As we prepare for the start of a new academic year, I would like to update campus on changes in our Title IX program.
Tracey Tsugawa, Title IX Officer and program manager, has announced her departure to assume a position at the University of Oregon. Under Tracey’s strong leadership during the past three years, the campus successfully implemented the requirements of federal and state Title IX and University of California sexual-violence and sexual-harassment policies. This was no easy task, and we are thankful to have had Tracey at the helm.
Tracey’s last work day will be Sept. 8. Please join me in thanking her for her contributions to this vital program.
To ensure program stability, I have appointed Cherie Scricca interim Title IX Officer. She will provide leadership while the campus conducts a national recruitment to fill the vacancy. Cherie has extensive experience in sexual-harassment and Title IX programs, having worked at UCLA, the UC Office of the President, and at the University of Oregon. She is highly skilled in both investigations and policy development. Cherie’s appointment started Sept. 5.
As an additional change, and one that will provide direct executive-level engagement with the Title IX program, the reporting line for the Title IX Officer is being shifted from Business and Administrative Services to the Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor’s Office. This change will be effective Oct. 1, 2017.
I would like to thank Business and Administrative Services leadership, specifically Vice Chancellor Sarah Latham and Associate Vice Chancellor of Risk and Safety Services Jean Marie Scott, for their oversight of the program over the past year. They have managed the office during a period of increased focus on sexual violence and sexual harassment on college campuses nationwide, coinciding with a growing number of reports.
Finally, I have decided to add a new position of deputy director, and a permanent third investigator. I will be initiating national recruitments for both posts, which are critical to the office’s success. Once all positions are filled, we will have six full-time staff in the Title IX program, not including staff funded through CARE, our Campus Advocacy Resources and Education program.
Meanwhile, our Beyond Compliance initiative—our effort to engage faculty in reshaping campus culture with the aim of creating an environment free from sexual violence and sexual harassment—has announced an ambitious multi-year plan to move the campus closer to this reality.
Our ultimate goal at UC Santa Cruz is to build a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for teaching, research, learning and working. Sexual violence and sexual harassment have no place on campus.
Visit our Title IX Office online to learn more about prevention training, to report an incident or simply to learn more about the program. Our CARE program is another resource for survivors of sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking.
If you have additional questions about the Title IX program changes, please contact Linda Rhoads, chief of staff for the campus provost and executive vice chancellor, at rhoads@ucsc.edu.
