Report 2022-109 Recommendation 16 Responses

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

Recommendation #16 To: University, California State

To ensure that campuses do not endorse employees who have been found responsible for sexual harassment, the Chancellor's Office should amend its policy for letters of recommendation by July 2024 to prohibit official positive references for all employees or former employees with findings of sexual harassment, including those who have received less severe discipline than termination, such as suspension or demotion. Alternatively, the Chancellor's Office could consider amending its policy for letters of recommendation to require that official positive references for employees or former employees with findings of sexual harassment that did not lead to separation include a disclosure of the employee's violation of CSU's sexual harassment policy.

1-Year Agency Response

The Chancellor's Office amended its policy for letters of recommendation, effective March 2024, to prohibit official positive references for all employees or former employees with findings of sexual harassment, including those who have received less severe discipline than termination.

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

The Chancellor's Office's amended policy for letters of recommendation states that employees found to have engaged in sexual harassment or other misconduct in violation of CSU's Nondiscrimination policy shall not receive a positive letter of reference even if they were not separated from employment at the CSU as a result of the finding. This policy implements our recommendation.

6-Month Agency Response

A proposed revised policy will be presented to the Board of Trustees for discussion at the January 2024 meeting.

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

60-Day Agency Response

The Chancellor's Office is evaluating various options to ensure that campuses do not endorse employees who have been found responsible for sexual harassment.

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

All Recommendations in 2022-109

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.