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SVPP First-Year Experience

Introduction

First-Year Experience

Dartmouth students come to campus with very different backgrounds, levels of knowledge, and comfort with talking about sexual violence. The Sexual Violence Prevention Project (SVPP) First-Year Experience was intentionally designed through research and with the help of upper-level students to ensure all first-years are on the same page and can build on this foundation throughout their time at Dartmouth.  

The components of the SVPP First-Year Experience will introduce students to the following concepts regarding each of the four outcomes:

  • Foundational knowledge;
  • Our shared language, vision, and values;
  • Our expectations of behavior and the College's standards; 
  • Students' rights, rules, responsibilities, and resources; and
  • First-level skill-building and practice. 
Accountability

We all have a role to play -

All undergraduate students are REQUIRED to complete their annual SVPP Experience. As a member of the Dartmouth community, every one of us has a role in creating a safe and supportive campus where we don't allow sexual violence to occur. This four-year curriculum is intended to enhance students' skills to actively contribute to sexual violence prevention and increase student wellbeing. The SVPP is asset-based and designed to cultivate and strengthen interpersonal leadership skills that are transferable to other health and wellness concerns (e.g. mental health, high-risk drinking and drug abuse, self-harm and suicide, eating disorders, etc.) and can be used both in and after college. This curriculum is not intended to be punitive. However, in order to hold students accountable to one another, those who do not complete their annual SVPP Experience will be in violation of our Community Standards and receive a conduct sanction.

The SVPP First-Year Experience is also a membership requirement for joining a Greek organization (fraternity, sorrority, or gender-inclusive house) or Student Society and being on track with your annual SVPP Experience is a prerequisite to participate in many campus leadership opportunities. 

For more information visit our SVPP FAQ page.

Requesting an extension, modification, or waiver

If you need additional time to engage with a component or have concerns about participating in any component for personal reasons, please contact us at SVPP@dartmouth.edu to make arrangements. If you need support or would like to request a waiver from a confidential resource, please contact a WISE Advocate at campus@wiseuv.org or the College Chaplain, Reverend Nancy Vogele, at College.Chaplain@dartmouth.edu.