New Title IX training wants students to ‘Think About It’

Officials at USD are hoping to raise awareness among students about sexual assault through a mandated online training program.

Think About It is a training course that teaches students about sexual assault awareness and prevention, as well as how bystanders should intervene if they see signs of abuse. The university is required to offer the Title IX training to students, faculty and staff by the Office for Civil Rights.

USD previously used the Haven program as a way to educate the campus community, but made the switch to the Think About It program last spring when the South Dakota Board of Regents wanted to find a program that would work well for all universities across the state, Vice President of Student Services and Dean of Students Kim Grieve said.

Think About It is used at all the regental institutions in South Dakota as a way to make the process easier for transfer students, Grieve said. It costs $5,000 annually.

Grieve was part of the decision-making process when USD was looking at programs for the SDBOR to implement. She said they wanted the program to be interactive for students.

“This by far was the most outstanding one that was available at the time when we reviewed all of the different programs,” she said.

As of now, the plan is for South Dakota institutions to utilize Think About It for four years, but Title IX training options will continually be evaluated by the SDBOR, Grieve said.

USD doesn’t have an official contract with Think About It at this time, she added. The online training must be completed by Oct. 16.

First-year Alexandria Logan completed her Think About It training in the course of about three hours. She said the program gives students relatable examples for students to analyze.

“They gave them names and they talked about how the dialogue between friends goes,” Logan said. “It kind of helps me be a better friend and for me not to get into those types of situations myself.”

Bobbe Hakl, chief Title IX coordinator at USD, said the program does more than educate students, as student feedback regarding the program has resulted in more conversations surrounding the topic on campus.

“There has been an increase in the conversation about sexual assault awareness,” she said. “That in itself is an accomplishment as well. People are discussing it. Whether it be in a positive way or there’s a sense of dissatisfaction or criticism about it, at least they’re talking about the subject manner.”