Report 2017-125 Recommendation 18 Responses

Report 2017-125: The University of California: It Must Take Additional Steps to Address Long-Standing Issues With Its Response to Sexual Harassment Complaints (Release Date: June 2018)

Recommendation #18 To: University of California

To ensure that university policy complies with best practices, the systemwide office should amend that policy by July 2019 to incorporate the following provision in addition to the other changes that it has already agreed upon in its resolution with OCR:

The allowable length of an extension for an investigation and what constitutes good cause for an extension.

1-Year Agency Response

On July 31, 2019, President Napolitano issued a revised systemwide SVSH Policy. As revised, the policy states that extensions will be considered and granted in accordance with written guidelines issued by the Systemwide Title IX Office. On July 15, 2019, the Systemwide Title IX Office issued guidelines that specify the allowable length of an extension and what constitutes good cause for an extension.

Completion Date: July 2019
Response Date: July 2019

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

The Systemwide Title IX Office University drafted revisions to the SVSH Policy specifying that the Title IX Officer will consider, approve, and communicate timeline extensions according to written guidance from the Systemwide Title IX Office. Formal review of the SVSH Policy revisions required by University procedures concluded on December 17, 2018. The Systemwide Title IX Office is considering comments received during the formal review, and will finalize the SVSH Policy and submit it to OCR for review and approval in February 2019. The University originally intended to issue the revised policy by July 2019. However, proposed federal regulations may require that the University further revise the policy, which would delay its issuance. Following consultation with its campus partners, the Systemwide Title IX Office issued interim frameworks governing timeline extensions in November 2018. The interim frameworks define and provide examples of good cause for extension of an investigation and specify a standard extension period. The Systemwide Title IX Office will use these frameworks to develop the guidance referenced in the SVSH Policy by July 2019.

Estimated Completion Date: July 2019
Response Date: December 2018

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

The Office of the President has drafted necessary policy and is in the review and approval process.