Incident 7442
Status:
Resolved
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Discipline:
unknown
Specific Discipline:
Outcome Year:
2016
Outcome Category:
Resigned
Specific Outcome:
"school failed to process a complaint by a then-student who reported a professor had sexually assaulted her for over two years.
The federal agency’s Office for Civil Rights announced the settlement Thursday. Under the terms of the agreement, the university has agreed to offer and pay for counseling and other remedies for the woman to address any psychological, academic or employment issues she faced as a result of the school’s delay in processing her complaint.
The university came under scrutiny after the woman, who was not identified, filed a complaint with the agency in December 2013 alleging the school had discriminated against her on the basis of sex. The agency summarized the findings of its investigation in a 38-page letter addressed to Steven Shirley, the university’s president.
The letter states that the student told the school about “numerous alleged instances of sexual harassment and sexual assault that began in June 2010 and continued through December 2012.” It also explains that the professor had implied to woman that without his assistance she “would be unable to achieve her professional goals.” The woman also said that the professor and others on his behalf had sent her text messages and emails “to discourage her from pursuing any complaint against him.”
The letter does not address whether the professor was investigated by authorities or criminally charged. The agency found no evidence that the university interviewed the professor, faculty or students about the student’s allegations. It also says that the university did not adjudicate the student’s allegation through hearing procedures, as required by the university’s policies. Instead, when the professor resigned in August 2013, the university halted its investigation."
Last updated:
Feb 15, 2021 9:26 am