100 likes | 308 Views
Draft Policies. (1) Harassment and Sexual Harassment (2) Consensual Romantic or Sexual Relationships in the Educational or Workplace Environment. Presentation to the Faculty Senate Julie Fette & Kevin Kirby. January 30, 2019. Working Group Charge.
E N D
Draft Policies (1) Harassment and Sexual Harassment(2) Consensual Romantic or Sexual Relationships in the Educational or Workplace Environment Presentation to the Faculty Senate Julie Fette & Kevin Kirby January 30, 2019
Working Group Charge • “We have had for a decade a policy against sexual harassment. We have other safeguards in place as well, such as the faculty policy against romantic or sexual relationships between faculty and undergraduates or between faculty members and graduate students over whom the faculty member has professional responsibility. While these policies have served us well, it is time to review them in light of recent revelations and the need for higher standards.” President Leebron • Consult with Faculty Senate, Student Association, Graduate Student Association, Staff Advisory Committee • Solicit suggestions more broadly from the campus community • Examine policies of peer institutions • Recommend process enhancements to make policy effective in practice
WG Members • Julie Fette (Co-chair) Associate Prof., Classical & European Studies • Kevin Kirby (Co-chair) Vice President, Administration • Russell Barnes Director, EEO Program/Affirmative Action • Mary Cronin Associate Vice President, Human Resources (retired) • Ariana Engles President, Student Association • Fred Higgs Vice Provost, Academic Affairs • Yu Seon Kim Graduate Student Association • Stacy Mosely Sr. Associate Athletic Dir/Sr. Women’s Administrator • Joan Nelson Associate Vice President, Human Resources • Justin Onwenu Past President, Student Association • Laura Schaefer Prof. & Chair, Mechanical Engineering • Anne Schnoebelen Ombudsperson, Prof. Emerita, Shepherd School • Laura Segatori Associate Prof., Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering • Kate Shoemaker Graduate Student • Allison Vogt Associate Dean of Students • Richard Zansitis Vice President and General Counsel
WG Process • 8 WG meetings since March 2018 • Two drafts sent to community for comment (April & Nov.) • Reviewed: • 10+ peer university policies (e.g., Stanford, Chicago, Duke) • National Academies 2018 Report: Sexual Harassment of Women • Future: • Standard university policy review process: January / February • Including Faculty Senate • WG Subcommittees • Procedures; FAQ; Resources; Wayfinding; Website • Policy to be implemented by end of academic year 2018-19
New Policy 830 • Embedded sexual harassment into policy on harassment • Revised definitions of harassment, sexual harassment, bullying • Updated to include technology (e.g., cyber-harassment) • Included campus visitors, volunteers, vendors, contractors • Included Rice-affiliated events both on and off campus • Clarified roles and responsibilities • Created and highlighted more paths for reporting • Reorganized processes for problem resolution • Information about resources, confidentiality, record-keeping • Requires an Annual Report • Wrote in less legalistic and more user-friendly language
Organizational Climate • Organizational Climate: Not just policy revision to ensure that harassment is handled properly and carefully, but also a rigorous commitment to system-wide cultural and climate improvement • Some Actions for Rice to take: • Strong messaging from university leaders against gender & sexual harassment • Greater transparency in expected behavior and disciplinary consequences • e.g., Annual Report required by new policy • Increase attention to training • e.g., Regular evaluations of efficacy; consequences for not meeting requirements • Improve support structures & resources for those who experience harassment • e.g., Expand resources for the EEOP/AA office • Consistency and transparency on role of departmental ombudspersons • Structurally reduce isolation created by power imbalances
New Consensual Relations • Adapted Faculty Senate Statement of 2014 into a University policy giving it more enforceability • Clarified definitions of inherently unequal positions