Ontario Student Voices on Sexual Violence Survey
In early March 2018, all full-time Sheridan students received an invitation to participate in the Ontario Student Voices on Sexual Violence Survey. This voluntary online survey of all full-time Ontario postsecondary students was conducted by CCI Research on behalf of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, colleges, private career colleges and universities in Ontario, including Sheridan.
The survey took place from March 5 to April 2, 2018.
The survey was developed in consultation with multiple representatives from student groups, colleges and universities, including researchers working on sexual violence.
The following FAQs were provided to our student community during the survey period. If you have any questions about the survey, please email svsurvey@sheridancollege.ca.
Why should I participate in this survey?
As a Sheridan student, you have an important role in supporting the effort to end sexual violence on campus and in the community. The results of this voluntary survey will help us better understand our students’ lived experiences, and help us advance our efforts to build an informed, caring community where all members feel safe and respected.
The information gathered through this survey will help institutions like Sheridan assess how effectively we are addressing sexual violence within our campus communities, and how we can improve.
When is the survey taking place?
The online survey is taking place at Ontario colleges, including Sheridan, from March 5 – April 2, 2018.
Is the survey mandatory?
No. The Ontario Student Voices on Sexual Violence Survey is completely voluntary.
Before deciding to participate, it is important that you understand the purpose of the survey, what types of questions are asked, the potential benefits and risks of taking the survey, and how your responses are being used. You will find this information when you click the survey link. If you do not wish to take the survey after reading this information, you are under no obligation to do so. The colleges and universities participating in this study will not know which students took the survey. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact us at svsurvey@sheridancollege.ca.
If you decide you would rather not finish the survey once you begin, you may withdraw and exit at any time by simply closing your browser or clicking the “Quick Exit” button. Please note that none of the data provided up to this point of withdrawing will be retained.
What communications can I expect from CCI Research, the survey administrators?
CCI Research will send an initial invitation to all full-time students to participate in the survey beginning March 5, 2018. The invitation will contain a link to the survey.
Reminder emails will be sent once per week until the end of the survey period. You may unsubscribe from these reminder emails at any time by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link included in each message.
What types of questions will be asked as part of the survey?
In addition to basic demographic questions and awareness of Sheridan’s support resources, the survey will ask questions about participants’ perspective on, and experiences with, sexual violence. While some questions may be sensitive in nature, every effort has been made to frame them in a respectful and considerate manner. You may choose to skip questions if you wish. The survey aims to balance the need for accurate, actionable information, while being inclusive and respectful of our students.
What resources are available to me if I need support as a result of the survey subject matter?
We understand that the survey may contain questions that could be upsetting to some students. Please know that support is available to you. Clicking the “Support” button will immediately direct you to contact information for support services on campus, such as Counselling Services, and off-campus resources such as Good2Talk.
Sheridan’s Counselling Services are ready and available to support students who may experience distress while completing the survey. Students seeking support from our Counselling teams may visit the Centres for Student Success at each campus as follows:
- Trafalgar Road Campus (Oakville): Room B104
- Davis Campus (Brampton): Room B230
- Hazel McCallion Campus (Mississauga): Room A247
For further information, visit our Support and Resources page. This includes contact information for our counselling centres, after-hours counselling, off-campus distress centres and multilingual distress lines, mobile crisis teams, and help lines for sexual violence and assault survivors.
I am a faculty or staff member and have been approached by a student who is in distress as a result of completing the survey. Where should I direct them?
Please assure students that support is available to them if they feel distressed as a result of the survey. Please direct students to the support services available through the Centres for Student Success as per above, where our Student Success officers can connect them to the appropriate support, including Counselling Services.
I am a faculty or staff member and have been approached by a student who has questions/concerns about the survey. Where should I direct them?
Please assure students that they can reach out in person by visiting the Centres for Student Success or via email: svsurvey@sheridancollege.ca
How long will it take to complete the survey?
The survey is estimated to take an average of 15 to 20 minutes to complete, depending on your experiences.
Will my answers remain anonymous and confidential?
Your name, student ID and email address will never be saved with your survey responses. However, your survey responses will be saved with other information from Sheridan’s student records, including your campus, program, whether you are a domestic or international student, your semester of study (e.g. first semester of program, second semester of program, etc.), your age and your gender. Results will only ever be reported in a format that preserves confidentiality and will only be shared in aggregate. The colleges and universities participating in this study will not know which students took the survey.
Can I choose to withdraw from the survey?
If you decide you would rather not finish the survey once you begin, you may withdraw and exit by clicking the “Quick Exit” button and closing your browser window. Please note that none of the data provided up to this point of withdrawing will be retained.
Can I have my survey responses removed after I have submitted my responses?
If you submit your responses, but decide that you do not wish to participate later, you can request to have your responses removed. To do so, you can contact the Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey telephone number at CCI Research to request that your responses be removed. The telephone number is 866-450-4907. The deadline to remove your responses is April 4, 2018.
Do I have to answer every question?
No. You may skip questions or select “prefer not to answer” as needed before submitting. Please note that to qualify for the $5 electronic gift card, the survey must be submitted with at least 65% of relevant survey responses.
Can I save my progress on the survey and continue later?
Yes. You may click the “Save and Continue Later” button to save your progress and complete the rest of the survey at a later date within the survey period.
Is the survey available in alternative formats?
This survey is compatible with computer-assisted reading support systems and is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require alternative accessible options to complete the survey you may use our TTY services (Teletype Terminal or Text Telephone) at 1-866-240-1292 (available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday) or call CCI Research at 1-866-450-4907.
Will technical support be available if I have trouble with the survey?
Yes. You can reach technical support at info@cci-research.com or by calling 1-866-450-4907. Contact information for technical support is also included in the email invitation from CCI Research and is available on the survey web page.
Can I complete the survey on a mobile device or smartphone?
Yes. You can complete the survey on a mobile device, such as a smartphone, as long as an internet browser is available on the device.
I want to ensure that my browser history is cleared after participating in the survey. How do I do this?
Follow these instructions to clear your browser history.
Feel free to reach out to the IT Service Desk via chat, email, phone or in-person if you have more questions or require assistance.
View FAQs, resources, and more information about the survey.
At Sheridan, you may also send your questions or concerns about the survey to svsurvey@sheridancollege.ca.