Community Matters

AlcoholEdu, Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates, and Mental Well-being for Students are online courses for incoming incoming students. They are interactive, online courses designed to inform students about alcohol and sexual assault issues as well as essential skills to navigate the emotional challenges associated with college life. The confidential, research-based courses provide students with accurate information in a non-judgmental tone and encourage students to consider their own decisions and those of their peers.

Your journey continues on campus with an in-person workshop called First Year Relationship and Sexuality Talk (FYRST). This workshop will take place throughout the semester. You will receive separate communication to sign up.

Personalized online education courses are offered to all continuing undergraduate students as an opportunity to expand their knowledge of sexual assault prevention and campus resources.  These courses are customized to your year in school:

Second year — Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing: Healthy Relationships
Third+ year — Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing: Taking Action

Continuing students do not need to take the AlcoholEdu, Mental Well-being for Students, or Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates courses again.

What are the courses?

New undergraduates are required to complete AlcoholEdu, Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates, and Mental Well-being for Students. Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing: Healthy Relationships and Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing: Taking Action are online education courses offered to continuing undergraduate students based on their year in school to expand their knowledge on sexual assault prevention, related campus policies, and campus resources. The confidential, research-based courses provide students with accurate information in a non-judgmental tone and provide personalized feedback that encourages students to consider their own decisions and those of their peers.

Who is required to complete the courses?

All incoming undergraduate students must complete AlcoholEdu, Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates, and Mental Well-being for Students. The program's success is based upon population-level prevention, a concept recognizing that students' choices likely impact their peers. Providing new students with a consistent message can encourage thoughtful conversations, inspire the intentional pursuit of healthy community norms, and highlight a campus culture that values healthy choices.

Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing: Healthy Relationships and Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing: Taking Action are online education courses offered to continuing undergraduate students based on their year in school to expand their knowledge on sexual assault prevention, related campus policies, and campus resources.

Special note to transfer, re-entry, and older students — Even though you may be of legal drinking age and/or may have already considered your drinking behaviors, we ask you to complete the program because:

1. Your academic and social life at the University of Michigan may be affected by students whose drinking attitudes are less well-established than yours.
2. Underage students may ask you to help them purchase alcohol. Are you aware of the legal consequences of furnishing alcohol to underage individuals?
3. You may learn new information about proven prevention theories and educational strategies to understand the many aspects of the sexual assault issue or re-think some of your attitudes and behaviors about alcohol.

What can students expect from the courses?

The online courses take approximately four hours and can be taken in segments. Students can access the program 24 hours a day and complete the courses at their own pace before scheduled deadlines. Students must complete all courses from start to finish to ensure an effective curricular and prevention experience.

What is the content of the courses?

The courses include pre- and post-test, informational chapters, interactive activities, and three surveys. Topics include:

• How media, family, & social expectations shape ideas & behaviors
• Body/health factors, including blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
• Potential risks associated with problem drinking such as violence and drinking & driving
• The potential impact of alcohol on academic performance and relationships
• How to make healthy choices, deal with peer pressure, and find help
• Helpful resources, such as a BAC calculator & reference guides about alcohol and other drugs, that students can access at any time
• Common myths about sexual assault and rape
• Definition of consent
• The link between sexual assault and alcohol

How do the courses address diverse student needs?

Customized by sex, drinking pattern, level of awareness, and student choices, AlcoholEdu and Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates content is relevant to each student. For example, the course pathway is different for students whose initial responses categorize them as abstainers, high-risk, or moderate drinkers.

What is the format of the courses and the schedule?

Every new incoming student is REQUIRED to complete Part 1 of the two courses by January 8, 2025.

Thirty days after you complete Part 1, you will receive an email asking you to complete Part 2 of the course. You will need to log in again to complete Part 2, which will take no longer than 15 minutes.

What do I do if I don't have my own Internet access?

Internet access is often available at local libraries. Students can also email community.matters.course@umich.edu for more information.

Can I get in trouble for my answers on the surveys?

NO! All responses are confidential. The University of Michigan will NEVER be able to connect a student's answers with their identity.

What happens if I do not pass the exam?

The minimum score to pass the exam is 85%. Students who do not score 85% will be directed to review the course and retake the exam. Look for the link in the Notebook at the top of the screen that will allow you to retake the course.

New graduate and professional students are encouraged to take Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students, an online course specifically for graduate students. Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students is an essential component of the education and support services related to sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, sexual harassment, and stalking. 

