Report 2017-125 Recommendation 5 Responses
Report 2017-125: The University of California: It Must Take Additional Steps to Address Long-Standing Issues With Its Response to Sexual Harassment Complaints (Release Date: June 2018)
Recommendation #5 To: University of California
To ensure that the campuses impose appropriate disciplinary sanctions and to determine whether any additional remedies need to be provided, the Office of the President should modify university policy to ensure that campus coordinators consult on the appropriateness of the discipline for respondents found to have violated university policy. This policy change should take effect by July 2019.
1-Year Agency Response
On July 31, 2019, the University issued the revised Faculty Framework and a revised Investigation and Adjudication Framework for Staff and Non-Faculty Academic Personnel (Staff and NFAP Framework). As revised, the frameworks require that Chancellors or their designees consult with their campus Title IX Officers before deciding discipline for all faculty, staff, and non-faculty academic personnel respondents found responsible for violating the SVSH Policy. President Napolitano issued the frameworks with instructions that campuses make corresponding amendments to their local procedures. The revised frameworks are posted online.
- Completion Date: July 2019
- Response Date: July 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented
6-Month Agency Response
The Systemwide Title IX Office drafted revisions to the frameworks governing the investigation and adjudication of sexual harassment complaints against faculty and staff to require that chancellors or their designees consult with their campus Title IX Officers before deciding discipline for all faculty and staff respondents found responsible for violating the UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment (SVSH) Policy. The Systemwide Title IX Office is engaging in the appropriate consultation with affected stakeholders to finalize the changes. Once finalized the University will disseminate and publish the revised procedures, and require that campuses make corresponding amendments to their local procedures.
- Estimated Completion Date: July 2019
- Response Date: December 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
The Office of the President has drafted revisions to its frameworks and is in the review and approval process.
60-Day Agency Response
The University will amend its framework governing the investigation and adjudication of sexual harassment complaints against faculty and staff to require that chancellors or their designees consult with their campus Title IX Officers before deciding discipline for all faculty and staff respondents found responsible for violating the UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment (SVSH) Policy. The Systemwide Title IX Office will work with its partners in Academic Personnel and Human Resources to determine whether other University policies require corresponding changes. Once finalized the University will disseminate and publish the revised procedures, and require that campuses make corresponding amendments to their local procedures.
- Estimated Completion Date: July 2019
- Response Date: August 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken
The University has expressed its intent to implement this recommendation. We look forward to reviewing the University's progress in its six-month response.
All Recommendations in 2017-125
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.