Dear UVM community,

Over the past week, we have heard numerous concerns regarding the university’s sexual misconduct prevention, reporting and support services. We appreciate the opportunity to engage with our students, and other members of the university community, on these critically important matters.

Meetings with student representatives were held over the weekend, and we will continue to meet in the days to come.

In addition, we have reviewed a list of items submitted by student leaders. The university’s response to those requests is outlined below.

We value the perspectives that have been shared with us and commit to developing immediate and long-term solutions to the issues raised.

Sincerely,

Patty Prelock, Provost and Senior Vice President
Erica Caloiero, Interim Vice Provost for Student Affairs

 

TO: Caroline Shelley, Sydney Ovitt, Juliana Ward, SGA Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Chair Maeve Forbes, Vice President Stephens, President Pasqualoni

FROM: Patricia A. Prelock, Provost and Senior Vice President and Erica Caloiero, Vice Provost and Dean of Students Office

DATE: May 3, 2021

SUBJECT: Follow-up to Student Concerns Regarding the University’s Response to Sexual Assault and Misconduct

Introduction
We appreciate the engagement over the weekend bringing together student leaders and university leaders for candid and constructive conversations about sexual violence and what we can do to make UVM and our community safer for students. This work is ongoing, and the university commits to a continuous improvement approach that focuses on best practices and trainings that help to ensure we’re making progress on this issue.

Outlined below are responses to your requests submitted on April 30, 2021. We understand that some of this work has already taken place in your in-person meetings over the weekend. We suggest a follow-up meeting to discuss these items further.

  1. UVM conduct an independent investigation into the UVM’s Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Title IX Office, including the Title IX Coordinator, Deputy IX Coordinator, Title IX Intake and Outreach Coordinator, and all investigators to restore the UVM student body’s trust. We agree to conduct an independent audit of the office.
  2. The Title IX Office seeks to better and more effectively advertise to UVM students that the Title IX Office can help students outside of a formal reporting process. We agree to enhanced advertising of the Title IX Office and its services for students.
  3. The UVM administration hires between three-four more Campus Victims Advocates to serve as confidential counselors to all undergraduate student survivors of sexual misconduct effective Fall 2021. The university agrees that there should be victims advocates available 24/7/365 to provide support for students. We are developing a partnership with HOPE Works to be sure this resource is available.
  4. UVM administration seeks to review a diverse pool of Campus Victims’ Advocates, as sexual violence affects all UVM students including BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQ+, and male-identifying individuals on our campus. Yes, as part of our partnership with HOPE Works, we will ensure that we can offer a more diverse group of advocates.
  5. UVM establish a Sexual Violence Response Team as a part of the University’s Student Health Services Department. The Sexual Violence Response Team must include 5 employees including a Director, an Assistant Director, and three to four Campus Victims’ Advocates effective fall 2021. The university supports a team approach, as you outline.
  6. Every counselor employed through UVM Counseling and Psychiatric Service (CAPS) undergo annual training on how to support survivors of sexual abuse, violence, and harassment. The university agrees to ensure that CAPS counselors are trained on how to support survivors of sexual abuse, violence, and harassment.
  7. All those employed by UVM Police are required to undergo annual training on sexual violence, domestic violence, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and stalking in order to better support all student survivors at UVM, annual training should result in all members of the UVM Police to be able to effectively communicate on-campus and off-campus resources available to students at the University. We agree to continue our comprehensive training for UVM police.
  8. UVM’s Department of Residential Life requires all Residential Advisors to undergo sexual violence and harassment training each semester to understand how to effectively support students and to be able to effectively communicate on-campus resources available to students at the University. We agree.
  9. UVM create a 24/7, 365 day-a-year hotline specifically for student survivors of sexual violence and harassment. We agree and commit to providing this service.
  10. We encourage UVM to research, review, and create an internship or volunteer program for undergraduate students in the College of Education and Social Services who are interested in gaining experience in the field of sexual violence advocacy and hope to support student survivors. We encourage UVM administrators to refer to Boston University Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center which provides undergraduate students with these opportunities. We will review the Boston University example you reference and explore ways to add to our existing internship offerings through CESS.
  11. UVM continues to fund, support, and advertise the UVM LiveSafe App throughout Academic Year 2022 as the App allows students to report sexual violence or harassment privately from their phone with the option to attach videos, audio files, and pictures if they choose. We agree.
  12. The Vice Provost for Student Affairs and UVM Title IX Director review every survey response given by UVM Students in the survey created by Explain The Asterisk founder and Title IX Student Advisory Committee member, Sydney Ovitt, in order to effectively understand the University’s systemic failure to support survivors of sexual violence on our campus thus far. We agree to review the survey responses.
  13. The Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life enforce every recognized UVM Fraternity to attend sexual violence, harassment, or healthy relationship training once each semester, and report their chapter attendance rates on the UVM lynx. Should Fraternity attendance rates fall below 70% for 2 consecutive semesters, we demand that the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life place said Fraternity on probation effective immediately. We agree.
  14. Director of Athletics, Jeff Schulman, require all UVM sports teams to attend sexual violence, harassment, or healthy relationship training at least once each semester. We agree.
  15. Student Government Association, henceforth referred to as SGA, attend sexual violence, harassment, and/or healthy relationship training at least once each semester. We agree.
  16. UVM SGA requires all SGA clubs and organizations to complete sexual violence, harassment, and/or healthy relationship training annually to retain SGA recognition. We agree.
  17. The UVM Title IX Advisory Committee continue to meet throughout the Summer and Fall of 2021 with the Title IX Intake and Outreach Coordinator and Vice Provost for Student Affairs to assess current sexual violence prevention and healthy relationship education efforts and recommend enhancements, including enhancements that extend beyond students’ first year. We agree. We are encouraged by the collaboration and progress of recent meetings and will work with students to develop a schedule for ongoing dialogue.

We recognize the responsibility all of us share for maintaining a safe and healthy campus environment. We believe these measures (and others already in place) will send a clear message to every member of the UVM community that we have a plan for working together. Like you, we believe that continued conversation is essential to create meaningful change.