President's Initiative to Prevent Sexual Misconduct

The President’s Initiative to Prevent Sexual Misconduct aims for long-term culture change to build a University community free from all forms of sexual misconduct. Read President Gabel's endorsement for this work and the strategic priorities for 2020-21. The President's Initiative to Prevent Sexual Misconduct is guided by a Charter that outlines its work.

In this effort, seven subcommittees focus on key aspects:

Faculty and Staff Training;
Student Education and Engagement;
Public Health Awareness Campaign; and
Evaluation
Research
Institutional Responsibility and Accountability
Department Development

A Steering Committee and an Advisory Committee guide the work and facilitate communications between the subcommittees and senior leadership

Response to COVID-19: Guidance on Creating Respectful and Healthy Virtual Spaces, a working document, can be found in the "Updates" section. If you have additional resources to share with our community, please contact Sara Veblen-Mortenson, veble001@umn.edu.

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Progress summaries

Organized by workgroup and accessible by date

Committee rosters

A Steering Committee and an Advisory Committee guide the work and facilitate communications between the subcommittees and senior leadership.

Organizational Structure (PDF)

Updates

May 19, 2020: Guidance on Creating Respectful and Healthy Virtual Spaces

February 13, 2020: Board of Regents Mission Fulfillment Committee Meeting:

Presentation

Docket Narrative

Video

January 27, 2020: PIPSM Committee Update July-December 2019

September 2019: PIPSM Strategic Priorities: Moving Forward Together in 2019-20 (PDF)

September 10, 2019: PIPSM Member Orientation overview (PDF)

April 25, 2019: PIPSM Accomplishments, Impacts, and Lessons Learned (PDF)

December 6, 2018: Faculty & Staff Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training Pre and Post Survey Data (PDF)

May 17, 2018: From Theory to Practice: Innovations in Sexual Violence Prevention on Campus with Kaaren Williamsen, director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center at the University of Michigan, and Katie Eichele, director of the Aurora Center at the University of Minnesota. Williamsen slides (PDF) ; Eichele slides (PDF);

March 23, 2018: Dr. Alan Berkowitz conference and training sessions. Presentation.

Background

In his March 2017 State of the University address, President Kaler pledged to advance the recommendations of an ad hoc work group convened early that year. The President’s Initiative to Prevent Sexual Misconduct was officially launched in May 2017 with the delivery of five charge letters to senior leaders, including John Finnegan, dean, School of Public Health, named chair.

In October 2017, Chair Finnegan summarized a report to the President (PDF), a plan and recommendations reflecting engagement with more than 300 faculty, staff and students. In November 2017, President Kaler provided his response to the report (PDF), requesting a 30-day comment period, approving a two-year budget, and inviting organizers to find a permanent administrative home for this ongoing work.