Campus Climate: Sexual Misconduct

“It’s up to all of us to report sexual misconduct, support those who come forward, participate in education and training programs, be an advocate for the university community we aspire to be, and to create a safe, inclusive and respectful culture for all. Our goal will always be to work toward preventing all instances of sexual misconduct at our university.”

– President Mark S. Schlissel

May 20, 2021 update

President Mark Schlissel appointed the leadership team for a universitywide effort to establish new community expectations around sexual harassment intervention and prevention policies. The president announced May 20 that a collaborative, systemic effort to bring about broad cultural change regarding community workplace norms and behaviors at the university would continue with the formation of a Working Group on Culture Change led by Patricia Hurn, dean of the School of Nursing, and Sonya Jacobs, chief organizational learning officer for the university and senior director for faculty and leadership development at Michigan Medicine.

Read more in the University Record.

May 11, 2020 update

An investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct by former University of Michigan physician Robert E. Anderson found that Anderson engaged in a “pervasive, decades-long, destructive pattern of sexual misconduct” involving hundreds of U-M students.

Read more in the University Record.

Report of Independent Investigation: Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Against Robert E. Anderson

March 25, 2021 update

The University of Michigan will soon begin a formal effort to improve the culture of the institution as it relates to sexual and gender-based misconduct through a process that engages the community in the co-creation of change.

Read more in the University Record.

February 18, 2021 update

The consulting firm Guidepost Solutions will work with campus leaders, faculty and key staff to help develop a “statement of shared values, ethics and standards” for the University of Michigan, and look for ways to improve the university’s whistleblower and anti-retaliation policies.

Read more in the University Record.

December 3, 2020 update

The University of Michigan Board of Regents and President Mark Schlissel are hiring an expert consulting firm to help the university maintain forward momentum in its commitment to promote a safer, more equitable and inclusive campus environment and culture, where sexual and gender-based misconduct and retaliation are not tolerated and trust is rebuilt.

Read more in the University Record.

April 24, 2019 update

The University of Michigan is making changes to strengthen its efforts to prevent and address sexual and gender-based misconduct on its campuses. The changes follow examinations and discussions of best practices and two comprehensive reviews of the university’s related policies and procedures previously announced by President Schlissel.

In a message to the U-M community, President Schlissel announced changes and additional actions the university is taking to prevent sexual and gender-based misconduct and improve how we address this pressing problem for members.

The changes and actions include:

  • The university will develop an umbrella policy on sexual misconduct that applies to the entire university community – faculty, staff and students – as recommended by an expert external review. The external review concluded that we could improve the consistency of policies across the university and should update procedures accordingly. The university will seek feedback from students, faculty, and staff this fall to inform development of the updated policy and procedures.
  • The university will launch mandatory online training for all faculty and staff in May. This was recommended by the university’s Working Group on Faculty and Staff Sexual Misconduct.
  • As part of the university’s ongoing efforts to combat all forms of harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct, resources available for the Ann Arbor Office for Institutional Equity will increase and it will report directly to the U-M Ann Arbor provost. The office is adding additional staff and is implementing a new database and case management system to streamline work.

Reports of comprehensive reviews

Working Group on Faculty and Staff Sexual Misconduct

A working group of U-M faculty and staff experts from all three campuses and Michigan Medicine examined how we might improve awareness, training, reporting and accountability regarding all forms of sexual misconduct, along with improving overall workplace culture.

External Expert Review

President Schlissel also commissioned outside experts at the law firm of Hogan, Marren, Babbo and Rose Ltd. to review U-M sexual misconduct policies and make any necessary recommendations. The President has charged a team of staff from all three campuses and Michigan Medicine with implementing recommendations from the external review.