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October 15, 2014
Greetings,
This is the first of many regular updates to keep you informed of our progress on addressing sex discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct across the University of Missouri System. The work that began with the task force in February 2014 continues with broader engagement of system and campus leaders. These regular updates will ensure that everyone is receiving consistent and timely information. Please let me know if there is other information that you would like to see included in future updates.
Mental Health & Sexual Assault Task Force
The task force concluded its work with a submission of campus-specific recommendations to the president in mid-September. This officially completed the three phases outlined by the task force, which primarily focused on students:
- creating an inventory of resources available for a victim of sexual assault or a person in need of mental health services;
- performing an assessment of related policies and practices; and
- making policy and resource recommendations to address any gaps and further leverage strengths across the system.
The Title IX work going forward will be coordinated through the Title IX coordinators, as designated by the chancellors, and appropriate campus leaders.
A Focus on the Campuses
Daniel Swinton and Brett Sokolow, our NCHERM consultants, will lead onsite visits at each campus. The purpose of the onsite visit is to assess effectiveness of prevention, training and education programs; facilitate a collaborative program design and strategic implementation of prevention curricula, including engagement with students, faculty, staff and volunteers; and conduct focus groups with campus constituents. Consultants will be on each campus for a total of seven days throughout the year. The first three-day visit will be scheduled over the next few months and will be customized for each campus. Daniel Swinton and I will work with each chancellor and Title IX Coordinator to plan accordingly.
Strategic Investments
Each campus has been given an initial allocation of strategic funding for Title IX activities. These initial allocations could increase as we work together to develop an integrated implementation plan, with final funding decisions expected in December. We know the campus plans are difficult to finalize until we publicize the system priorities, so we expect to do that by the end of this month. Daniel Swinton and I will work closely with the Title IX coordinators and the system and campus fiscal officers to ensure that everyone is informed along the way.
Training
Coordinators & Investigators: Recently we completed on-site training of our Title IX Coordinators, deputy coordinators and investigators that were identified by each campus. In total, approximately 100 people completed the training.
Hearing Panel Training: On October 28-29, training will be provided to those who have been appointed by their campus to serve on hearing panels for students or student organizations accused of discrimination (of any kind). Each campus has a pool ranging from 10-20 people.
Mandated Reporter Training: Online mandated reporter training will launch in November.
Victim Intake & Advocacy Training: A one-day centralized training for all campus victim intake personnel is being planned for November or early December. Look for additional information in future updates as we plan another training in Columbia.
Policies Under Review
Executive Order 41, which was executed on September 22, 2014, revised the university’s Title IX policy and addressed protocols when a student or student organization is accused of discrimination. Current policies and practices when a faculty or staff member is accused of discrimination are under review.
Faculty: The Intercampus Faculty Council (IFC) has created a subcommittee to look at protocols when faculty are accused of discriminatory acts and will make recommendations to the president. I will learn more of their planned approach when IFC meets next week. Look for additional developments to be communicated in future updates.
Staff: The Human Resources Council and Intercampus Staff Council will review protocols when staff are accused of discrimination and make recommendations to the president by the end of November. Initial review is scheduled to begin next week. Staff policies are expected to be in place by December.
Outreach
Senator Claire McCaskill held a series of “reverse roundtable” listening sessions with the Missouri higher education community last week. She addressed invited participants and then asked about the state of responses to campus sexual assaults and her proposed legislation. The tour, which consisted of 10 stops, included visits on the Missouri S&T and MU campuses, with UMKC and UMSL participating in their regions. Craig Stevenson, UM Director of Federal Relations, worked closely with Senator McCaskill’s staff so that he and I could coordinate the university’s participation.
My Team
I am pleased to introduce you to two members of my team:
Emily Love serves as Title IX programming coordinator. A recent graduate of MU’s School of Social Work, Emily’s work will be heavily focused on student engagement, awareness and advocacy as well as prevention and training.
Jalayna Walton is a graduate assistant on the team. Her work will focus on communication, outreach and student engagement as we move forward in our collective effort to implement, leverage and sustain best practices.
Sincerely,
Deborah S. Noble-Triplett, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President
University of Missouri System
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