Prevention Education & Programming
Drake University is committed to fostering a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment where all members of our community can learn, work, and thrive. As part of this commitment, Drake takes a proactive and comprehensive approach to violence prevention grounded in education, awareness, and shared responsibility.
About the Prevention & Education Office
The Prevention & Education Office focuses on creating innovative and inclusive educational programming that promotes healthy relationships, respect, and informed decision‑making. Through solution‑focused education, the office serves as a resource for students, staff, and faculty, building understanding, awareness, and practical skills that support a culture of care and accountability.
Initiatives & Programs
Aligned with the Define the Line – Respect the Line initiative, the Prevention & Education Office emphasizes prevention, communication, intervention, and support as core components of campus education. Programming is informed by the student body as well as on and off‑campus professionals; and is designed to meet students where they are in their emotional and social development. This empowers students to act with confidence and self‑efficacy. Recognizing that these topics are relevant to the entire campus community, the Prevention & Education Office remains committed to offering education from multiple perspectives to strengthen a supportive and engaged campus culture.
Drake University strives to create a respectful, safe, and non-threatening environment where its members are able to live, study, and work free from sexual and interpersonal misconduct. In keeping with this goal, Drake requires all students to complete an online educational program on sexual and interpersonal violence prevention. This effort also complies with the Violence Against Women Act and the Office for Civil Rights federal guidelines.
Learn more about the Sexual Assault Prevention Online Course
Prevention Ambassadors develop and contribute to a wide range of programs, projects, and events to increase awareness about sexual and relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and gender-based discrimination.
Violence Intervention Partners (VIP) is our on-campus student advocacy group. They are trained and certified, confidential victim advocates.
Drake’s Greek Life is committed to creating a safer campus community. Born from a collaboration between Drake's Greek Life and Violence Prevention Office, the Health, Inclusion and Relationship Officers (HIRO) are working to further this commitment. Each Greek chapter has designated HIROs who facilitate conversations about bystander interventions, healthy relationships, equity and inclusions, mental health and substance abuse. The program was piloted in Spring of 2017 and has continued to gain strength. We are proud of the leadership from both our sororities and fraternities.
Positive MENtality is a weekly group on campus committed to creating a safe environment for men at Drake to discuss ideals about masculinity, mental health, relationships, and a variety of other topics. The group is open to all gender identities with a focus on discussing healthy masculinity. Women are welcome and encouraged to join the conversation. Our goal is to foster an environment where Drake's men can expand and embrace the many definitions of what it means to be a man.
Define the Line. Respect the Line. emphasizes that while everybody has the right to determine their own line when it comes to sexual behavior, there is one clear line at Drake: sexual or interpersonal misconduct is not tolerated, accepted, or ignored.
Drake recognizes the problem of sexual and interpersonal misconduct in our society and continues to take steps to listen to concerns, educate the campus community, and treat reports of sexual and interpersonal misconduct seriously and equitably. Drake’s campaign to Define the Line. Respect the Line. emphasizes that while everybody has the right to determine their own line when it comes to sexual behavior, there is one clear line at Drake: sexual or interpersonal misconduct is not tolerated, accepted, or ignored. Think, talk, learn, listen, and act in a way that respects this line—we are all part of Drake.
There are four principles behind Define the Line. Respect the Line. and the culture we strive to create at Drake:
- Prevention: Education and discussion are crucial to establishing and enforcing our social norms and what we as a community expect at Drake. We must continue to talk about respect and consent.
- Communication: More communication is better, both between sexual partners and also in our community, so that people feel comfortable discussing sexuality or sexual violence without fear or judgment.
- Intervention: We have people of outstanding character at Drake. When something does not look right, we should be empowered to trust that intuition and intervene to ensure everyone is comfortable and safe with the situation.
- Support: If you or someone you know experiences sexual or interpersonal misconduct, Drake has staff, resources, and procedures in place that can provide support.
