F2.01 - IGNITE: Talking About Sex with First Years: Lessons Learned from Implementing Undergraduate Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Brief Abstract Summary: This presentation will explain the need for inclusive, comprehensive sexuality education for first year college students through describing the development and implementation of “You Know, Sex” a course in the First Year Seminar series at a mid-sized Midwestern university. It will describe the challenges ---including the lack of consistent K12 sexual health education, gender dynamics in the classroom, and the legislative and cultural implications of teaching in a state considered hostile to reproductive rights—as well as the highlights and successes from both the instructors’ and students’ perspectives. Participants will leave ready to advocate for and design opportunities for undergraduate students to have open discussion and accurate education about sexual health in an inclusive, safe environment.

Detailed abstract description: Beginning in Fall 2022, the Department of Public Health and Community Health Education at a mid-sized state university in the Midwest began offering a course entitled, “You Know, Sex” as part of the university’s First Year Seminar series. The purpose of this course is to ensure that students receive quality sexuality education upon entering college, regardless of the quality of sexuality education received in high school and prior. As designed, this course delivers information on a wide variety of topics related to sexuality and sexual health, including access to important resources on both a campus and community level. This course provides the knowledge, skills, and discussion to support: the reduction of sexually transmitted infections (STIs); the prevention of sexual assault (including understanding and practice of consent); and the appreciation and inclusion of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
Educating college students about sexuality, sexual health, and sexual violence prevention is a difficult endeavor, as they enter university from K12 institutions with disparate levels of sexuality education. Most students at this university come from a state considered hostile to reproductive rights, where sex education is not mandated, and local requirements and implementation vary widely. Because of no nationally mandated requirements, this lack of common knowledge and experience is common across universities, and the importance of sexuality education at the undergraduate level has never been more important. The most recent (Spring 2024) National College Health Assessment [NCHA] from the American College Health Association [ACHA] reports troubling data regarding sexual health and experiences among college students, including: low levels of protected intercourse, concerns about consent, signs of emotionally and physically abusive and unhealthy relationships, high distress and negative academic impacts from sexual harassment and intimate relationships, and lack of regular STI testing.
This presentation will share what the instructors have learned over the past two years of implementing this course, including course design, challenges with difficult discussions and topics in a state considered hostile to reproductive rights, gender dynamics in the classroom, and determining what students truly need from the course. Comparison data with students not enrolled in the course will show how a focused inclusive, comprehensive sexuality education during a semester of freshmen year can improve student knowledge, as well as decrease rape myth acceptance, improve perceptions and understanding of sexual orientation, and improve bystander prevention intention. Students’ own statements and perceptions will be highlighted. Participants will leave ready and inspired to advocate for and design a comprehensive sexuality education course with open discussion and accurate education about sexual health for undergraduates in an inclusive, safe environment.