Wake Forest University Campus Climate Survey
Problem
Preventing sexual misconduct on campus requires understanding students’ experiences and needs.
Sexual misconduct affects college students nationwide, impacting safety, wellbeing, and trust. In 2021, Wake Forest announced it would conduct its first campus-wide survey on this topic to hear directly from students about their experiences and perceptions. Rather than relying solely on national data, university leaders wanted to understand the specific challenges facing Wake Forest students—and to identify where prevention efforts and support services could improve. Working with NORC, Wake Forest surveyed students in Spring 2022 and used the findings to launch new prevention and support initiatives.
The university is committed to repeating the survey periodically, working again with NORC starting in Winter 2026. While a single survey provides a baseline, ongoing measurement is essential to understanding whether new initiatives are working and where further attention is needed.
Solution
Wake Forest partnered with NORC, an independent research organization, to gather confidential student perspectives.
NORC at the University of Chicago is a nonpartisan research institution with extensive experience conducting campus climate studies. Wake Forest selected NORC to design and administer the survey because of our independence from the university and our expertise in collecting sensitive information while protecting participant confidentiality.
In Spring 2022, NORC invited all Wake Forest undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to participate in an online survey. Student responses were anonymous, and NORC reported only aggregate findings to the university—no individual responses were shared. The survey asked about students’ experiences with sexual harassment, stalking, intimate partner violence, and nonconsensual sexual contact, as well as their awareness of campus resources and prevention training.
Result
The 2022 survey findings informed new university initiatives, and a follow-up survey will help measure progress.
More than 2,700 students participated in the 2022 survey, providing insights that led to meaningful changes at Wake Forest. The university created a student-led Executive Advisory Council in partnership with student government, hired an interpersonal violence prevention coordinator, and launched a biennial campus conference focused on consent and prevention. The findings also highlighted that some student groups—including graduate students and students of color—were less aware of available resources, prompting more targeted outreach.
Wake Forest is now partnering with NORC again to conduct a second survey in 2026. This new survey will help the university understand whether recent efforts are making a difference and where additional work is needed. Student participation is essential to ensuring that prevention programs and support services reflect what students actually experience and need.
Learn More About the Study
For more information about the Sexual Misconduct Survey:
Related Tags
Project Leads
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Erin Knepler
Senior Research DirectorProject Director -
Lisa Davidson
Senior Research ScientistPrincipal Investigator
“Institutions are paying more attention to student concerns. And we’re able to help them.”
FAQ for Study Participants
Wake Forest University (WFU) is interested in gathering direct feedback from students regarding WFU’s current campus culture.
Wake Forest University is sponsoring the survey. They have contracted with NORC at the University of Chicago to administer the survey, collect and analyze data, and report findings.
NORC is a nonprofit corporation affiliated with the University of Chicago that conducts survey research in the public interest for government agencies, educational institutions, private foundations, nonprofit organizations, and private corporations. NORC collects data to assist policymakers, researchers, educators, and others with crucial issues facing the government, organizations, and the public.
All Wake Forest University Reynolda campus graduate and undergraduate students will receive an invitation to complete the survey.
Email invitations that include a link to participate in the survey are being sent by NORC at the University of Chicago. The survey is being conducted online and is formatted for all computers and mobile devices. If you believe that you are in the study population but have not received a survey link, please contact us for assistance by email at wfusurvey@norc.org.
Yes. Responses to data collection are voluntary and confidential. Individual identifiers will be kept under password-protected files or on a secure server with restricted rights only accessible to specific NORC employees. Respondents will submit their self-administered questionnaires via web mode using a secure server. Any results will be reported only in aggregate groupings, and individual responses will be de-identified prior to sharing with WFU.
Topics in the campus climate survey include but are not limited to the following: stalking, sexual harassment and sexual assault knowledge, reporting, and support services.
You are not required to participate. Likewise, should you choose to participate, you may skip any questions in the survey that you do not wish to answer or stop participating at any time.
Each individual participant will be asked to complete a web-based questionnaire requiring an estimated 20-30 minutes to complete and may be completed at their convenience, in multiple sittings if necessary.
NORC will analyze de-identified data and disseminate a findings report that summarizes the results to the Wake Forest University leadership team.
If you have any questions or concerns pertaining to your participation in this research study, please contact NORC at the University of Chicago by email at wfusurvey@norc.org. You can also reach out to the following WFU survey coordinators:
Wake Forest University Campus Resources
Confidential:
- Safe Office (24/7 Helpline): 336-758-5285, safe@wfu.edu (non-urgent)
- University Counseling Center (24/7): 336-758-5273
- Office of the Chaplain: 336-758-5210
- Family Services, Inc. (Community resource - 24/7 crisis line): 336-722-4457, info@fsifamily.org
- Wake Athletics Behavioral Health and Performance: 336-777-6559
Non-confidential:
- Title IX Office: 336-758-7258, titleixcoordinator@wfu.edu
- Intercultural Center: 336-758-5864, interculturalcenter@wfu.edu
- LGBTQ+ Center: 336-758-4665, lgbtq@wfu.edu
- Women's Center: 336-758-4053, womenscenter@wfu.edu
- We Are Wake: 336-758-CARE (2273), care@wfu.edu
- Office of Wellbeing: 336-758-3089, wellbeing@wfu.edu
