Tip Tuesday: Navigating Sexual Health at Religiously Affiliated Campuses

It can be challenging for religiously affiliated institutions of higher education to provide sexual health programming for their students without compromising their beliefs. In addition, it can be a struggle to balance what religious doctrines consider moral behavior and issues of public health and safety, such as behavior associated with STIs, HIV/AIDS, and unplanned pregnancies. Student organizations on religious campuses must collaborate with the administration to conduct health promotion campaigns for Sexual Responsibility Week (February) as well as on-going campaigns. Educational messages must be tailored to the campus community.

When discussing sexual health on a religious campus, it is important to talk with the university ministry in advance, to understand what messages and educational/promotional giveaway items the peer education group can promote. It is also important to gain the acceptance from the administration before bringing community organizations to campus to discuss sexual health.

Peer educators at many religiously affiliated universities may not be able to conduct the same activities as those at public institutions. However, this does not mean that sexual health education does not exist on religious campuses. Many universities have found ways to respect religious beliefs while still educating students.

In some circumstances, religiously affiliated campuses will not talk about contraception but they will talk about the important aspects of relationships. This includes distinguishing between a healthy and unhealthy relationships as well as focusing on intimacy rather than sexuality. Groups can define the differences between the two and promote activities that can strengthen relationships that don’t necessarily require being sexually active. Many times groups use language that does not make assumptions about student’s sexual activity, abstinence or sexual orientation, but rather empowers them to be in charge of their own sexual health.

At other religiously affiliated campuses, sexual health can be discussed in terms of preventing sexual violence. On these campuses, the discussion includes the language of sexual violence and prevention strategies. Groups may also discuss other risky behaviors such as alcohol use and how that may contribute to sexual violence on campus.

Consider promoting other women and men’s health issues such as breast, cervical and testicular cancer prevention. You can consider providing information on the importance of monthly self-exams. These issues can affect individuals regardless if they are sexually active or not.

Finally, know that sexual health can cause controversy and diverse discussion on religiously affiliated campuses. Your program handouts, marketing, social media posts, newspaper articles, etc. are likely to get the attention of concerned parents, faculty, trustees, and alumni, so it is important to let key stakeholders know what you are doing beforehand. Make sure the key stakeholders are in agreement with your approach and messages.

If you have programs you would like to share, please send a brief description and contact information to us at: [email protected].