The Intercampus Faculty Council has formed a subcommittee to address faculty behavior in the area of sexual misconduct as it relates to Title IX policies and procedures. Dennis Miller, MU associate professor of psychological sciences and Faculty Council member, will represent MU and serve as subcommittee chair.
University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe hopes to present proposed additions and revisions to the Collected Rules and Regulations recommended by the subcommittee to the Board of Curators in February, Miller said. The subcommittee is working closely with lawyer Marsha Fischer in the system’s general counsel office.
Miller told Faculty Council Nov. 6 that the equity resolution process described in section 200.025 lacks information on how to proceed if a faculty member is accused of sexual misconduct. The subcommittee wants to develop policies that address faculty behavior in these areas. The policies would include procedures for adjudication of complaints and the penalty process, including loss of tenure, Miller said.
Miller also said that the sexual misconduct hearing panel should include a faculty member. Currently it does not.
Conduct policies are more likely to be accepted by faculty members if they are able to contribute meaningfully to the formation of the policies, Miller said.
In addition to working with system’s general counsel, the Intercampus Faculty Council is researching sexual misconduct policies and procedures at other higher learning institutions and meeting with campus groups that are involved in issues of sexual discrimination, harassment and misconduct.