Title IX Implementation
Task Force Archives
In order to ensure accountability and transparency, President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval created a Title IX Task Force in February 2022 that worked in partnership with the external Title IX consultants appointed by the CSU Trustees and provided guidance on implementing holistic responses to confronting sexual and gender-based harassment.
In March 2023, the Title IX Task Force released a 30-page final report with findings and recommendations that will allow our campus to move forward together to build a culture that improves credibility and works to restore trust in our institutional process and procedures.
- Dr. Bernadette T. Muscat, Chair of the Title IX Task Force and Dean of Undergraduate Studies
- Dr. Jaime Arvizu, Director of the College of Science and Mathematics Advising Center
- Ms. Erin Boele, Director of Residence Life and Housing and Deputy Title IX Coordinator
- Ms. Marissa Bourbon, Representing the Joint Labor Council
- Ms. Ashley Emerzian, Community Representative and attorney specializing in Title IX
- Dr. Kathryn Forbes, Women and Gender Sexuality Studies
- Ms. D’Aungillique Jackson, Program Coordinator for the Division of Equity and Engagement
- Dr. Dheeshana Jayasundara, Department of Social Work
- Dr. Kate Kafonek, Department of Criminology, Victimology
- Ms. Mindy Kates, Survivor Advocate
- Ms. Sue McCarthy, Systemwide Title IX Compliance Officer and Senior Director, Systemwide Title IX Compliance Services
- Ms. Marylou Mendoza Miller, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
- Ms. Rebecca Perez, ASI Vice President of External Affairs
- Ms. Jamie Pontius-Hogan, Director of Title IX and Clery Compliance
- Dr. Jim Schmidtke, Interim Associate Vice President of Faculty Affairs
- Dr. Malia Sherman, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services
- Dr. Brian Tsukimura, Department of Biology and former Chair of Academic Personnel Committee
- Fresno State is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory educational, working, and residential environment for the students, faculty, staff, and other members of the campus community.
- The institution aspires to provide all students and employees with an environment that is free from sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating/domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and stalking. The institution is committed to maintaining an inclusive and equitable community that values diversity and fosters mutual respect.
- The Task Force is charged to:
- Ensure that Fresno State will become a leader in preventing and combating sexual harassment and assault.
- Identify strategies for building a culture of trust and transparent process for reporting and responding to incidents of sexual harassment and assault.
- Identify strategies for addressing challenges in areas outside of Title IX and DHR (i.e. bullying, hate/bias incidents, etc.) that are critical creating a welcoming, inclusive, equitable and just community of care and respect.
- Review and respond to external assessment recommendations.
- The Task Force is also charged to work closely with Cozen O’Connor by providing information,
data, input, support, recommendations, and guidance pertaining to:
- CSU policies that guide matters relating to DHR and Title IX.
- Reporting procedures and how the campus interfaces and coordinates with CSU Office of Title IX and CSU Office of General Counsel.
- The complaint process and resources provided during the investigative process (e.g. police report, early resolution, mitigating steps such as no-contact orders) and the timeline for such processes to reach resolution/findings (including appeal process).
- Information necessary to assess the sufficiency of existing Title IX and Survivor Advocate staffing and resources.
- Data and metrics (case management) contained within the annual Title IX reports that are submitted annually to the Chancellor’s Office.
- Implementing strategies to support cultural change and excellence in sexual harassment and assault prevention, reporting, response, and support.
- Documentation requested by Cozen O’Connor necessary to fulfill the scope of the assessment.
- The Task Force will provide interim reports to the campus president and campus community and their final report with their recommendations by December 2022.
