Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education
In 2018, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published a report titled, Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This report concludes that system-wide changes to the culture and climate in higher education are needed to prevent and address sexual harassment, and provides a roadmap for institutions of higher education to make these changes. To advance these efforts, NASEM and over 40 higher education and research institutions joined together to launch an Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education. The Action Collaborative provides an opportunity for member institutions to collectively work on furthering efforts to address sexual harassment in academia through the sharing of evidence-based policies, strategies, and research.
Case Management Teams (CMTs)
UCSB has two Case Management Teams: one for cases with student respondents and another for cases with employee respondents. The CMTs use a multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach to review all current Title IX cases. This is to ensure that the campus’ response is trauma-informed, effective, timely, coordinated among all points of contact for both complainants and respondents, and adherent to all federal, state, and policy guidelines. The CMTs are also charged with reviewing trends identified through collected metrics, identifying areas of concern for the campus population, and identifying and implementing necessary actions to address those areas of concern. CMT membership consists of representatives from campus departments with a direct role in the Title IX process.
Coordinated Community Review Team (CCRT)
The CCRT is responsible for a collaborative campus approach to preventing and addressing sexual violence. The CCRT meets quarterly and is made up of key campus and community stakeholders working to address Title IX issues at UCSB and the community as a whole. The CCRT serves in an advisory capacity to campus leadership and community members about best practices in policies, education, prevention, and response to sexual violence.
Sponsor Compliance Response Committee
In February 2019, both the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) released statements addressing the issues of sexual harassment and sexual violence in science and academia. The NSF issued an updated sexual harassment policy that included new requirements for applicant institutions’ reporting and response procedures, and the NIH announced the formation of their Working Group of the Advisory Council to the Director (ACD) on Changing the Culture to End Sexual Harassment. In response to these movements, a committee was formed at UCSB to ensure that the University’s academic and research offices maintain compliance. Since that time, additional agencies such as the Simons Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have implemented a similar course of action, and this committee has expanded their charge to meet the reporting requirements of these agencies.
The Title IX Officer also has membership in and/or participates in the activities of the following groups: Academic Senate Committee on Diversity and Equity, Chancellor's Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (CACSW), Gaucho Green Dot Team, Gender Recognition Task Force, Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Board (IAPB), EthicsPoint Campus Climate Committee.