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Online Violence Prevention Education Now Expected Annually for Undergraduate Students

Education is a key part of violence prevention efforts on campus. University Health Services offers several violence prevention education courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. These courses aim to increase the campus community’s knowledge, shape attitudes, and build skills to prevent sexual violence before it occurs.  

One of these courses is GetWIse@Home, an online course developed by UHS Violence Prevention experts that helps undergraduate students explore violence prevention and survivor support topics. GetWIse has been required for incoming first-year and new transfer students since 2016 and was introduced as an offering for all undergraduate students in 2023. New in 2024, all degree-seeking undergraduate students are expected to complete an online GetWIse prevention education course.  

GetWIse offers four programs to choose from, including DatingWIse (healthy relationships and dating violence), SexWIse (healthy sex and sexual violence), ListenWIse (trauma and survivor support), and ActWIse (recognizing violence and bystander intervention).  

For fall 2024, new first-year and transfer students must complete one GetWIse program of their choice by October 18; the deadline for sophomores, juniors, and seniors is December 1. 

Violence prevention as a shared responsibility 

In deciding to make GetWIse part of undergraduate students’ annual expected education, UHS conducted a review of campus data, peer universities’ prevention education policies, CDC recommendations, a comprehensive external audit, and student feedback.  

Studies show that repeated education opportunities increase the effectiveness of violence prevention education. Violence prevention is not just a concern for first-year students; during their time in college, most students will know someone who has experienced sexual assault or dating violence. About 1 in 10 students at UW-Madison experiences some form of dating violence while in college, and around 1 in 6 experiences sexual assault. GetWIse provides strategies for students to support a safer campus community by normalizing consent and bystander intervention and calling out entitlement, objectification, and boundary-crossing behavior. 

“Although first-year students are at a higher risk for experiencing sexual assault, older students have more social influence on social norms,” says Sam Bowen, Assistant Director of Violence Prevention. “Expecting students to complete GetWIse annually makes sure that violence prevention is the responsibility of the whole campus community, not just our newest students.” 

Learn more about GetWIse and the four programs on the UHS website. Students can access GetWIse on Canvas