A new Cornell task force will gather information and make actionable recommendations to address and prevent sexual assault involving undergraduate students on the Ithaca campus.

The Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault, established by Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff and Provost Kavita Bala, will deliver a report by summer 2025 that recommends a holistic framework for addressing and preventing sexual assault. The report will outline evidence-based strategies, a timeline for implementation, metrics for success and a plan to continue and sustain the work at Cornell.

“Sexual assault has no place on our campus,” Bala said. “The task force is going to look at this from every angle, from research on best institutional practices to the social context in which assault takes place. It is part of our ongoing commitment toward creating a safer, more supportive learning and living environment for everyone, and we encourage the community to participate in providing input and sharing ideas.”

Led by 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, the group will review existing data and research, examine peer institutions’ strategies and consult with experts as well as the campus community. The task force will take a public health, holistic approach, spanning academic, social, cultural and residential contexts.

Sexual assault is a serious and persistent problem on college campuses nationally and at Cornell. In a 2023 survey of Cornell undergraduates, 23% of women, and 9% of men, reported experiencing sexual assault, defined as nonconsensual sexual contact involving force or incapacitation, at some point during their time as students.

Dunifon said Cornell’s academic leadership began discussing the need for a task force last semester, with the entire leadership supportive in light of the issue’s urgency. She added that students, faculty and staff will have multiple opportunities to offer insights and to share experiences throughout the process.

Love said: “I look forward to bringing curricular and co-curricular communities together to think through, recommend and deepen intersectional approaches to sexual violence prevention and response. Our goal is to enhance a campus culture that prioritizes consent, respect and equity.”

“Working together,” Dunifon said, “we can create a culture, structure and climate where all members of our community are respected, are safe and can thrive.”

Current resources for support, education, reporting and advocacy for those impacted by sexual assault can be found on the Sexual Harassment and Assault – Response and Education (SHARE) website.

Questions and feedback can be shared with the task force at tfsa@cornell.edu.

The task force will hold its first meeting in mid-February.