crime statistics reported at Hope College for the previous calendar year.