Because of the recent incidents at Penn State, the President’s Office assembled a “Sexual Abuse and Harassment Task Force.” Yesterday, I shared with our Board of Trustees new policies developed by the Task Force. I believe that these policies will provide for a comprehensive program that protects minors on our campuses as well as increases the safety of our students, employees, and visitors.
These policies are posted on the University of Illinois Human Resources website and I encourage you to review them and their corresponding FAQs. Summarized below are aspects of the policies all employees need to know.
University of Illinois Policy: Protection of Minors
- Based on an updated Illinois law called the “Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act” (ANCRA), if you, as a University employee, suspect that a child known to you in your professional capacity is either abused or neglected, then you must report this to the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) by calling 1-800-25ABUSE. You then must also call your campus police and let them know a report has been made to DCFS.
- All U of I employees will participate in an education program to make sure you understand the ANCRA reporting requirements. This program will begin in Spring 2013. You will receive information early next year about how and when to participate in this program. You do not need to take any immediate action to register for this program.
- ANCRA education material will be offered online and we anticipate that most employees will complete the mandatory education program this way. Paper-based education material will be offered to those employees without access to computers.
University of Illinois Policy: Prohibition of Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct, and Related Activities and Educational Programs
- At a minimum of every three years, employees will participate in an education program as part of an ongoing effort to prevent sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct within the University of Illinois community.
- Your campus’s Equal Opportunity Office will coordinate this education program and they will work with your departments on scheduling it for your unit. You do not need to take any immediate action to register for this program.
- This education program will be available both online or via a classroom setting.
Three existing University policies have been updated and/or placed on the University of Illinois Human Resources website. I encourage you to review these policies too. They include:
Again, FAQs about the two new policies are available on the University of Illinois Human Resources website. Please take the time to review this important material. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Maureen Parks
Associate Vice President for Human Resources
