Research Briefs
Survivors + Allies is using our research study of survivors across all 10 UC campuses to produce short research briefs on important topics we identified in our data. Briefs might highlight unique needs of certain student groups, such as International students, or the importance of certain practices, such as trauma-informed training. These briefs were produced in collaboration with Survivors + Allies members.
Current Briefs
Healing on Your Own Terms: Why Survivor Choice in Support Resources Matters
January 2026
This research brief underscores that healing after sexual violence is not linear and must be guided by survivor choice, agency, and access to trauma-informed, culturally responsive support. It argues that survivors should be able to choose when, how, and with whom they seek care—without being forced into reporting pathways like Title IX—and highlights the central role of confidential advocacy, particularly on UC campuses through CARE, as the most affirming form of support. Drawing on research and survivor testimony, the brief documents stark inequities across UC, CSU, and community college systems, where access to confidential, visible, and identity-affirming resources varies widely, leaving many survivors unsure where to turn. It defines key concepts such as consent, confidentiality, trauma-informed care, reproductive justice, and gender-affirming care, while mapping extensive national, regional, and campus-based resources. Ultimately, the brief calls on institutions to expand confidential advocacy, fund culturally and linguistically responsive services, integrate survivor resources into everyday student life, and ensure equitable access across campuses—affirming that healing becomes possible when survivors are supported on their own terms.
Graduate Student Experiences & Perceptions of the Title IX Office at the UC
May 2025
Graduate students hold complex roles as teachers, researchers, and mentees, often working closely with the same faculty who control funding, evaluations, and future career opportunities, which can intensify power imbalances and make reporting sexual violence or harassment feel risky. Because graduate life spans formal and informal spaces—labs, conferences, office hours, and social settings—professional boundaries are often unclear, increasing vulnerability to harm. Many graduate students are also classified as “Responsible Employees,” meaning they are required to report disclosures to Title IX, which can discourage survivors from confiding in peers, mentors, or colleagues, especially when harm involves faculty. The non-confidential, legal nature of Title IX reporting, combined with past experiences of limited accountability, can further erode trust in institutional support. While confidential resources like CARE exist, graduate students are often less aware of them and are frequently overlooked in campus outreach that prioritizes undergraduates. Addressing sexual violence among graduate students requires recognizing these unique power dynamics and expanding visible, confidential, and trauma-informed support tailored to their experiences.
Comparing confidential and non-confidential resources for UC survivors of sexual violence & sexual harassment (SVSH)
December 2024
Sexual violence and sexual harassment are widespread on U.S. college campuses, yet the Survivors + Allies study found that many students lack clear knowledge about available support resources—especially whether those resources are confidential. Survivors who did access support reported far more positive experiences with confidential resources, which allow students to seek help without pressure to report or trigger an investigation. On UC campuses, confidential options such as CARE, counseling services, and Ombuds offices offer survivor-centered, trauma-informed support regardless of whether a survivor chooses to report, while non-confidential resources like Title IX and campus police require mandatory reporting and often involve lengthy investigative processes. Because many campus employees are designated as responsible employees, students may unintentionally disclose experiences in spaces that are not confidential, leading to distress or re-traumatization. Research shows that fears about confidentiality and victim-blaming discourage reporting, particularly to campus police. To better support survivors, campuses should clearly communicate which resources are confidential and position trauma-informed, confidential services as the primary point of care, ensuring survivors can access help safely, privately, and on their own terms.
Past Research Briefs
The Importance of Trauma-Informed Training for Responsible Employees | October 2024
