It is important for those who work with students who are impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and/or sexual harassment to receive appropriate and ongoing training. Please click below to see an overview of training received by various departments.
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Title IX Staff
Title IX staff members receive annual training through SUNY’s Student Conduct Institute. This training covers topics such as: confidentiality, working with reporting individuals and accused persons, relevant laws and policies, conflicts of interest and bias, due process, trauma-informed practice, grievance procedures, Title IX and sexual harassment. Each staff member receives a minimum of 8 hours of annual training. Training materials may be viewed in the SUNY website. In addition, staff members belong to SUNY Title IX Coordinators Association (STIXCA) where they attend semesterly meetings that provide legal and policy updates, the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers (NACCOP) where they engage in ongoing education through webinars and conferences, and regularly attend other related local and regional learning opportunities.
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University Police
All sworn members of University Police are academy trained in patrol response to reports of domestic violence and sexual assault. Binghamton University requires all University Police department personnel to complete yearly training in preventing sexual misconduct, workplace violence prevention and domestic violence in the workplace. In addition University Police collaborates with the Dean of Students office CARE team, Residential Life Crisis Response staff and the University Counseling Center and others to provide in-service training in responding to and providing support resources for sexual assaults, domestic violence and dating violence as well as mental health crisis issues.
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University Counseling Center (UCC)
The University Counseling Center (UCC) takes a 3-pronged approach to the issue of staffing and training counselors with the ability to support student survivors of sexual assault and other interpersonal violence.
At the broadest level, the UCC expects and supports all counselors to be generalists who are capable of assisting students with a variety of diverse life issues and mental health issues. To that end, by August 2021 all staff will have completed professional development on a core training through PESI [probably the most widely used training site for mental health] about sexual assault response.
For the next level, UCC has identified a cadre of counselors to have further training to deepen their skill set further. When possible, UCC steers survivors to those counselors. UCC is funding additional training for these counselors.
During Summer 2021 UCC hired a new counselor who specializes in trauma and sexual assault. This new 12-month position interfaces closely with and has a presence at the VARCC (but remains confidential). The new counselor has experience and specialty knowledge to bring to their work with students and to share with the UCC team. They have been and will continue to be supported to pursue further professional development in evidence-based trauma practices.
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Department of Residential Life
The Department of Residential Life student and professional staff receive in-person training from the Title IX office and related campus partners on an annual basis. They are required to watch any pertinent Title IX training videos and are provided opportunities for Q&A sessions. Student staff also complete the 20:1 bystander intervention program through HPPS.
Residential Life also provides continuing education opportunities to enhance staff understanding and growth throughout the course of the academic year. Professional and student staff receive additional training, not only about our policies and procedures, but also around providing effective trauma informed practice/healing focused care to students, and also around sexual harassment in the workplace.
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CARE Team
The CARE Team staff engage in training and ongoing education through a variety of regional and national professional organizations such as the Higher Education Case Management Association, and the National Association of Social Workers. The advocate in the CARE Team maintains credentials through the National Advocate Credential Program.
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Office of Student Conduct
Staff members of the Office of Student Conduct receive annual training through SUNY’s Student Conduct Institute. This training covers topics such as: confidentiality, working with reporting individuals and accused persons, relevant laws and policies, conflicts of interest and bias, due process, trauma-informed practice, grievance procedures, Title IX and sexual harassment. Training materials may be viewed in the SUNY website. In addition, staff members belong to the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA), SUNY Student Conduct Association (SCA) and participate in a variety of regional and national training, and attend semesterly meetings that provide legal and policy updates.
