Utah State University upgrades policies on sexual harassment, with a focus on their Athletics programs

LOGAN, Utah (ABC4) — Utah State University (USU) has officially fulfilled all provisions of the 2020 Resolution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which required the university to implement new policies and training for USU students and employees on sexual harassment.

Utah State University has been on the DOJ’s radar since 2017, when stories broke of sexual assault by some in the USU football program as well as in fraternities and sororities at the school. The DOJ reviewed the university’s response to these allegations between 2013 and 2017 and found “numerous system-wide failures.”

The review led to the resolution agreement in February 2020, which required the university to update policies, provide training, build relationships with local law enforcement, and build a better environment on campus.

As USU has now completed all the requirements of the agreement, the DOJ said it “appreciates the University’s commitment to providing a working and learning environment free from sexual harassment and the University’s efforts to improve its prevention of and response to sexual harassment,” according to a USU release.

Since the agreement in 2020, the Utah college has made a number of changes to their policy structure around sexual harassment. Training and education efforts have reportedly grown significantly, with “mandatory in-person sessions for incoming residential students, annual online training for continuing students, and specialized instruction for athletics personnel, student-athletes, confidential resources, and employees involved in the Title IX process,” the release states.

The university also enhanced oversight and reporting systems through a centralized online reporting hub, building upon advocacy and supportive resources for those who report misconduct.

While the improvements around policy and prevention apply everywhere on campus, USU paid particular attention to their Athletics programs. The efforts include updated handbooks and policies, stronger leadership messaging, and clearer processes for interim measures, according to the university.

Lastly, USU has invested in additional staffing and created task forces and advisory committees to ensure “ongoing oversight, continuity and input from across the campus community,” the release states.

“Finalizing this agreement underscores the accountability we have built into our policies and practices,” said Cody Carmichael, USU’s Title IX Coordinator. “Our systems not only meet federal standards but offer a consistency that has built trust across campus and continues to evolve to meet the needs of our community.”

More info regarding USU’s agreement with the DOJ is available here.