Prevention, Outreach, and Education
The Office of Institutional Equity’s Prevention, Outreach, Education, and Training (POET) team works to educate our community about sexual and interpersonal violence and Discriminatory Harassment, with the goal of preventing such behavior from occurring on our campus. It is our mission to empower a community that honors the agency and inherent dignity of all individuals through a conscious collective effort to prevent power-based harm.
Be sure to view our e-learning library to find self-guided trainings and resource materials or request in-person training as needed.
On this page:
Prevention Initiatives
Peer Education
Through peer-led programming and community-based outreach, POET aims to empower members of the Notre Dame community to take personal responsibility in preventing power-based harm.
Each year, POET hires student leaders to work approximately 3-5 hours per week, including a weekly cohort meeting where they will start and/or continue their education in sexual violence and power-based violence prevention. A $250 stipend is awarded at the end of each semester, assuming all expectations are met.
POET Educators
POET Educators help plan and execute educational programs and intiatives and develop resources aimed at preventing sexual violence and promoting a culture of safety and respect on campus. Past initiatives have involved topics such as the intersection of alcohol and sexual violence, digital intimacy, the Title IX process, intersectional identities and power-based violence, and supporting peers experiencing power-based harm.
POET Facilitators
POET Facilitators plan, create, and deliver workshops to the student population aimed at preventing sexual violence and promoting a culture of safety and respect on campus. Students are expected to co-facilitate a minimum of 15 workshops throughout the academic year.
OIE Senior Fellow
The Senior Fellow plans, coordinates, and co-facilitates workshops with POET Facilitators. Learn more about the Senior Fellows program.
Committee on Sexual Assault Prevention
The Committee on Sexual Assault Prevention (CSAP) offers advice and guidance to the Office of Institutional Equity and Office of Student Affairs on how to assist and support victims of sexual assault. A tri-campus committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students, CSAP spearheads assessment efforts to understand the needs of students, provides recommendations related to prevention initiatives, and facilitates collaboration and communication among the different departments and student groups working to address sexual violence at Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College.
GreeNDot
GreeNDot is a violence prevention strategy predicated on the belief that individual safety is a community responsibility and not just that of the victim or perpetrator. The goal of GreeNDot is to attract a force of engaged and proactive bystanders campus-wide to communicate that violence will not be tolerated in our community and that everyone has a responsibility to help. View greeNDot's website for information about upcoming training events.
Education and Training
POET utilizes trauma-informed, research-based approaches to educate the University community on the prevention of power-based harm and train on University policies and procedures for addressing power-based harm.
Orientation and Onboarding
Undergraduate Students
Prior to arriving on campus, incoming undergraduate students participate in the first phase of Building Community the Notre Dame Way, an educational program featuring videos that introduce the values of the campus community, discuss respecting the dignity of persons, and explore conversations of power. During Welcome Weekend, staff debrief the online video content delivered over the summer and facilitate a discussion on the different types of sexual and gender violence, prevention and intervention strategies, and on-campus resources for support.
Graduate and Professional Students
Graduate and professional students are an integral role in Notre Dame's community. During orientation, incoming graduate and professional students receive training on policies, procedures and resources related to sexual assault not only from the student viewpoint but also as a potential supervisor or instructor.
Staff and Faculty
All new staff and faculty are trained on the University's sexual harassment, discriminatory harassment, other sex-based misconduct, and retaliation policies and procedures. This training covers mandatory reporting obligations and contact information for key Title IX personnel in the Office of Institutional Equity.
In-Person Training
The POET staff offers various in-person training opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty members. Generalized training is available on a variety of topics and specialized training is available to departments upon request.
E-Learning Library
View our e-learning library to find self-guided training modules and print and digital resources on various topics including process and policy overviews, mandatory reporting responsibilities, and confidential resources.
Campus Climate Survey
Recognizing the diversity and ever-changing nature of the University community, POET is committed to evolving to meet the needs of the community and does so through consistent evaluation of the campus climate centered on community perspectives.
Review the results of past Sexual Conduct and Campus Climate Surveys.
Feedback and Suggestions
Do you have an idea, suggestion, or desire to collaborate with POET on prevention initiatives? We welcome any and all feedback and ideas about how the University of Notre Dame can reduce and prevent incidences of sexual assault, fondling, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, conduct that creates a sexually or hostile environment on campus, Discriminatory Harassment, and Other Sex-Based Misconduct.
Follow the POET team on Instagram @ND_POET for reminders about available support and resources and to stay up to date on POET events and initiatives!