The University of Virginia and the Department of Education reached an agreement that the school’s policies for responding to and preventing sexual assault were in compliance with Title IX, according to an announcement Monday.
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Catherine Lhamon, the Department of Education’s assistant secretary for civil rights, called the school’s new sexual assault policy “exemplary”.
Federal reviewers said that during the last academic year, UVa had substantially revised how it investigates and resolves reports of sexual harassment and violence against students, among others.
“By signing the resolution agreement, we have reaffirmed our commitment to continue taking steps we believe to be an important part of effective responses to sexual harassment and assault – urgent and complex societal issues of national importance that are challenging institutions of higher education and beyond”, Sullivan said. Numerous measures, involving ramped-up policies, staffing and training, already are in motion.
Harassment and violence in any form have no place in our community. With these efforts and more, we have taken important steps to promote and maintain a safe learning, living, and working environment for every member of our community.
The Education Department’s Office for Civil rights said Monday that UVA had violated Title IX for not responding to certain complaints of sexual violence in a timely manner.
Comments made by the chair of the university’s sexual-misconduct board in a radio broadcast in 2014, in which she explained why the board had not expelled students who admitted responsibility for a sexual assault, contributed to the basis for a hostile environment.
Those were among the conclusions in a 26-page letter from the department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) that wrapped up a four-year investigation of U-Va.’s record on sexual violence.
While the investigation is complete, the department will monitor the university’s progress in implementing the changes over the next three years. The terms of the resolution agreement address OCR’s findings as well as the remaining compliance concerns OCR had identified before concluding the investigation. Without naming Eramo, the letter says she indicated that the university typically does not consider expulsion as a punishment for sexual misconduct, even in instances when a perpetrator admits culpability.
It will also ensure that such reports are adequately, reliably, promptly and impartially investigated and resolved.
The university has agreed to take several additional steps, including implementing a system for tracking and reviewing reports and investigations; training students, faculty and administrators on the university’s procedures; and ensuring that agreements with groups such as fraternities and sororities clearly state that sexual violence is prohibited.
At least seven sexual harassment complaints were filed against one employee between 2005 and 2012, but the university failed to properly investigate the situation, according to the investigation.
The university must administer one or more annual climate assessments to students on issues concerning sexual violence.
A survey of more than 150,000 students at 27 universities released by the Association of American Universities Monday revealed that 11.7% of students reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact by physical force, threats of physical force or incapacitation since they’d enrolled in college. You don’t need to hire a full-time marketing coordinator.
A copy of the resolution agreement can be found here. Advertise on AFP Get information on AFP readership and advertising online with us. We take care of all facets of web design – visual design, layout design and content development.
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