As Cal State touts sex discrimination reforms, some students and employees question progress

In summary

• The California State University Board of Trustees received positive reports on Title IX reforms at its meeting this week.
• Reforms include campus audits, data collection, and hiring civil rights attorneys.
• However, some faculty and students have yet to see improvements.

Introduction

More than a year after audits and hearings, Cal State University is making progress in meeting state requirements to reform its handling of reports of sexual discrimination, harassment, and assault.

Title IX Procedures

The Cal State Board of Trustees responded positively to a progress report given by officials in the Chancellor’s Office. Reforms include:

1. Internal audits of five campuses each semester
2. Data collection for an annual report
3. Hiring civil rights attorneys to handle cases more efficiently

Cozen O’ Connor Review

The calls for systemwide change followed a review by the Cozen O’ Connor law firm. The review found that Cal State must make campus environments safer and hire more employees dedicated to addressing these cases appropriately.

State Auditor’s Audit

The California State Auditor released an audit reaffirming that Cal State inadequately addressed issues of sexual harassment and discrimination. The audit stipulated 16 actions to fix the broken system, which Cal State is compelled to implement by July 1, 2026.

Chancellor’s Office Investment

Chancellor Mildred Garcia announced an investment of $15.9 million to bolster civil rights programs and services across the CSU and within the Chancellor’s Office for the 2024-25 academic year.

Trauma-Informed Practices

The systemwide Civil Rights Office will train staff on using trauma-informed practices to better support individuals who engage with the office.

Steering Committee

A new steering committee will bring together representatives from all areas of the universities to ensure individuals are directed to the right resources and receive appropriate support.

Timeliness and Trauma

Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball Coach Danelle Bishop shared her experience of discrimination and retaliation and the lack of support she received from the Title IX office. The office was under-resourced and overworked.

Balance of Timeliness and Trauma-Informed Approach

Hayley Schwartzkopf, the associate vice chancellor for civil rights programs and services, emphasized the need for a balance between expediency and a trauma-informed approach when handling Title IX cases.

Spotlight on Campuses and Annual Surveys

Systemwide directors and civil rights attorneys will conduct compliance reviews of civil rights offices at each CSU campus every three years. The reviews will be followed by a public report outlining areas of strength and growth for each university.

Cal Poly Pomona Review

Cal Poly Pomona will be one of the first universities to undergo a compliance review. Coach Danelle Bishop expressed the need for her issue to be properly researched by the Title IX office at her campus.

Lack of Awareness

Some students at Cal Poly Pomona are unaware of the Title IX office and the support it provides. Bernadette Venegas, a psychology student, highlighted the importance of feeling safe and supported on campus.

Systemwide Annual Report Survey

A Systemwide Annual Report Survey will be conducted to gather standardized data on cases reported, timeliness of completion, and patterns and trends from all 23 campuses. The data will serve as a baseline for a unified case management system.

Conclusion

Cal State University is making progress in implementing Title IX reforms, but challenges remain in providing timely support and raising awareness of available resources. The Chancellor’s Office and campus officials are committed to addressing these issues and creating safer environments for all students and employees.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses the efforts of Cal State University to reform its Title IX procedures, which aim to address reports of sexual discrimination, harassment, and assault. These issues are directly related to SDG 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Additionally, the article mentions the need for a fair and effective justice system to handle these cases, which aligns with SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

The article highlights the need to address sexual discrimination, harassment, and assault, which are forms of violence against women and girls. This aligns with Target 5.2 under SDG 5. Additionally, the article emphasizes the importance of reforming the university system’s Title IX procedures to ensure equal access to justice for all individuals involved in these cases, which corresponds to Target 16.3 under SDG 16.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of campus audits conducted each semester
• Completion status of the 16 actions stipulated by the state auditor’s audit
• Timeliness of handling Title IX cases
• Number of cases reported, case types, and timeliness of completion

The article mentions that Cal State University is conducting internal audits of five campuses each semester, which can serve as an indicator of progress towards the identified targets. Additionally, the completion status of the 16 actions recommended by the state auditor’s audit can be used as an indicator of the university’s efforts to eliminate violence against women and ensure equal access to justice. The timeliness of handling Title IX cases and the data collected through the Systemwide Annual Report Survey can also be used as indicators to measure progress towards the targets.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: calmatters.org