After a critical report found Eastern Connecticut State University was failing to properly handle reports of sexual misconduct on campus, the school says it will overhaul how it complies with the federal civil rights law known as Title IX.
“We need to do a better job in encouraging our students to report incidents of sexual misconduct when they occur, while providing them with confidential, easy-to-use reporting mechanisms,” said LaMar Coleman, who was appointed as the new vice president for equity and diversity in response to the report.
“We will also increase the use of technology to improve our reporting processes, redefine and clarify roles and responsibilities, and redouble our efforts to educate the campus on what to do and who to turn to in cases of sexual misconduct,” Coleman said in a statement provided by Eastern.
After complaints from the school community, the university hired TNG Consulting Group to review its practices under Title IX. The investigation looked into the university’s reported cases of sexual assault or harassment, confidential student submissions and interviewed students, alumni and employees. TNG reported that the school needed “stronger leadership in the office managing Title IX, as well as improved systems for supporting student reporting of sexual misconduct and providing timely response and resolution of individual cases.”
“Students do not know who the Title IX Coordinator is, where the Title IX office is located, and do not know where or how to make a report of sexual misconduct,” the report said. TNG said Eastern should make it easier for students to report abuse and create a better system to not only document, but also track cases.
“Eastern’s Title IX system has lacked the leadership, coordination, and coherence needed in order to effectively accomplish Title IX’s equity mandate,” the report said. “Although many other well-meaning staff, within and beyond Student Affairs, have been working to maintain Title IX response mechanisms, the resulting approach has often been ineffective for impacted students.”
The review found that many students had “negative experiences making reports and participating in Title IX processes,” and that some felt victim-blaming because of the role of alcohol or other drugs.
Meanwhile, other students reported never hearing a response after coming forward.
There were “substantial delays through [Eastern’s] review of existing records,” TNG wrote. “[There were] examples where an investigation should have included additional witness interviews or follow-up interviews with parties or witnesses who had already been interviewed.”
Located in Willimantic, Eastern has about 4,600 students and serves as the liberal arts college of the state university system.
Eastern President Elsa Núñez said the university is committed to creating a safer campus environment.
“Using a nationally recognized firm to conduct an independent review of our Title IX practices has resulted in a clear set of findings on how to improve our systems and better serve our students,” she said.
Coleman will be responsible for naming an interim Title XI coordinator, a new full-time position, until the university can find a permanent replacement.
Coleman and Núñez stressed that Eastern wants students to feel heard and they plan to do that through additional training and improved awareness for everyone on campus.
“In particular, creating a formal process for the initial assessment of Title IX reporting will be at the top of our list,” Núñez said. “I want students to know that their safety is our top priority and that we are here to serve them, protect them and support them.”
The university will adjust its existing policies and “develop mechanisms to provide students with more opportunities to provide input on improving our Title IX systems,” she added.
To read the complete TNG report, visit https://www.easternct.edu/tngreport.
Jessika Harkay can be reached at jharkay@courant.com.
