Department of Justice finds USU at fault in investigation into Title IX practices
The Department of Justice has concluded their investigation into Utah State University’s Title IX practices
In a written statement, USU President Noelle E. Cockett detailed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice as the result of a DOJ Title IX compliance review into USU’s handling of sexual misconduct reports between 2013 and 2017.
In the settlement, the DOJ acknowledged USU’s efforts to strengthen sexual assault prevention and response measures prior to and during the compliance review. However, Cockett said these prior changes do not make up for past failures on the part of the University.
“While we have done much to improve over the last three years, I know that doesn’t undo the impact of our past university-wide failures,” Cockett said in a statement. “To those affected, I personally apologize. We should have done better. I should have done better.”
The agreement with the DOJ outlines a series of changes USU must implement. According to a USU press release, these changes include in-person training for all incoming students attending a regional campus beginning in fall 2020, an annual online training for all undergraduate and graduate students, updating and revising USU’s sexual misconduct policies and procedures for investigation and disciplinary actions and an annual in-person training for “all responsible employees” of the University.
‘No student should feel unsafe because of a school’s failure to address sexual violence and its devastating impacts,” said Utah District Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband in a press release from the DOJ. “We look forward to working with USU to implement this agreement and to ensure that students can learn in a safe and healthy environment.”
Cockett also said the University is committed to implementing the changes as outlined by the settlement.
“Today, I reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that Utah State is a safe campus,” Cockett said. “We will not tolerate sexual misconduct in any form, and we will remain persistent in our education and prevention programs to help students and employees understand and embrace their responsibilities.”
Along with the email, USU released a video of Cockett’s statement on the USU sexual assault resources webpage. USU also produced a timeline detailing the events surrounding the DOJ’s compliance review.