Dear Faculty and Staff,
Every member of our community has the right to safety from the threat of sexual and relationship misconduct and violence. Grounded in our commitment to valuing the dignity of every individual, DePaul fosters a culture of respect and safety and does not tolerate sexual and relationship misconduct and violence.
As you complete the annual required training in sexual harassment prevention, I wanted share additional resources and information.
Responsible employees
All DePaul faculty, staff and student employees are Responsible Employees, except those who are deemed Confidential Reporting Resources. When a Responsible Employee learns of potential sexual harassment, discrimination or related behavior, they must promptly report the information to the Office of Gender Equity.
You can report:
By phone (312) 362-8970
Share student resources
Students have many ways to get the support they need, including reporting to our office directly, sharing confidentially with a Survivor Support Advocate and seeking counseling through University Counseling and Psychological Services. I recently shared these resources with students, which you can find here.
Familiarize yourself with applicable policies
A note on the Title IX policy: In April, the United States Department of Education released new Title IX regulations with an effective date of Aug. 1, 2024. However, in July, a U.S. District Court judge in Kansas issued an injunction barring hundreds of institutions, including DePaul, from implementing the new regulations.
What this means for DePaul is that nothing has changed. We will continue to act under the policies listed above, which provide robust protections against harassment and discrimination on the basis of sex and gender, including sexual orientation and gender identity. We will communicate any policy changes to the university community.
Additional training
In the spring, additional training will be available for all staff and faculty on bystander intervention. This training will teach you how to safely and positively prevent harm or intervene when there is a risk or perceived risk of sexual harassment. If you manage people, you will also have a training module this spring specifically tailored to your role as a supervisor.
Thank you and take care,
Molly Lamping Fleck
Director, Office of Gender Equity
Title IX Coordinator