UM system approves revisions to Title IX regulations

The University Board of Curators approved revisions to several Title IX rules and regulations at its meeting Thursday.

Some of those changes include adding a nondiscrimination statement under “Policy and Procedures for Promotion and Tenure” and “Employment and Termination.”

Curators also approved modifying the definitions of sex discrimination specifically referencing pregnancy and modifying the definition of discrimination based on other protected statuses such as race, religion age and disability.

Following the social unrest on the Mizzou campus during the 2015 fall semester, the Board of Curators announced an initiative to address areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Dr. Kevin McDonald was appointed as the UM System’s first ever Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer on June 1, 2016. His appointment was the first of eight initiatives met by the Board of Curators.

During the curators meeting Thursday, the University of Missouri’s Ethics and Compliance Hotline Annual Report was also presented. The hotline was implemented in 2007 as a way for employees to report misconduct without fear of retaliation.

According to the report, 112 initial reports and 11 information referrals were called into the hotline in 2016. Of those, 66 reports involved MU Health and 29 involved the Mizzou campus.

Seventeen of the initial reports were allegations of discrimination and another 17 were allegations of inappropriate behavior.