As a result of the Violence against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), signed by President Obama earlier this year, the University’s Policy on Sexual Harassment is undergoing a formal review. All staff and student employees are invited to comment on the proposed changes. Comments are due by 5pm, January 17, 2014.
VAWA will take effect on March 7, 2014, and includes several provisions to improve and expand how institutions address domestic and sexual violence. Some of the changes applicable to the University of California include:
· Reporting campus crime statistics beyond the crime categories the Clery Act already mandates, to include incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, as well as crimes motivated by national origin and gender identity,
· Providing primary prevention and awareness programs for incoming students and new employees, in addition to ongoing education programs to promote awareness of rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,
· Conducting annual training for personnel who investigate and review asserted offenses, and
· Adopting policy to address and prevent campus sexual violence.
For your convenience, a Google site has been set-up to facilitate the anonymous comment process, https://sites.google.com/a/ucsc.edu/ucsc-sexual-harassment-policy-review/
Please use this website to review the documents listed below and complete the Feedback Form.
· Current UC Policy on Sexual Harassment
· Draft UC Policy on Sexual Harassment
· President Janet Napolitano’s letter of October 17, 2013 to the Chancellors
· Feedback Survey Outline to Help Organize Your Comments
A separate process is being used to facilitate the collection of academic employee comments. More information is available from the Academic Personnel Office website at: http://apo.ucsc.edu/policy/policy-under-review.html
