Prevention Programming for New Students
Northeastern University is committed to creating and maintaining a community in which students, faculty, and staff can work and study in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence. Northeastern offers specific education for new and incoming students as part of a larger commitment to sexual violence prevention.
Up2Us: Foundations Online Program
Up2Us: Foundations is an interactive, online sexual violence prevention program (accessible at this link), which was created by Northeastern University students and staff. This program covers information about consent, healthy sexual communication, and sexual violence prevention and resources. This program is required for incoming graduate and undergraduate Northeastern students.
Up2Us: Bystander Intervention Program
The Up2Us: Bystander Intervention program is an interactive 60-minute presentation led by peer educators. This program is offered in first-year seminar classes on the Boston campus, via a self-enrollable Canvas module, and/or can be requested as an in-person or virtual offering.
Topics covered in this program include:
- How to recognize warning signs of sexual violence
- Bystander intervention strategies
- Cultural factors that contribute to the perpetration of sexual violence
- Alcohol and consent
- Northeastern sexual violence resources
- How to support survivors of sexual violence
Additional Programming for First-Year Students
Students who are enrolled in an NUin or Global Scholars program may have additional opportunities to learn about sexual violence prevention through an area-specific presentation.
Sexual Violence Prevention Educators
OPEN’s Sexual Violence Prevention Educators facilitate Up2Us: Bystander Intervention. Educators participate in extensive training and preparation for their role and attend regular continuing education sessions throughout the academic year to hone their skills and learn more about sexual violence prevention work. Educators also receive individualized feedback from OPEN staff on their presentation skills each semester.
Hiring for the Sexual Violence Prevention Educator position typically occurs late in the Spring semester for the following academic year. Therefore, we are not currently accepting applications for the position. Please follow us on Instagram @NUHealthandWellness for updates on opportunities to get involved!
Scheduling a Presentation
If you are an instructor for a first-year seminar class, please note that OPEN will be in touch with your college to schedule your section’s Up2Us: Bystander Intervention presentation. If you have any questions, please contact open@northeastern.edu. If you’re not a first-year seminar instructor but would like to offer this presentation to your class, please fill out this form to request a presentation, and someone from our office will be in touch with you.
Learn About Bystander Intervention
Intervention usually only takes a few minutes and can make a huge difference in someone’s life.
In addition to the courses noted above, check out this video made by Cornell University about how to intervene in a variety of different scenarios related to sexual assault, harassment, discrimination, mental health, hazing, alcohol poisoning, and domestic violence.
If you have any further questions about the Up2Us program or bystander intervention presentations, please email OPEN at open@northeastern.edu.