Report 2022-109 Recommendation 11 Responses

Report 2022-109: California State University: It Did Not Adequately or Consistently Address Some Allegations of Sexual Harassment (Release Date: July 2023)

Recommendation #11 To: University, California State

To ensure that campuses make and document appropriate efforts to address sexual harassment allegations, the Chancellor's Office should, by July 2024, develop procedures or guidelines that include a specific list of documents that the campus Title IX coordinator must maintain in a sexual harassment case file before closing the case. The Chancellor's Office should consider attaching these guidelines to the CSU sexual harassment policy. The list should include the following, at a minimum:

- Documentation of the campus's initial assessment of allegations and its rationale for whether or not to conduct an investigation.

- Any evidence relevant to the allegations and documentation of all interview notes or transcripts.

- If applicable, an informal resolution agreement signed by all parties and documentation of the agreed-upon outcomes.

- Any significant correspondence between Title IX staff and the parties, from the report stage through case closure, including emails and notices of allegations, investigation, extension, and outcome.

- If applicable, the preliminary investigation report or review of evidence and the final investigation report.

- Evidence of and specific details about the disciplinary or corrective actions that the campus took to resolve the case.

1-Year Agency Response

The Chancellor's Office has developed guidance that includes a list of documents that the campus Title IX coordinator must maintain in a sexual harassment case file before closing the case. The guidance was shared with all CSU Title IX coordinators and Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (DHR) administrators.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

The Chancellor's Office's guidance on maintenance of case files includes a list of documents that matches all of the elements listed in our recommendation.

6-Month Agency Response

The Chancellor's Office has developed guidance that is in the process of being finalized. The guidance includes a list of documents that the campus Title IX coordinator must maintain in a sexual harassment case file before closing the case.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

The Chancellor's Office will develop procedures or guidelines that include a specific list of documents that the campus Title IX coordinator must maintain in a sexual harassment case file before closing the case.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2022-109

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.