Consent in California: An Intra-Institutional Examination of Affirmative Consent Policy on University Campuses

Responding to increased awareness of the sexual assault epidemic on university campuses, California Senate Bill 967 mandates affirmative consent standards at schools receiving state financial assistance. Research into university policy regarding sexual assault often revolves around traditional conceptions of consent, previously lacking the uniform application of an intra-state standard dictated by the Senate Bill. Utilizing Most Similar Systems Design case-comparisons, this study analyzes eight California schools that differ in size, religious affiliation, and public/private status to explore if these variables impact their consent policies or the reporting rates of sexually-based crimes. The results demonstrate none of the monitored variables significantly impact consent definitions; however, a more robust consent definition potentially correlates to higher reporting rates of sexually-based crimes. This research has practical applications for policymakers and institutions interested in implementing affirmative consent policies