At its first meeting of the academic year, the University Senate voted to make three changes to the student code of conduct related to sexual assault. Attendees also heard optimism and promises of cooperation from senate and university leadership.
The senate-approved changes to the student conduct code include requiring that consent of sexual activity be defined as “explicit,” clarifying that discipline can be sanctioned for just one act of sexual misconduct and revising the definition of sexual misconduct to be consistent with the definition under Oregon law.
Sen. John Bonine, who has been working to revise the code, had hoped the senate would consider nine total changes. However the vote on a proposal to remove what amounts to the statute of limitations on academic discipline for sexual assault was delayed after some senators expressed concerns about fairness. The senate did not have time to discuss the other issues which will now move to the Nov. 5 meeting.
The senate and university leadership have been reviewing the student code of conduct since last spring about how to better address sexual misconduct at the UO.
In September, interim President Scott Coltrane brought three senate-approved and four additional code of conduct revision to the Board of Trustees of the University of Oregon. Those changes extend the university’s jurisdiction off campus and lower the burden of evidence to discipline students charged with sexual misconduct.
Senate President Rob Kyr kicked off the senate’s meeting by predicting this will be the most productive year in the history of the university and added, “This is a time of great hope and great promise.” Kyr praised university leadership for its quick action on a senate task force’s recommendations to address sexual assault.
Coltrane also spoke to the senate about his optimism for the year ahead, calling it “an incredible opportunity to reinvest in our academia programs and faculty.” He said the new board of trustees, upcoming fundraising campaign, strategic initiatives and the unprecedented cooperation of public universities will help stabilize funding and advance the university’s goals to build on access and excellence.
He said the university is providing education to more underserved students than ever before having enrolled its most diverse freshman class comprised of almost a third domestic minorities, a quarter first generation college students and 37 percent Pell grant eligible students.
The president said he and acting Provost Frances Bronet would be at the senate’s next meeting to talk about revising the academic plan.
“We have an academic plan with good values,” said Coltrane. “But it needs updating so we are setting objectives that are more concrete, so we know how to measure our progress, and ask where do we want to invest strategically.”
The senate also presented leadership awards to David Espinoza and Theodora Ko Thompson and honored Susan Gary with the Wayne Westling Award.
—By Jennifer Winters, Public Affairs Communications