December 2018 summary of Baylor’s Title IX improvements

Baylor’s continued commitment to effectively addressing issues of sexual assault and interpersonal violence, including Title IX and Clery implementation, incorporates building on the key accomplishments and initiatives outlined below. The University has undergone numerous successful reviews of the implementation of 105 recommendations for improvement made by the group who thoroughly investigated our past response – including an external verification initiated by the University to ensure full implementation and an independent review of the implementation of improvements by the Big 12 Conference, which also found the University successful in completing the changes. Additionally, Baylor’s accrediting body, SACSCOC, affirmed Baylor’s progress and accredited the University through 2027. Continued improvement in our processes, policies and support for our students is an ongoing priority of Baylor University.

• Actions taken and an ongoing commitment to ensure effective leadership and corrective action to remedy past failures;
• Improvements implemented and a commitment by the Board of Regents to continuously examine and assess Board structure, operations and governance;
• Investment of resources in Title IX Office, including expanded personnel, administrative support, infrastructure and physical space improvements;
• Implemented legally compliant and uniform Title IX policy which provides amnesty for complainants and witnesses, prohibits retaliation, outlines confidential resources and is consistent with promising and effective practices nationally;
• Established policies, procedures and protocols that foster increased reporting and clearly communicate employee reporting responsibilities under Title IX, Clery, state law and University policy;
• Deployed centralized reporting system with dedicated intake protocols and effective use of multi-disciplinary collaboration between departments;
• Invested in the development of internal protocols, templated communications and documentation for consistent implementation of the policy and tracking of reports, time frames and outcomes;
• Enhanced support services for complainants and respondents, including dedicated personnel responsible for the imposition of interim measures and increased access to counseling and victim services and addiction recovery support;
• Trauma-informed, prompt and equitable investigation and adjudication procedures in place with appropriate procedural protections for both a complainant and a respondent;
• Significant investment of resources, personnel and training in the Baylor University Police Department;
• Development of a central compliance office and chief compliance officer to identify, centralize and oversee compliance obligations across campus;
• Completed campus-wide training and established process for ongoing prevention, education and mandatory training for all students and employees, including robust training of all student-athletes and athletics staff;
• Attention to a culture of compliance and responsibility at every level of the Athletics Department, from student-athletes to all athletics staff;
• Developed cutting edge Athletics policies regarding student-athlete misconduct reporting, privilege to play, prospective student-athlete background assessment and student-athlete drug testing program;
• Designed a communications campaign designed to raise awareness and increase access to University policies, procedures, resources and supports, including consistent engagement of the student population through the It’s On Us campaign;
• Applied the lessons learned through Title IX to all forms of protected class discrimination and harassment through a central University Equity Office; and,
• Established ongoing evaluation of and commitment to sustainability of the University’s efforts, as demonstrated by the development of policies and systems that incorporate controls, checks and balances.