12.15.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting
12.14.22 - Task Force Update to the President
12.9.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting
12.8.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting
12.7.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting
12.2.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting
12.1.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting
11.29.22 - AALT Listening Session and DOSAEM Listening Session
11.28.22 - Task Force Update to the President
11.28.22 - HR Work Group Listening Session and Task Force Update
11.10.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting and Staff Listening Session
11.9.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting
11.8.22 - CO Listening Session
11.4.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting, Faculty Listening Session, and Foundation Listening Session
11.3.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting
11.2.22 - Task Force Meeting
11.1.22 - Staff Listening Session
10.31.22 - Staff Listening Session
10.28.22 - Task Force Drop-in Meeting
10.27.22 - Process Subcommittee Meeting and LGBTQ+ Listening Session
10.26.22 - Task Force Meeting
10.25.22 - Task Force Update to the President, Staff Listening Session, and Policy Subcommittee Meeting
10.24.22 - Women of Color Coalition Listening Session
10.19.22 - Task Force and Process Subcommittee Meeting
10.14.22 - Prevention, Education and Training Subcommittee Meeting
10.13.22 - Communication Subcommittee Meeting
10.12.22 - Task Force and Process Subcommittee Meeting
10.7.22 - Prevention, Education and Training Subcommittee Meeting
10.6.22 - Communication Subcommittee Meeting
10.5.22 - Task Force and Process Subcommittee Meeting
10.4.22 - Policy Subcommittee Meeting
9.30.22 - Prevention, Education and Training Subcommittee Meeting
9.29.22 - A message from the President
9.29.22 - Communication Subcommittee Meeting
9.28.22 - Task Force and Process Subcommittee Meeting
9.27.22 - Task Force Update to the President and Policy Subcommittee Meeting
9.23.22 - Prevention, Education and Training Subcommittee Meeting
9.22.22 - Communication Subcommittee Meeting
9.21.22 - Task Force Meeting (Discussion of Recommendations)
9.14.22 - Task Force Meeting (Subcommittee Updates)
9.7.22 - Task Force Meeting (Subcommittee Updates)
8.24.22 - Task Force Meeting (Update from Cozen O’Connor)
8.23.22 - Begin weekly subcommittee meetings (Policy; Process; Communication/Web Presence; Prevention/Education/Training)
8.17.22 - Task Force Meeting (Title IX/DHR Discussion)
8.10.22 - Task Force Meeting (Title IX Task Force Update)
8.3.22 - Task Force Meeting (Open Discussion on the Challenges of Title IX)
8.1.22 - Task Force Meeting (Student Voices Panel)
7.27.22 - Task Force Meeting (Open Discussion of Title IX/DHR Topics)
7.20.22 - Task Force Meeting (Retaliation)
7.13.22 - Task Force Meeting (Epistemological and theoretical frameworks for understanding victimization in the campus setting)
7.6.22 - Task Force Meeting (The role of the institution in detecting, investigating, and preventing gender-based violence on campus)
6.22.22 - Task Force Meeting (Intersections with Title IX and DHR)
6.16.22 - Task Force Retreat Day 2 (Fresno State organization structure, reporting options and confidential resources)
6.15.22 - Task Force Retreat Day 1 (Foundational understanding of Federal and California legal context and overview of the regulatory framework including Chancellor's Office Executive Orders)
2.25.22 - A message from the Title IX Office
2.18.22 - A message from the President
2.8.22 - Task Force Announcement
2.8.22 - President met with the University Advisory Board
2.7.22 - President met with the Academic Senate
2.4.22 - President met with Student Affairs
On Thursday, Feb. 17 the CSU Board of Trustees announced that Gina Maisto Smith and Leslie Gomez, the chair and vice chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Institutional Response Group, will conduct a comprehensive system wide assessment, beginning at Fresno State. We plan to partner with Cozen O’Connor in this process and work closely on the assessment.
It is because this problem is complex and impacts every member of our campus community differently that we believe it’s important to have broad representation to help provide meaningful recommendations. By partnering with Cozen O’Connor, a nationally recognized consulting firm, we can ensure that our processes and resources are among the best in the nation.
The Task Force is actively working to build a foundation of understanding around the complex issues it is charged to address. Updates will be shared periodically, with recommendations shared with the president by the end of the fall semester.
See a detailed description of the Title IX Task Force's Charge.
See a full list of the Title IX Task Force members.
We want to move forward with full transparency and will make it a priority to update the public regularly and often about the progress and findings of the task force. All recommendations made by the task force will be made public. This website will be used as a resource for regular updates.
Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval will actively participate in the organization of the committee, charge the committee with its tasks and receive updates throughout the process.