Provost's Task Force Report

The Provost's Task Force on Sexual Assault Policies and Practices issues its recommendations for enhancing Stanford’s approach to preventing and responding to sexual violence.

In an April 8 letter to the campus community, Provost John Etchemendy introduced the Report of the Provost's Task Force on Sexual Assault Policies and Practices.

The 18-member task force, composed of students, faculty, staff and an alum, was created last summer to review Stanford’s policies and practices regarding sexual violence, and to make recommendations for improvement in three areas: educational efforts aimed at preventing sexual violence, support for students following an incident of sexual violence, and policies and procedures for investigating and adjudicating cases of sexual violence. The task force sought input from Stanford students, faculty, staff and alumni; studied the initiatives and activities currently in place at Stanford; researched best practices; and consulted with colleagues who are working on these issues at other universities. The 27-page report includes specific, detailed recommendations in each area.

“The task force has thought deeply about these issues and has consulted broadly with the campus community. They convened more than 80 meetings and town halls to gather input and advice. They have sought ways to build on the steps Stanford has taken in recent years and to identify candidly where our efforts can be improved,” Etchemendy wrote in his letter to the Stanford community.

The task force’s recommendations include expanded education for students, faculty and staff on sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking and relationship violence; the establishment of a confidential support and response team to provide coordinated immediate and ongoing services currently provided by separate offices, including crisis response and helping students understand their resources and reporting options; a new pilot process for investigating and adjudicating alleged incidents; and new standards for the disciplinary hearing process. [Read the full report here.]

Q & A: Task force co-chairs M. Elizabeth Magill, dean and Richard E. Lang Professor at Stanford Law School, and Elizabeth Woodson, a Stanford senior, spoke with Stanford Report about the task force's recommendations.