Chancellor leads development of AAU principles to prevent sexual harassment

LAWRENCE — The Association of American Universities has adopted new principles on preventing sexual harassment based on recommendations of an advisory board co-chaired by University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod.

At their fall meeting this week, AAU presidents and chancellors adopted the new principles, which represent a meaningful effort by AAU institutions to fight sexual harassment on campus by agreeing to share information about accused harassers and to see all investigations into sexual misconduct through to completion, regardless of whether the accused harasser has moved on to other employment. The principles will guide member universities as they continue their efforts to create a campus climate where sexual harassment is unacceptable and victims are supported.

The principles were developed by AAU’s Advisory Board on Sexual Harassment in Academia, a group of 20 senior administrators and campus leaders committed to identifying innovative methods to address sexual harassment and sexual misconduct within the academy. The advisory board was co-chaired by Girod and University of Southern California President Carol Folt.

“The principles focus on three critical aspects of addressing sexual harassment on campus,” said AAU President Barbara Snyder. “They seek to prevent the abuse from happening in the first place through policies focused on educating the campus community and ensuring that sexual harassers don’t get passed from one institution to the next. They also intend to provide victims with the resources and the support they need to report abuse and, finally, to hold harassers accountable.” The principles, which are nonbinding, are designed to be adaptable to each institution’s unique cultural and legal context.

“America’s leading research universities have taken a large step forward by agreeing to principles that will make it much harder for accused sexual harassers to move from one university to another,” Folt said. “This unprecedented effort demonstrates the tremendous capacity for doing good that exists within AAU when member institutions work to address a systemic challenge. I’m deeply thankful to my colleagues on the committee and my fellow presidents and chancellors for their work on adopting these principles.”

Girod also thanked his colleagues for their work: “The advisory board undertook a deeply deliberative and informed process to arrive at these principles, which provide tools for all of our campuses to help address the important issue of combating sexual harassment and ensuring the health and safety of each of our communities.”

Information about KU’s efforts to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual violence is available through the university’s Office of Civil Rights & Title IX and through the Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center.