FAYETTEVILLE — New students at the University of Arkansas now must complete an hourlong online training course with information about preventing sexual assault.
In an email sent to new freshman, graduate and transfer students Wednesday, Chancellor Joe Steinmetz explained the purpose of the training called Haven: Understanding Sexual Assault.
“This online course will help you understand key definitions relating to sexual assault and relationship violence,” Steinmetz wrote.
“It will help you learn confidence-building strategies and bystander intervention skills built around real-life scenarios. The course also will help you recognize signs of abuse and will address situations that can be challenging or confusing regarding consent in your own relationships.”
New students must complete the online course before being allowed to register for the spring semester.
University spokesman Mark Rushing said in an email that the interactive training is designed to help students understand what sexual misconduct is and how to prevent it. The program also informs students “how to get help and how to report” sexual misconduct, Rushing said.
Several schools have a similar requirement. At the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, new students also must complete the Haven online training.
Other schools in the region — including the University of Texas, Oklahoma State University and Missouri State University — also require new students or first-year students to complete the same Haven online training.
The University of Missouri requires a different online training course for incoming students on the topic of sexual assault.
UA is among 212 post-secondary institutions under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for their handling of sexual violence complaints, with the department in April notifying the school that it is under investigation.
A former UA student last month filed a lawsuit against the university, stating in court documents that the university acted with “deliberate indifference” after she reported being raped by another student.
Rushing has said that UA “fully investigated and addressed [the case] in a timely and comprehensive manner.”
Steinmetz, UA’s top leader since Jan. 1, spoke of a desire for mandatory training for freshmen before the announcement of the federal investigation, Rushing said.
UA also provides students information about preventing sexual assault through efforts that include dorm presentations and targeted outreach to students who are members of fraternities and sororities.
“The university has multiple programs and efforts designed to help educate our students on issues related to sexual misconduct and preventing sexual assault,” Rushing said.