Senate Bill 11-12-10
| Bill ID: | 11-12-10 |
| Name: | Updates to Procedural Requirements Pertaining to Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence |
| Proposed: | 09/16/2011 |
| Sponsor: | Office of Student Conduct |
| Proposal: | In order for the University of Maryland to be in compliance with the Office of Civil Rights, the Code of Student Conduct must be amended to reflect the requirements made explicit in the "Dear Colleague Letter." The Senate Student Conduct Committee should consider changes to the Code of Student Conduct, so that the University is in compliance with the Office of Civil Rights. A Sexual Violence Policy Working Group was created and charged with reviewing the "Dear Colleague Letter," and proposing revisions to the Code of Student Conduct. Following deliberation between the end of the Spring 2011 semester and the Fall 2011 semester, the Sexual Violence Policy Working Group developed a proposal for the University Senate with proposed changes to the Code of Student Conduct. |
| Active? | No |
| Policy: | http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/v100b.html |
| Related Bills: |
Status
| Status: | Completed |
| Completed On: | 01/17/2012 |
History
| Status: | Complete |
| Related Files: |
| Status: | Complete |
| Reviewer: | Senate |
| Received: | 2011-12-01 |
| Decision Date: | 2011-12-08 |
| Decision: | The Senate voted to approve the recommendations of the SCC. |
| Next Step: | Presidential Approval |
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| Status: | Complete |
| Reviewer: | Senate Executive Committee (SEC) |
| Received: | 2011-11-22 |
| Decision Date: | 2011-11-29 |
| Decision: | The SEC voted to place the SCC's report on the December 8th Senate Agenda. |
| Next Step: | Senate Review |
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| Status: | Complete |
| Reviewer: | Student Conduct Committee |
| Received: | 2011-10-18 |
| Decision Date: | 2011-11-08 |
| Decision Due By: | 2012-03-30 |
| Decision: | The SCC voted to recommend changes to the Code of Student Conduct, so that the University is in compliance with the Dept. of Education's Office of Civil Rights. |
| Actions: | During the course of its review, the SCC consulted with the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) and with members of the Sexual Violence Policy Working Group (a subcommittee charged with proposing revisions to the Code of Student Conduct). The SCC paid attention to developments within the Senate's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee during its review process, as the EDI Committee was similarly charged with reviewing two proposals (Senate Docs 11-12-05 and 11-12-09) related to the University's Policy on Sexual Harassment. The SCC reviewed how the University's peer institutions have implemented the changes suggested in the OCR letter. The Sexual Violence Policy Working Group provided a list of peer institution evidentiary standards, which it had used when originally researching this issue. Standards were reviewed at both public and private institutions across the nation. The committee also researched criticism of the Department of Education's sexual harassment guidance, noting that the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has written and sent at least two letters of criticism to the OCR. The SCC also considered whether the proposed evidentiary standard of "preponderance of the evidence" should apply to all violations of the Code of Student Conduct, in addition to complaints of sexual harassment and sexual violence. Additionally, the SCC considered whether the proposed change to the appeals procedures-that schools provide an appeals process for both parties-should apply to all violations of the Code of Student Conduct. At its meeting on November 8, 2011, the SCC voted unanimously in favor of recommending that the University make the changes to the Code of Student Conduct necessary to get to the University in compliance with the directives outlined in the OCR letter. However, the committee wishes to reserve the right to revisit the Code and the recommendations in one year, at the beginning of the Fall 2012 semester. If approved, the SCC requests that it be charged by the SEC as such. |
| Next Step: | SEC Review |
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| Status: | Complete |
| Reviewer: | Senate Executive Committee (SEC) |
| Received: | 2011-09-19 |
| Decision Date: | 2011-09-26 |
| Decision: | The SEC voted to charge the Student Conduct Committee (SCC) with reviewing the proposal. |
| Actions: | The SEC reviewed this proposal at its meeting on September 26, 2011. |
| Next Step: | Student Conduct Committee (SCC) Review |
| Related Files: |