Abstract

Research has consistently shown that sexual violence (SV) is a problem among universities in the US and Canada. Following the #MeToo movement, additional scrutiny has been placed on universities to address SV and promote consent, with many institutions adopting affirmative consent (AC) policies. To date, research findings on university student consent practices have repeatedly shown the same trends in how students communicate consent with their partners. Few studies have explored the beliefs of university students who, in theory, should have a heightened sexual consent knowledge from enrollment in relevant courses and exposure to consent programs and campaigns. This research study examined the consent beliefs of undergraduate students enrolled in human sexuality courses in two midsized universities in the US and Canada to explore alignment with university AC policies and ideologies. Participants responded to online qualitative prompts about how they understand and communicate consent. Through thematic analysis, several key themes were identified, including themes of AC and institutional tensions. The authors found that participants’ beliefs about consent often aligned with university consent principals; however, many students were caught between the ideals endorsed by universities and the realities of undergraduate social culture, impacting their consent practices. The authors’ findings raise important questions about the effectiveness of university AC campaigns and demonstrate the need for sociocultural considerations to be better reflected in ongoing institutional efforts.