Each year, the Sexual Harassment, Assault and Relationship Experiences (SHARE) survey is distributed to current NIU students over the age of 18, as well as former students who left NIU within the past year.
The survey provides the university and the state of Illinois with information on students' experiences with relationship violence, sexual and gender harassment, stalking and sexual violence. It also assesses students' knowledge of reporting options and support resources. As some survey topics are sensitive in nature, we encourage you to make use of available resources as needed.
The 2025 SHARE survey is now closed. If you have any questions, contact equity@niu.edu.
The Sexual Harassment Assault and Relationship Experience survey is an anonymous, confidential and voluntary Campus Climate Survey which focuses on understanding student experiences with gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault. Review the Illinois Law regarding sexual misconduct campus climate survey: 110 ILCS 155/35.
The purpose of the survey is to provide information about the behaviors and perceptions that current students may have experience(d) at NIU.
NIU has conducted the SHARE survey in the past. NIU updated the former iteration of the SHARE survey in 2024 to align with the required state of Illinois Sexual Misconduct Survey template.
The types of questions that will be asked are concerning relationships, sexual experiences, experiences with domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, consent, sexual assault. There will also be questions about safety at NIU during the last 12 months as well as your knowledge of reporting and resources.
In addition, there are demographic questions, for example, age, sexual orientation, and disability status. Many of these questions have a “prefer not to respond” option.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education organized a Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct Climate Surveys and developed a baseline survey and provided a recommended implementation plan. Higher education institutions have minimal opportunity to change questions.
All students who are over the age of 18 and attended NIU in the Spring of 2024, Fall of 2024 and Spring of 2025. Therefore, some students may have graduated in the Spring or Fall of 2024 but are still included in the survey.
Once a student has completed the survey, they will be given an opportunity to opt in to be a part of the drawings for Huskie Bucks and Huskie gear. Students will be re-directed to another section where they will provide their contact information. Random drawings will be held weekly, and students will be contacted via email from adei-training@niu.edu.
The SHARE Survey is an important tool that NIU uses for understanding and addressing the campus regarding sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. Your participation in the survey will ensure NIU is aware of the issues that need to be addressed and assist with developing campus wide prevention tools and resources.
The survey can be completed using a desktop computer, a laptop, a smartphone or tablet.
The survey takes between 15 and 20 minutes to complete, however the exact time will vary.
Institutions of higher education are required to keep the survey open for at least 6 weeks. The closing date is Monday, April 21, 2025. The time can be extended to encourage additional responses.
If you must stop answering survey questions for any reason, you will be able to sign back into the survey and start where you left off.
Your participation in the survey is voluntary and may be withdrawn at any time without penalty or prejudice. In addition, you are not required to answer all questions in the survey. You can choose to skip a question or select the “prefer not to respond” option. Illinois law (110 ILCS 155/35) requires NIU to conduct the Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey annually.
The SHARE Survey is an anonymous survey and the names of those taking the survey will not be shared. The Illinois Board of Higher Education requires an annual summary report for each survey question. Names are not shared.
Survey results will be published at on the NIU surveys webpage.
You should not continue with the survey if it is causing you stress. Northern Illinois University does not want students to be under any undue emotional or mental stress to take the survey.
There are several places for a student to acquire assistance with their emotional or mental health and overall wellbeing.
Center for Student Assistance (CSA)
Confidential advisors
Peters Campus Life Building, room 150
Email: studentassistance@niu.edu
Phone: 815-753-8300
Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS)
Peters Campus Life Building, room 200
Phone: 815-753-1206.
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Safe Passage
Phone: 815-756-5228
Text: 815-393-1995
Family Service Agency
Email info@fsadekalbcounty.org
Phone: 815-758-8616
Crisis Line
For immediate assistance please contact the crisis line by dialing 988
The IBHE requires all institutions of higher education to report an aggregate summary for each base survey question. This summary will include the total number of respondents to each base survey question and the number of respondents that choose each answer option. No student names or specific identifiable information will be provided.
State law requires that this survey be anonymous. The results are confidential. NIU provides an executive summary of the survey.
If you have questions about the survey, please contact Jade Silva Tovar at equity@niu.edu.