Fall Update: Action Plan to Combat Sexual Assault
The University of Denver is committed to combating sexual assault and gender violence in our community. Since March 2020, we have implemented many of the goals in our action plan.
We have more to do, but we are proud of the progress we have made.
Procedures, Structures & Communication
- The Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (EOIX) issued its annual report of Equal Opportunity and Title IX statistics, to be followed by another update in the spring of 2021.
- In response to the new Federal Title IX regulations, the university drafted and adopted a new Comprehensive Discrimination and Harassment Procedures and the Title IX Sexual Harassment Procedures.
- The campus climate survey for the 2020-2021 academic year will be revamped during the fall quarter and issued in the spring quarter.
- The campus lighting study was completed in September 2020.
- DU applied to join NASPA’s Culture of Respect Collective, Cohort 5, beginning January 2021.
Training for Faculty & Staff
- Campus Safety and EOIX administrators received trauma-informed training and will continue to participate in regular training on trauma-informed responses to gender-based violence and related topics.
- Three new training modules—Modern Workplace, Preventing Harassment & Discrimination, and Managing Bias—were launched in October and are mandatory for all faculty, staff, student employees and administrators.
- This past summer, the Equal Opportunity and Title IX (EOIX) team participated in over 14 hours of training. These trainings focused on the new Title IX regulations, trauma-informed interview techniques, and Colorado law.
- Staff and others whose work involves outcome and disciplinary matters participated in eight hours of training on the new Title IX regulations.
Training for Students
- During orientation, students attended DU-specific workshops on well-being and college life, healthy relationships, alcohol and substance education, and Red Zone Awareness.
- The Department of Health Promotion in DU’s Health and Counseling Center provided additional in-class training on sexual assault and gender violence in first-year seminars.
- Incoming undergraduate and graduate students completed training on sexual assault prevention, as well as on diversity, equity and inclusion.
- This fall, over 300 incoming and first-year students completed bystander intervention training called Intervene: DU. All incoming first-year and transfer students are required to complete Intervene: DU by February 5, 2021.
- To receive funding, registered student organizations (RSOs) must now complete a workshop on alcohol use, suicide prevention, gender-based violence and bias and micro-aggressions. All RSO’s are required to complete the Ongoing Harm Prevention Workshop by May 30, 2021.
- Members of fraternities and sororities received training on gender-violence prevention.
- The Cultural Center launched “Sex Talks with Cody and Andy,” a student-driven initiative on sex education and de-stigmatization.
Resources
- A new user-friendly, one-page document outlining reporting options for survivors of sexual abuse and gender violence is completed.
- The Sexual Assault Resources Website clearly outlines how survivors can access support anonymously and confidentially.
- DU launched new bulletin board content, lawn signage, and digital media on sexual assault and gender violence, including material for resident assistants, a series about the Red Zone, and others.
- To explain the processes, an illustrative graphic was created to describe the differences between the Comprehensive Discrimination and Harassment Procedures and Title IX Sexual Harassment Procedures.
Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Staffing Updates
- DU hired new Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity and Title IX, Emily Babb who begins at DU on January 4, 2021.
- The position of deputy title IX coordinator has been made permanent.