A new task force report seeks to reduce the prevalence of sexual assault among undergraduates by targeting the social conditions that enable assault, while also increasing education and communication to promote a safe and healthy campus.

The recommendations of the Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault – which were informed by eight months of research and community conversations – include improving communication about support and reporting resources; developing new courses and non-classroom programming to increase understanding about sex and sexual health; and enhancing students’ physical safety.

Sexual assault is a serious and persistent problem nationally on college campuses. To address the issue at Cornell, President Michael I. Kotlikoff and Provost Kavita Bala established the task force in February 2025. In a March 17 message, Kotlikoff and Bala praised the work of the committee and its co-chairs, Rachel Dunifon, the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the College of Human Ecology, and Marla Love, the Robert W. and Elizabeth C. Staley Dean of Students.

“This report builds on over a decade of prevention and education work at Cornell and provides a roadmap for fostering safety for all students,” Kotlikoff said. “We’re grateful for the committee’s rigorous work and thoughtful, actionable recommendations. We will fully support the task force co-chairs as they work to put these recommendations into practice.”

“Sexual assault on our campus will not be tolerated,” Bala said. “We share the task force’s commitment to advancing a culture where students are protected, empowered and informed about sexual violence prevention.”

To develop the recommendations, the group reviewed existing data and research, examined peer institutions’ strategies, consulted with experts and met with members of the campus community to understand the academic, social, cultural and residential contexts in which sexual assault occurs.

A dozen focus groups, comprising mostly students, gave the task force a deeper sense of Cornell’s own campus culture: What environments made the students feel safe or unsafe, what factors lead to lack of consent, how are boundaries communicated, and where can education and communication be improved?

Dunifon said she was pleasantly surprised by how eager the students were to talk and learn more about ways to have a healthier sexual climate on campus.

“There’s a strong desire to have more knowledge and practice and content on this topic, and I think that’s great, because we’re an educational institution, we can provide that,” Dunifon said. “A couple of students said to us, ‘I can’t believe I’m required to take two PE classes, but I’m not required to take anything about sex and healthy relationships.’ So they want this. They know it’s important.”

The task force report suggests developing new courses and enhancing existing ones to increase competency and understanding about sex. For example, the report recommends creating a three-credit class on the concept of “sexual citizenship” (understanding one’s own sexual goals and those of others) and introducing the themes in first-year advising classes, starting with a pilot test in the College of Human Ecology in fall 2026.

“I’m really excited that our recommendations involve initiatives in both academic and Student and Campus Life spaces,” Love said. “There will be opportunities in all areas of campus for students to gain knowledge and vocabulary and skills that help them to be ambassadors of this culture change that we want to see.”

The student conversations also identified gaps in their knowledge about confidential university resources, such as the Sexual Harassment & Assault – Response and Education (SHARE) Office, and the intricacies of reporting through the Title IX process.

“Students described uncertainty about how and when to report concerns or seek support, whom to contact, and whether reports lead to follow-up or meaningful action,” Love said. “The task force recommendations respond to the need and importance of connecting survivors and supporters with resources and support tools.”

The report also recommends alcohol education as a component of new programming, as there is a high correlation of alcohol consumption and sexual assault among Cornell students, Love said.

According to the Cornell Survey of Sexual Assault and Related Misconduct –conducted every two years, most recently in November 2025 – 35% of undergraduate women reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact during their time at Cornell, up from 23% in 2023. In 2025, 8% of undergraduate men reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact compared with 9% in 2023.

“Cornell is really fortunate to have very good data collection. And these numbers show us that this is not a situation in which we are creating the kind of healthy, safe climate that we want for our community,” Dunifon said. “The task force recommendations address this critical issue.”

As the next step, an implementation committee will develop a plan and working groups to put some of the recommendations into place – a process that will take time, commitment and effort, especially if the changes are going to be sustainable, according to Dunifon.

“We need to ingrain these recommendations in the normal operations of the university, rather than having this be a one-time thing that then fades from attention,” Dunifon said. “It’s important for everyone to look at this and see, ‘Oh, I have a role to play in this.’ This is going to require every member of our community to commit to working together to create a different culture and climate than what we have now.

“That’s a daunting task, but I know we can do it,” she said. “We have incredible support from our president and provost in this. And this is an area where Cornell can truly be a leader.”