As a community of students, faculty and staff who are here to do our best work in service of a more just, equitable, healthy society, we all share a stake in creating a culture free from sex- and gender-based violence, harassment and discrimination.
Category: Sexual assault prevention
We all share responsibility for preventing sex- and gender-based violence and harassment
Every person – in our community and beyond it – is entitled to live free of sex- and gender-based violence and harassment, and it is our shared responsibility to prevent all forms of violence, harassment and misconduct.
New Title IX regulations won’t compromise our commitment to stopping sexual misconduct
The U.S Department of Education has issued new Title IX regulations this week, which will go into effect on August 14, 2020.
We all are responsible collectively for stamping out sexual harassment
Our purpose as a university is defined by curiosity and inquiry, the pursuit of knowledge and the joy of discovery. We simply cannot fulfill this purpose if some members of our community are prevented from achieving their full potential because of sexual harassment, abuse, discrimination or assault.
Creating a more welcoming working and learning environment at the UW
The University plans to undertake a university-wide climate survey to examine the learning and working experiences of our students, faculty and staff on our three campuses. This survey is a critical tool for gathering information and perspective about our community’s lived experiences to understand what fosters – and impedes – the sense of belonging that is so necessary to thrive and succeed. In the coming months, you will hear more about this confidential survey, which will take place from October 8 to November 8, 2019. Students, faculty, and staff across all three campuses will be invited to participate.
Responding to proposed Title IX changes
The Department of Education released a set of proposed new regulations that would govern how universities address charges of sexual harassment and sexual assault under Title IX. During the comment period for the proposed changes, we conducted an analysis of the proposed rules and held public forums and solicited online feedback to encourage the UW community to provide their thoughts. We have submitted a formal response to the Secretary of Education with the UW’s comments about the proposed changes.
Building a culture of inclusion and respect for all
At the University of Washington, our success as a community of students, faculty and staff depends on creating an environment that does not tolerate sexual assault, sexual harassment or gender-based harassment or discrimination. This requires building a culture of inclusion and respect for all, including all bodies, gender identities, orientations and expressions. The responsibility for building that culture lies with all of us — but it is especially incumbent upon those of us in leadership roles to set and maintain these standards.
Sexual harassment in academia is a problem we can address – together
This week, I had the opportunity to take part in a livestreamed panel hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) about their recent report, Sexual Harassment of Women. The report offers recommendations for the cultural and systemic changes needed to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the academic STEM fields and its release couldn’t be more timely, coinciding with the #metoo movement.
Understanding, preventing and responding to sexual harassment
I sent the following message to all University of Washington faculty and staff today and I think it’s worth sharing with our whole community. Sexual harassment has the potential to affect everyone and it’s an issue we can and must work together to prevent and address.
As the #MeToo movement has brought attention to the pervasive issue of sexual harassment in our culture, the University of Washington reaffirms our deep commitment to preventing and addressing sexual harassment in our community. Sexual harassment is devastating for victims, and too often, survivors do not get the support they need when they come forward. Our University is dedicated to fostering working and learning environments that are free from sexual harassment and all forms of sexual violence and discrimination.
Training resources:
In-person, unit-based training can now be scheduled through your Human Resources consultant
Monthly prevention of sexual harassment in-person training through Campus Staff Human Resources. Register here
Video training Addressing Sex Discrimination & Sexual Harassment for staff, faculty and other academic personnel
Bystander training to identify and interrupt instances of interpersonal violence, including sexual harassment and sexual violence is offered regularly on the Seattle campus and by request at other UW locations
We are all responsible for understanding what sexual harassment is, taking action to prevent it from occurring, and knowing how to respond if it does occur. Beginning May 1, 2018, all schools, colleges, campuses, divisions, departments, programs, and offices can request in-person, customized training through Human Resources. In addition to the training focused on staff responsibilities offered through POD, this customized training can now be scheduled on a by-unit basis and geared to any combination of staff and faculty. Contact your Human Resources consultant to schedule a training.
These sessions will expand on a new training video, produced by Human Resources, Academic Personnel, and Compliance Services, “Preventing Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Work Environment.” I expect every faculty and staff member to watch this training video. Look for additional training topics and resources to be made available this fall.
University policy also prohibits all employees from engaging in romantic relationships with students that create a conflict of interest or can be perceived to create a conflict of interest. It also prohibits exercising authority over a student with whom the employee has had a romantic relationship. Our policies also address potential conflicts of interest between employees. If you have questions or concerns regarding these policies, how “conflict of interest” is defined, or about developing a formal plan to manage a potential conflict, contact your supervisor, department chair or Human Resources or Academic Human Resources consultant.
The resources and trainings I’ve shared here are valuable, but we recognize that there is more work to be done. A Title IX workgroup is developing recommendations for enhanced education and outreach. Another group is addressing how to best assess our university climate on these issues, and a third is further clarifying employee responsibilities in preventing and responding to sexual violence and sexual harassment. The Title IX Steering Committee will be reviewing their recommendations in Autumn Quarter and the Faculty Senate will lead discussions about the significant role that faculty play in preventing and addressing sexual harassment. I look forward to sharing the results of this work with you.
If you have experienced or are aware of sexual harassment occurring at the UW, please inform your supervisor, department chair, unit administrator or Human Resources/AHR consultant, or call SafeCampus at 206-685-7233. You can also connect with a confidential advocate who will provide information about your rights and support resources. You may also reach out to Interim Title IX Coordinator Valery Richardson at titleix@uw.edu or 206-616-9713.
As a community devoted to public service and grounded in respect for the inherent dignity and worth of every person, we share a responsibility to ensure that sexual harassment is never tolerated here. We all have an obligation to live up to those ideals, and to support each other in fostering a safe and healthy place to work and learn.
Understanding your resources to prevent and address sexual misconduct
It is our obligation to make sure that UW students understand the standards we hold them to as responsible members of the University community. These standards reflect our values, our policies, and state and federal law, including Title IX, which prohibits sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of discrimination on the basis of sex. For our faculty and staff, it’s also important to be aware of these policies and the role we all play in upholding these responsibilities.