As part of an ongoing commitment to preventing sexual violence within campus communities, all 23 California State University campuses will have confidential sexual assault victim advocates in place by June 2015. Additionally, the university announced its support of the federal Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act (SOS Campus Act).
“We must do all we can, as quickly as we can to prevent sexual violence, and educate and train our entire community to reduce the prevalence of and dispel the myths surrounding it,” wrote CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White in response to United States Senator Barbara Boxer’s urging that all universities have a sexual assault victim’s advocate on every campus. While a number of CSU campuses have confidential advocates already in place, this past June, White pledged to expand that effort to all 23 campuses.
CSU campuses are leading the way to improve student safety and prevent sexual assault in California’s university campus communities and have been working this past year to further strengthen processes and policies. Following the extensive revision of CSU policies to reflect changes in the law and implement best practices in the area of reducing sexual harassment and violence on campus, CSU instituted a comprehensive effort to highlight and address these issues systemwide. This effort has reached into all areas of the university. From an extensive training session and focused discussion by all 23 campus presidents, where each committed to highlight and lead on the issue at their respective campuses, to the vetting of training programs for incoming freshman and transfer students, to developing mechanisms for collaboration and the highlighting of best practices for adoption across campuses, the CSU has been a demonstrated leader.
Efforts are underway systemwide to expand collaborations with community partners to enhance counseling and support services to sexual assault victims. All campuses provide referrals to on- and/or off-campus confidential counseling and victim advocate services. Many, including Chico, Fullerton, Sacramento, Long Beach, San Marcos, and San Francisco, also have on-campus resource centers to respond to sexual violence issues, separate and apart from campus investigation and adjudicatory offices and campus-based Title IX Coordinators. A system working group, appointed by the Chancellor, has identified an approved list of vendors that provide online training curriculum suitable for students. Systemwide training is also being revised and updated for all employees.
In addition, the CSU Chancellor’s Office is in the process of hiring a systemwide Title IX Compliance Officer, the first systemwide position of its kind in the nation. Responsibilities include collaborating, training and coordinating the efforts of all 23 campus-based Title IX Coordinators and staff, ensuring that the Chancellor’s Office and campuses are aware of the latest legal obligations and best practices, ensuring that policy is current, and coordinating with other agencies regarding sexual violence policy and best practices.
In addition to supporting the SOS Campus Act, the CSU has collaborated with state legislators to continue to improve prevention and awareness efforts in this critical area. The university supported SB 967 (authored by Senator Kevin de León), which is currently awaiting review by the Governor. SB 967 is designed to help curb occurrences of sexual assault on university campuses.