10.24.23 - Message from the President

Dear Campus Community,

I hope the semester is going well and that you are enjoying the fall colors and slightly cooler temperature. As a follow-up to the email I sent in July, I would like to provide an update on the work of the Title IX/Discrimination Harassment and Retaliation Implementation Team (Title IX/DHR iTeam). Our work together to build upon an environment of safety, compliance and caring remains one of our most important priorities and I appreciate the collective effort by our campus community. 

The Title IX/DHR iTeam has been meeting this semester and their meeting notes are available on the iTeam website. The Chancellor’s Office has assigned a liaison to each campus iTeam to help provide guidance and support. There are some important deliverables that each campus is required to submit including a communications plan (due this month) and a campus implementation plan which is due by December 2023. One of our first priorities is to launch an updated, comprehensive Title IX/DHR website that is user-friendly with resources and supportive guidance. We look forward to having this launched by spring 2024. 

Additionally, one of the key recommendations of the Title IX Task Force and the Cozen O’Connor campus assessment is to hire an Associate Vice President for Compliance and Civil Rights. This search will launch this fall pending final appointments to the search committee. In addition, a new system-wide position in the Chancellor’s Office, Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights Programming and Services, is currently in the recruitment phase. When hired, this person will work closely with the 23 campuses, including our campus Title IX/DHR team to provide guidance on training, prevention, and education programs. 

Another important recommendation from the Title IX Task Force and reinforced in the Cozen O’Connor assessment is the importance of training. To this end, it’s extremely important for our entire campus community to complete their respective training modules: 

Employees: All Fresno State employees, including student employees, are required to complete training regarding CSU policies against Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Dating and Domestic violence, and Stalking, and to make victim resources available, including comprehensive victim services. Fresno State employees are required to complete this training every fall semester. The training can be completed via CSULearn, and can be found under your “assigned learning”.

Students: All Fresno State students are required to complete online violence prevention training every academic year. Please note that students have to complete this training also even if they completed the training as a student employee, as these are two separate trainings and both need to be completed to be in compliance with this training requirement. The link to complete the training, along with FAQs, can be found at https://titleix.fresnostate.edu/student-training.html.

Reporting: As a reminder, if you witness or experience harassment or misconduct at any time, please fill out the online reporting form, or contact Jamie Pontius-Hogan, Director of Title IX and Clery Compliance at 559.278.5003. 

Confidential Resources:

• For students: Survivor Advocate or the Counseling Center
• For faculty and staff: Survivor Advocate or the Employee Assistance Program

More information can also be found in the CSU Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Exploitation, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Retaliation (Nondiscrimination Policy) link here: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/10926024/latest/

Sincerely,

Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Ph.D.
President