Inside Iowa State

May 1, 2009

Faculty, staff are part of new student misconduct policy

by Erin Rosacker

A new web site developed by the dean of students office offers faculty and staff tools for identifying and addressing situations involving student sexual misconduct. The site is part of the educational component for ISU's new Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Involving Students policy.

The policy, approved by the state Board of Regents in December, is available in the online policy library. It was developed in conjunction with the other regent institutions, working with a national consultant.

Associate university counsel Kathryn Overberg said the policy complements ISU's Discrimination and Harassment, and Violence Free Campus policies.

"The new sexual misconduct policy was meant to work in concert with existing policies and services and also provide a coordinated resource to students as well as faculty and staff who may learn about sexual misconduct involving students or who may be otherwise affected," Overberg said.

What faculty and staff need to know

The policy states that university employees -- excluding staff defined as confidential resources under Iowa law -- should report violations and complaints to the dean of students office. Reporting misconduct helps to ensure resources are available to students when needed.

"We encourage the reporting of misconduct for several reasons. Most important among these is to provide the victim or survivor with resources as soon as possible," said Dione Somerville, dean of students. "The university wants to do everything possible to assure a safe campus environment and is also obliged to report aggregate information as outlined by the Clery Act."

If complaints are lodged against faculty and staff, the office of the executive vice president and provost or the office of equal opportunity and diversity would be involved.

Why the new policy?

The new policy was developed last semester at the Board of Regents' request, in response to criticism over the handling of an alleged sexual assault involving student-athletes at the University of Iowa in fall 2007. Although ISU already had policies that protected students, the regents asked each institution to create a policy specifically for student sexual misconduct.

Regents lauded ISU's streamlined format that gives users clear, concise information and resources. It covers students that are victims of sexual misconduct, and students accused of the behavior.

"The new sexual misconduct policy was meant to work in concert with existing policies and services and also provide a coordinated resource to students as well as faculty and staff who may learn about sexual misconduct involving students or who may be otherwise affected."

Kathryn Overberg, associate university counsel