Louisiana colleges and universities are making sweeping changes to their sexual misconduct policies, after new state laws went into effect this week. State Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter-Reed says one big change is that virtually ALL staff and faculty are now mandatory reports, should they be aware of sexual harassment or assault, “If they fail to report incidents of sexual misconduct – or falsely report – those are grounds for termination.”
The 2021 legislature took action last year, when LSU was found to have failed in addressing widespread sexual abuse complaints. Dr. Reed says since that time, there has been extensive training of employees on hearing such complains, and acting accordingly. She says 188 confidential advisors are now in place at Louisiana schools, to hear the complaints and report them up the line for appropriate action.
The new laws require agreements between campus officials and law enforcement to assure sexual abuse complaints are properly investigated. It also requires staff and faculty undergo training in properly handling such complaints. Dr. Reed says administrators will also be held responsible if complaints are ignored and “swept under the rug”. She says “the legislation requires that there is up-the-chain reporting … so no president, Title IX Coordinator, chancellor can say ‘we did not know'”.
Reed says the overall effect will be a safer and more secure environment in which to get an education.
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