The Engendering Respectful Communities Workshop is a required in-person training for all first-year College of Literature, Science, and Arts graduate students and Ph.D students before becoming candidates. ERC is a 1-session workshop that engages graduate students in meaningful dialogue about various forms of sexual misconduct they may encounter in both professional and social spaces and provides resources for intervention or support in such circumstances. The workshop addresses complexities experienced by graduate students as they engage in bystander intervention, so that participants gain an increase in awareness of barriers to action and familiarity with strategic planning to overcome them. You will receive separate communication to sign up for this workshop.

Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students will continue to be offered annually as an opportunity to refresh your knowledge on the topic and campus resources.   

Graduate students often sit in multiple roles on campus — including student, staff, and/or instructor, and because of those multiple roles, many graduate students will be invited to take several online courses in the U-M efforts to prevent sexual misconduct.  

Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students (SAPG) is a 60-minute course designed for graduate students about sexual misconduct prevention and U-M policies. It includes information to support graduate student interactions with advisors, faculty members, peers, and undergraduate students). This online course is offered to all graduate students annually. (This course is managed by Wolverine Wellness in Student Life.)

Culture of Respect is a 20-30 minute required module for all U-M employees that lays a foundation of leadership expectations about behavior as an employee of U-M. This course is U-M specific and gives employees resources available at the university. (Central Human Resources manages this course.)  

Haven is a 60-90 minute additional course offered to employees that does a deeper dive into the subject and emphasizes state law and university policy.  (Central Human Resources provides this course.)

What are the courses?

Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students is an online education course for all graduate students. It is an interactive online course designed to inform students about sexual assault issues. The confidential, research-based course provides students with accurate information in a non-judgmental tone. It provides personalized feedback that encourages students to consider their own decisions and those of their peers.

What can students expect from the course?

The online courses take approximately one hour and can be taken in segments. Students can access the program 24 hours a day and complete the course at their own pace before scheduled deadlines. Students must complete the course from start to finish to ensure an effective curricular and prevention experience.

What is the content of the course?

The course consists of a pre- and post-test, informational chapters, interactive activities, and three surveys. Topics include:

• Common myths about sexual assault and rape
• Definition of consent
• The link between sexual assault and alcohol

What is the format of the course and the schedule?

Complete Part 1 of the course by January 8, 2025. Thirty days after you complete Part 1, you will receive an email asking you to complete Part 2 of the course. You will need to log in again to complete Part 2, which will take no longer than 15 minutes.

What do I do if I don't have my own Internet access?

Internet access is often available at local libraries. Students can also email community.matters.course@umich.edu for more information.

Can I get in trouble for my answers on the surveys?

NO! All responses are confidential. The University of Michigan will NEVER be able to connect a student's answers with their identity.

What happens if I do not pass the exam?

The minimum score to pass the exam is 85%. Students who do not score 85% will be directed to review the course and retake the exam. Look for the link in the Notebook at the top of the screen that will allow you to retake the course.

The pre-college months and the first six weeks of college are a critical time in a student's transition to college. Going to college substantially increases stress and responsibility as students experience increasing levels of independence and accountability. Many first-year students expect to experiment with drinking during the first days and weeks of college. The risks for personal harm increase at this time because of unfamiliarity with heavy drinking, their new social and physical surroundings, and the change in their support systems. Additionally, the annual U-M Student Life Survey substantiates that alcohol misuse continues to be an issue for many U-M students.

Studies further indicate that students are at the highest risk for sexual assault during their first 2-3 months at the University. The Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center reports that they have three times more clients in the first eight weeks of school than throughout the rest of the year. They also report that alcohol is involved in 80-90% of the assaults that they handle.

These startling statistics point to the necessity of early intervention in the prevention of alcohol misuse and sexual violence on campus. Educating students before they arrive on campus will better prepare them to manage the transition to college life.

Recommended interventions

To educate our incoming students to make informed choices about their decisions related to alcohol use as well as learn about sexual assault prevention and overall mental health and well-being, new students will complete the online courses AlcoholEdu for College, Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates, and Mental Well-being for Students before their arrival on campus.

AlcoholEdu® is the only online alcohol prevention program designed for population-level, primary prevention. The program incorporates the latest evidence-based prevention methods to create a highly engaging user experience that inspires students to reflect on and consider changing their drinking. Today, AlcoholEdu is used on more than 500 campuses and by 36% of all first-year students at America’s four-year higher education institutions.

