WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS?
Graduate students are unique members of the university community. More often than not, they are both full-time students and employees. Due to this dual role, graduate students may feel that the resources on campus are not fit to meet their needs. CARE is here to support any and every graduate student survivor who is in need of our services.
While undergraduates take courses with multiple professors, graduate students have fewer faculty that they consistently interact with. Besides offering mentorship, graduate students may be linked to their professors through monetary ties. They may work as research assistants on a faculty’s grant or have their own grant that is dependent on a specific faculty adviser. For many, these relationships are essential for future career success. Because of this, there is a power imbalance within these relationships that makes graduate students particularly vulnerable to sexual violence.
According to research, an overwhelming 69% of female graduate students have experienced sexual harassment from either faculty or fellow graduate students. In comparison to 5.9% of undergrads who identify their perpetrator as faculty, 22.4% of grad students’ perpetrators are faculty. Even with these high numbers, many graduate students are reluctant to report. This is due to many things including fear or the negative impact reporting sexual violence may have on their professional opportunities (i.e. conducting research, obtaining letters of recommendation, securing access to research money, and/or losing a job). Although a majority of graduate students are UCSC employees, they do not have the same protections as the faculty they report to which leaves them in a vulnerable position.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
CARE is a confidential service for survivors. What this means is that we are not required to report as per Title IX responsible employee requirements. We are able to provide a safe space to discuss experiences of sexual violence, both past and present, that grad students have experienced.
Because graduate students are also employees of the university, they are responsible employees under Title IX. CARE is available to support graduate students throughout the Title IX reporting process.
HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU:
CARE wants to remind you that you do not in any way deserve or should expect sexual violence of any kind. Graduate students, like all campus community members, deserve safe, equitable working conditions. CARE can assist you in understanding your reporting options and available resources, as well as providing emotional support during your healing process.
You matter and your role at the university does NOT excuse interpersonal violence.
Make an appointment today by filling out our online appointment request form.
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