Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Strategic Plan

Dear Students,

(CONTENT WARNING: this message contains reference to sexual misconduct) 

I write today to share with you my thoughts about our actions to foster a campus community that values mutual respect and support while decrying sexual misconduct of all kinds. 

Given the rates at which college students, both nationally and on our campus, report being survivors of sexual misconduct, it is both imperative and a significant challenge to effect change on our campus.

Over the past two weeks, I have listened to your questions and concerns with an open heart and an open mind. The questions you have asked have clarified to me that you want to know more about the actions we have taken in the recent past and the actions we have planned for the near future to work toward effective prevention of and response to sexual misconduct on campus. You have also conveyed that in addition to the comprehensive work we have done in the past, there is a need for enhanced attention to our ongoing efforts.

To these ends, and after input from student leaders, faculty leaders, and senior staff, I am making the following commitments on behalf of the University:

• Development of a Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Strategic Plan:
  • Under the leadership of Lindsey Cohen, Title IX Coordinator and Sexual Wellness Educator, and with the assistance of a planning committee to be constituted of relevant student, faculty, and staff leaders, we will develop a Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response strategic plan. 
  • The plan will summarize our recent initiatives and current state related to both prevention and response and lay out future actionable strategies, including initiatives that are already in planning stages and new initiatives not yet identified. 
  • The plan will detail the people, offices, or organizations responsible for follow through and the timelines for implementation.
  • All relevant offices of the University will be expected to contribute to the strategic plan, including residential education, student wellness, DEI, academic affairs, and athletics.
  • The plan will be informed by the final report of the Presidential Taskforce on the Causes and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and by the results of the Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey.
  • We will offer meetings (for students and for faculty/staff) shortly after students return to campus for the fall semester during which we will present progress on the plan and solicit feedback prior to finalization of the plan.
  • The strategic plan will serve as our guidepost to ensure we accomplish this work. 

• Allocation of funds to support the implementation of the strategic plan:
  • Senior staff is committed to supporting up to two positions to ensure the activation and follow through of the strategic plan, especially as relates to the implementation of new initiatives to be identified.
  • The President will provide operational funding to support the implementation of new initiatives not already in the planning phases to support training, programming, and other activities. 
  • The President will provide funding to support our ability to work with outside experts who may serve as advisers on the development and implementation of the plan and/or as speakers to educate and engage our campus.
  • The VP and Dean of Student Life will provide funding to support student organizations whose missions focus on prevention and survivor support.
  • The University will seek outside financial resources to support these efforts, including appropriate federal and state grants, as well as fundraising efforts by the President and University Advancement. 

Lindsey Cohen has already begun thinking about next steps in the creation of a planning committee to develop our Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response strategic plan. You will hear from her regarding these next steps prior to commencement. And as I mentioned, we will offer students the opportunity for feedback on the emerging plan shortly after the fall semester begins. 

I look forward to the progress we will make as a result of these commitments, and I am grateful to students for your input, and especially to student leaders from Thelmo, the Advocates, the Nine Coalition, and Spectrum, who have offered early feedback on these commitments. 

Sincerely,

Kate Morris