Student Services Building - Map

 

San Francisco State University, like most college campuses, has had several reported cases of sexual violence (see page 4), a topic insufficiently addressed by educational institutions. Victims/survivors of sexual violence need support and resources accessible to them in their communities in order to recover from traumatic experiences. San Francisco State University currently offers 5 on-campus resources for victims/survivors of sexual violence: Counseling and Psychological Services, The SAFE Place, Student Health Services, the Title IX office, as well as the University Police Department. 

 

Counseling and Psychological Services 

How do the Counseling and Psychological Services support victims/survivors of sexual violence? 

S.F.S.U’s Counseling and Psychological Services offers different forms of services for the campus community, including services for victims/survivors of sexual violence. Services offered include: individual counseling, couples counseling, and group counseling. There are a few separate divisions for counseling services offered, such as The SAFE Place, which advocates and provides specific support and services for those affected by experiences with sexual violence. During their regular operation, appointments can be made in person at the Student Services Building, or over the phone. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, all appointments have been moved to video-chat or over the phone, and all appointments must be made over the phone as well. Services are included in students' tuition payments; following official registration to S.F.S.U, payments for services are not needed, however, appointments require a 24-hour cancellation period, otherwise the individual will be charged a fee of $20. For more information about the Counseling and Psychological Services, visit their website: https://psyservs.sfsu.edu/. 

 

The SAFE Place 

How does The SAFE Place support victims/survivors of sexual violence? 

The support offered by The SAFE (Sexual Abuse Free Environment) to survivors/victims of sexual violence includes: crisis intervention, advocacy, as well as Title IX support for victims/survivors of sexual violence. Their website states the specific services and support offered to victims/survivors: “assistance in reporting the crime to law enforcement on campus, assistance in reporting to [the] Title IX office, academic intervention, assist[ance] in obtaining counseling, assistance in resources and referrals, [and] assist[ance] in obtaining medical care.” During regular operation, appointments can be made by contacting The SAFE Place over the phone, or by visiting their office in the Student Services Building. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, all new appointments and continuing services are being made and conducted through phone and/or video chat. 

 

Student Health Services 

How do the Student Health Services support victims/survivors of sexual violence?  

S.F.S.U’s Student Health Services provides a variety of services to the campus community. Some of these services include, at a charge, STI or STD testing. Testing for STI’s or STD’s is a highly-recommended step to take following an individual’s experience with sexual violence. Currently, all laboratory operations and in-person appointments are suspended until further notice. The sole service being offered at the moment by the student health center are their over-the-phone mental health services. 

 

Title IX Office 

How does the Title IX office support victims/survivors of sexual violence?

As required by federal law, S.F.S.U has a designated Title IX coordinator meant to oversee the university's Title IX operations as well as its compliance. The Title IX office functions to protect the campus community at S.F.S.U: the office documents and takes administrative action on reported instances of sex-based discrimination, which includes but is not limited to sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence. An individual who would like to report an experience with sex-based discrimination can do so through the Title IX office, and can also do so via the university's online reporting form. Following a reported instance of sex-based discrimination, the Title IX office is required to respond and investigate. If S.F.S.U's policy against sexual violence is found to be violated following an investigation, the university is required to take disciplinary action against the perpetrator, which may include up to expulsion from the university or termination from employment at S.F.S.U. More information about rights and options for survivors/victims of sexual violence in S.F.S.U's campus community can be found here: "Rights and Options for Victims of Sexual Violence, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Stalking." 

 

University Police Department

How does the University Police Department support victims/survivors of sexual violence?

For the support of victims of sexual violence, U.P.D offers immediate assistance: victims may be escorted to a safe place, hospital, and/or sexual assault response center by university police, where a medical examination may take place if opted for by the victim. To report an instance of sexual violence, a police report may be filed at the University Police Department. Although it is strongly suggested to report immediately, a police report can be filed at any time. A criminal restraining order may be obtained by the police as well, but is not guaranteed. For more information about how S.F. State's U.P.D supports victims/survivors of sexual violence, visit: "Rights and Options for Victims of Sexual Violence, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Stalking." 

 

 

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