President Susan Schultz Huxman launched an Action Plan Steering Committee Jan. 26 at Eastern Mennonite University to continue to ensure that the university is meeting federal regulations and implementing best practices to prevent and respond to allegations of sexual misconduct.<\/p>\n
The appointment of the steering committee is the first of four actions implemented by Huxman in response to the Board of Trustee mandates after receiving the D. Stafford and Associates report<\/a>.<\/p>\n In addition to the work of the steering committee, Huxman announced three other actions to address best practices in the education and prevention of sexual misconduct on campus: development of a full-scale Title IX training program for faculty, staff and students; the implementation of a campus climate survey; and a review of the effectiveness of EMU\u2019s Title IX coordinator position, as recommended by DSA.<\/p>\n The DSA report found that EMU has \u201cextensive and detailed policies\u201d addressing sexual discrimination, but these policies are found in disparate places; their recommendation was to create one comprehensive institutional policy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are eager to move forward,\u201d Huxman said. \u201cI was pleased by the focus and commitment at our first meeting. This group of full-time EMU employees collectively has the requisite special expertise in all facets of education around sexual violence and discrimination. I have full confidence that this committee will prepare a report that takes us beyond compliance, one that helps us to live into our mission and our Anabaptist values of peace and reconciliation.”<\/p>\n Board chair Kay Nussbaum expressed appreciation for the ongoing work of Huxman and the administration, as well as for the new steering committee.<\/p>\n \u201cThis work is vital in strengthening EMU\u2019s capacity to prevent sexual violence, effectively respond to allegations, and create a safe environment for our campus community,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are grateful to move forward on this agenda with intentional action and focused leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n Huxman has named six members to the steering committee. By June 2017, this committee will have proposed a comprehensive new model for EMU\u2019s Title IX policy.<\/p>\n To create this model, the committee is charged with reviewing DSA\u2019s Title IX policy recommendations, as well as those recommendations for best practices addressing sexual violence collected by a fall 2016 task force.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Pam Comer<\/a>, director of counseling services, chaired a key EMU task force that met in the fall and is also a member of the steering committee.<\/p>\n Irene Kniss<\/a>, the new Title IX coordinator, will chair the steering committee. Other members include Marcy Engle<\/a>, director of human resources and former Title IX coordinator; Celeste Thomas<\/a>, co-director of Multicultural Student Services; Jonathan Swartz<\/a>, director of residence life, student accountability and restorative justice; and Cathy Rittenhouse<\/a>, nursing professor and current chair of the committee that hears and adjudicates Title IX hearings.<\/p>\n Another action requires the design of a full-scale Title IX training program for the board, faculty, staff and students. Kniss will design the program and present it to the board, with cost estimates, a timetable and a plan of implementation for the next academic year (2017-18).<\/p>\n \u201cThe safety of EMU\u2019s community has been one of my primary concerns as director of health services and continues in this new capacity as Title IX coordinator,\u201d said Kniss, from Orlando, Florida, where she is attending a four-day Title IX training certification conference. \u201cThe role integrates my experiences of more than 30 years in the medical field as well as 14 years in a law firm as a legal nurse consultant.\u201d<\/p>\n A campus climate survey will be developed by the director of institutional research and effectiveness, Scott Barge<\/a>, and presented to the board for approval at its June 2017 meeting.<\/p>\n The periodic survey will poll students, faculty and staff regarding their knowledge of racial and sexual discrimination or harassment, sexual assault\/violence or any experiences with sexual\/racial discrimination while attending or working at EMU. The survey will also assess awareness of EMU\u2019s Title IX policies and procedures.<\/p>\n The action plan also includes review of the new Title IX coordinator position, completed by the president in consultation with the vice president of finance and human resources.<\/p>\n Here are some of the activities that have taken place on campus in the past six months related to the topic of raising awareness and educating students about sexual misconduct issues:<\/p>\n Spotlight on Sexual Harms: Institutional Best Practices<\/a> Course description:<\/em> Incidents of sexual wrongdoing damage institutions in addition to injuring individuals. When relationships are ruptured by sexual misconduct, institutions have a responsibility to repair the harms done, address breaches of conduct, and work towards prevention. This course investigates the forms that sexual harms can take and provides participants with the knowledge, skills and tools to build more preventative and restorative organizational environments. View more information<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Committee begins work on new Title IX policy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Development of Title IX training<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Campus climate survey<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Review of Title IX coordinator<\/strong><\/h3>\n
A summary of recent campus events related to healthy sexuality and institutional harms and healing<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Scheduled for Summer Peacebuilding Institute, 2017<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nProfessor Carolyn Stauffer<\/p>\n