With eight published studies documenting its efficacy, AlcoholEdu is the only program proven to reduce alcohol-related negative consequences among students. AlcoholEdu remains the only program specifically designed for ALL students, whether they are frequent heavy drinkers, light to moderate drinkers, or non-drinkers. The 1.5-hour curriculum is designed to be administered to an entire population of students, such as those entering first-year classes.

Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates is Vector’s premier online learning platform addressing the critical issues of sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking, which impact countless college students across the country. Built in collaboration with leading researchers and practitioners, Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates is an interactive module designed to engage and empower students to create safe, healthy campus environments. Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates combines the power of cutting-edge instructional design and rich media to educate students about the elements of healthy relationships, the importance of sexual consent, and the role of bystanders in creating safe, healthy communities.

Mental Well-being for Students is Vector’s premier online learning platform, addressing essential skills and information to navigate college life's stressors and emotional challenges. The 45-minute online course helps learners practice self-care strategies, recognize when they or their peers are in distress, and take action to find additional support. This course was developed to promote student safety, emotional health, and wellness.

The University of Michigan (University or U-M) values civility, dignity, diversity, education, equality, freedom, honesty, and safety, as described in the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and is firmly committed to maintaining a campus environment free from sexual harassment, and sexual assault, collectively referred to as sexual misconduct.

Sexual misconduct jeopardizes the mental, physical, and emotional welfare of our students, as well as the safety of our community. Sexual misconduct diminishes students’ dignity and impedes their access to educational, social, and employment opportunities. It can permanently impact students’ lives and may cause lasting physical and psychological harm. Sexual misconduct violates our institutional values, and its presence in the community presents a barrier to fulfilling the University’s scholarly, research, educational, patient care, and service missions. Sexual misconduct, therefore, will not be tolerated at the University of Michigan and is expressly prohibited.

Supportive of this mission, UM has proudly offered sexual violence prevention education, including an online Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates course for undergraduate students, for nearly a decade. Beginning in 2016, we were excited to offer a new course, Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students, designed to meet the needs of our graduate and professional students, who comprise nearly 40% of our student population. Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students offers a tailored learning experience that is customized to graduate and professional students' needs and concerns and that is attentive to differences in the learning and work environments that graduate and professional students experience. All students will complete the online course Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students. 

Recommended intervention

Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students is Vector's premier online learning platform addressing the critical issues of sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking, which impact countless graduate and professional students across the country. Built in collaboration with leading researchers and practitioners, Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students is an interactive module designed to engage and empower graduate and professional students to create safe, healthy campus environments. Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students combines the power of cutting-edge instructional design and rich media to educate graduate and professional students about the elements of healthy relationships, the importance of sexual consent, and the role of bystanders in creating safe, healthy communities.

Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students was developed as a collaboration between the University of Michigan and Vector. Graduate and professional students, faculty, and staff from across the institution provided recommendations and feedback that shaped the development of this course.

Community Matters online courses have been endorsed by the following Student Life units: Office of New Student Programs, Dean of Students Office, Housing-Residence Education, Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR), Risk Management, Wolverine Wellness, Counseling and Psychological Services, University Health Service, Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, Office of Greek Life, Athletics, and the Chief Health Officer. Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students has also been showcased to all Graduate and Professional school deans before the launch. 

The University of Michigan will have a complete data set to use as a baseline for benchmarks and for developing additional prevention programs to address high-risk drinking and sexual assault.

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If these troubleshooting tips do not correct the issue, you can use this link directly to submit a support case or email support.education@vectorsolutions.com with the following details:

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• Screenshot and description of where the user is stuck or having difficulty.
• Full course title and section of issue. 
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If you have a non-technical issue, students can email community.matters.course@umich.edu

The system is compatible with many mobile devices; however, some users may have personal configurations that prevent specific courses from loading. Additionally, some courses are best displayed on a computer. If you are experiencing difficulty loading our training on a personal device, try accessing the courses through a laptop or desktop computer.

If these troubleshooting tips do not correct the issue, you can use this link directly to submit a support case or email support.education@vectorsolutions.com with the following details:

• Which browser and version are you experiencing this on?
• Screenshot and description of where the user is stuck or having difficulty.
• Full course title and section of issue. 
• Device(s) experiencing this issue (desktop, laptop, mobile device).

If you have a non-technical issue, students can email community.matters.course@umich.edu