Report 2017-125 Recommendation 19 Responses

Report 2017-125: The University of California: It Must Take Additional Steps to Address Long-Standing Issues With Its Response to Sexual Harassment Complaints (Release Date: June 2018)

Recommendation #19 To: University of California

To ensure that university policy complies with best practices, the systemwide office should amend that policy by July 2019 to incorporate the following provision in addition to the other changes that it has already agreed upon in its resolution with OCR:

An explanation of how a campus can protect confidentiality when implementing interim measures.

1-Year Agency Response

On July 31, 2019, President Napolitano issued a revised systemwide SVSH Policy. As revised, the policy addresses how campuses can protect confidentiality when implementing interim measures.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented


6-Month Agency Response

The Systemwide Title IX Office University drafted revisions to the SVSH Policy specifying that, when determining interim, remedial, and supportive measures, the Title IX Officer will assess the extent to which the University is able to maintain the parties' privacy while also ensuring the measures are effective, and explain to the parties any limitations on its ability to maintain their privacy. Formal review of the SVSH Policy revisions required by University procedures concluded on December 17, 2018. The Systemwide Title IX Office is considering comments received during the formal review, and will finalize the SVSH Policy and submit it to OCR for review and approval in February 2019. The University originally intended to issue the revised policy by July 2019. However, proposed federal regulations may require that the University further revise the policy, which would delay its issuance.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

The Office of the President has drafted necessary policy and is in the review and approval process.


60-Day Agency Response

The Systemwide Title IX Office University drafted revisions to the SVSH Policy specifying that, when determining interim, remedial, and supportive measures, the Title IX Officer will assess the extent to which the University is able to maintain the parties' privacy while also ensuring the measures are effective, and explain to the parties any limitations on its ability to maintain their privacy. The Systemwide Title IX Office is informally consulting with University stakeholders on the draft revisions, will begin the formal review process required by University procedures in September 2018, and will issue the revised policy by July 2019.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending


All Recommendations in 2017-125

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.