Office of the President

Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force Charge

President Loh and the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) request that the Joint President/Senate Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force consider the creation of a comprehensive plan for sexual assault prevention and determine whether and how such a plan could be implemented at the University of Maryland, keeping in mind the need for recommendations that can realistically be implemented, to comport with prevailing best practices. The University currently administers a variety of educational programs related to sexual assault and bystander intervention but does not have a coordinated comprehensive sexual assault prevention plan for the University.

Specifically, we ask that you:

  1. Consult with representatives of the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct (OCRSM), the University Health Center’s CARE (Campus Advocates Respond and Educate) to Stop Violence program, the Office of Student Conduct (OSC), and the Office of Rights and Responsibilities in the Department of Resident Life, the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Department of Athletics, and other relevant units on current and potential programs and plans related to sexual assault educational programming and bystander intervention at the University.
  2. Review advice and considerations from the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault (information and resources are now housed on the Department of Justice Protecting Students from Sexual Assault archive and the Center for Changing Our Campus Culture site), as well as the Sexual Violence Prevention Strategies (e.g., programs deemed "Effective" and "Promising") from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  3. Review and assess information compiled by University legal consultants Pepper Hamilton in 2013, specifically the information gathered and their resulting recommendations regarding sexual assault prevention, education, and training at the University.
  4. Review and assess programs and models at our peer institutions for the prevention of sexual assault, including any programs that recognize the correlation between sexual assault and high-risk drinking.
  5. Collect input from other University constituents as necessary.
  6. Consult with representatives from the Student Government Association’s (SGA) Committee on Sexual Misconduct Prevention.
  7. Determine the elements needed for a comprehensive sexual assault prevention plan (e.g., training programs, educational campaigns, targeted and centralized communication efforts, etc.) and assess the frequency, limitations, and scope of any existing elements at the University.
  8. Consider how a comprehensive sexual assault prevention plan for the University should be designed based on best practices at other universities and our specific needs and goals.
  9. Consider how a comprehensive sexual assault prevention plan, including training, could be evaluated for effectiveness.
  10. Provide ways to seek input from, and to engage and educate, the larger campus community, through a town hall or open forum.
  11. Consult with the University’s Office of General Counsel on any proposed recommendations.
  12. If appropriate, make recommendations for a comprehensive plan for the prevention of sexual assault at the University.

We ask that you submit your report and recommendations to the Senate and the President’s Office no later than March 31, 2017. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Reka Montfort in the Senate Office, extension 5-5804.