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SUPPORT & SERVICES

The Gender Violence Services Coordinators (GVSCs) provide confidential support and advocacy for all University students (undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctoral) and employees who have experienced or have been impacted by gender-based violence or harassment before or during their time at UNC-Chapel Hill. This may include experiences of sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual violence, interpersonal (relationship) violence, sexual exploitation, and stalking. The GVSCs support individuals directly impacted (primary victims/survivors) and indirectly impacted (secondary victims/survivors).

Individuals are welcome to meet with the GVSCs as many times as they would like and there is no cost to meet.  

The GVSCs are a separate resource from the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office and law enforcement.

The GVSCs provide the following services listed below:  

Click each section to view more information. 

The GVSCs can provide space for individuals to discuss experiences of gender-based violence and harassment and the impact their experiences have. This may include exploring and identifying needs and available support, brainstorming self-care strategies, and providing psycho-education about the spectrum of gender-based violence and harassment, consent, and trauma responses.

The GVSCs also provide support for individuals who may be indirectly impacted by gender-based violence and harassment, often called “secondary survivors” to explore secondary impact of supporting individuals and learning more about how to effectively help and support others.

Individuals may share as much or as little about their experience as they’d like with the GVSCs.

The GVSCs do not provide therapy and can help refer individuals to resources on campus and in the community if they are interested in finding and working with a therapist.

The GVSCs can identify and explain reporting options and possible responses available through the University and/or law enforcement. The GVSCs can also help coordinate, schedule, and accompany individuals to meetings with the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office and/or law enforcement.
The GVSCs can help coordinate and schedule meetings with many on-campus and community resources, including the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office and/or law enforcement. The GVSCs can also accompany individuals and attend meetings to provide emotional support.  
The GVSCs can help identify support and resources available on campus and in the community that may help in addressing an individual’s needs.
The GVSCs can help individuals safety plan for a variety of circumstances and situations depending on their needs and concerns. The GVSCs can also help explore options for University No-Contact Orders (issued by the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office), protective orders through the court system, and other interim protective measures that may be available.
The GVSCs can help identify support and resources available for concerns related to academics, on-campus housing, and workspaces.

For academic support, the GVSCs can send out professor notifications, request University Approved Absences for absences related to experiences of gender-based violence and harassment, and explore options for withdrawals, drops, and underloads . The GVSCs can also help connect students to resources such as Academic Advising, Accessibility Resources & Service, and Counseling and Psychological Services. 

The GVSCs are happy to consult with members of our campus community about ways we can create a more supportive campus for individuals impacted by gender-based violence and harassment. For example, the GVSCs can consult with faculty in supporting students or creating a more supportive learning environment. Student groups can consult with us on efforts or initiatives they are focusing on or how to support members of their group. 
 The GVSCs love to connect with our campus community and welcome requests for GVSC outreach and trainings from student and employee groups, university classes, offices and departments, other campus entities and community resources.  

What happens when someone meets with the GVSC?

When someone meets with a GVSC for the first time, we will share information about the role, support and services available, and our GVSC confidentiality and its limitations. From that point on, it is completely up to each person what they would like to talk through or share with us. The GVSC can answer questions, listen to concerns, identify available options and resources and help individuals get connected to any resources they are interested in. It is okay if individuals are not sure about what they might need and just want to learn more about what support exists. At the end of the meeting, the GVSC can collaborate with the individual to determine any next steps or follow-up that would be helpful.    

Some topics we can explore and discuss in our space include: 

  • Someone’s experience of gender-based violence or harassment
  • How someone’s experience impacted or continues to impact them
  • The neurobiology of trauma and trauma responses
  • Explore ways of coping, healing, and self-care strategies
  • Concerns about safety
  • Reporting options and decision-making about reporting
  • How someone can support a friend, loved one, or peer impacted by gender-based violence or harassment
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