Dear AU Community,

This week I have heard from a number of members of our community. A very challenging and difficult incident on our campus has led us to a deeper and important focus on the issues of sexual harassment, violence, and assault. These issues are interconnected with safety, emotions, fear, trust, and community. Working through these issues is part of building the community we want to be.

These are difficult topics, and they have a direct and personal impact on many students, staff, and faculty. We have heard from members of our community. Thank you for sharing your stories, your perspectives, your lived experiences, and your hopes for the future.

This work is hard. It involves all of us working together to get it done. I am prepared and committed to doing my part as the leader of the university. That is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the change that we need. Therefore, we are launching a Community Working Group on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment and Violence. I ask you as community members to bring your best selves and your best solutions.

I am charging the Community Working Group with the following actions:

• Reviewing our comprehensive approaches to preventing and responding to sexual harassment and violence. This includes policies, training, campus safety, complaint processes, support services, and information sharing, among other areas.
• Identifying best practices for educating the AU community, considering relevant policies, protocols, and services.
• Exploring these issues through multiple lenses, including how we engage both individuals and the AU community as a whole; the role of relevant laws, regulations, and legal requirements; and how this work interconnects with other university-wide factors, priorities, and resources.
• Establishing milestones and metrics to hold ourselves accountable for our outcomes.

The Community Working Group will make recommendations to the university’s senior leadership and decisions will be shared with the community. This work is part of our inclusive excellence commitment and actions. Community Working Group meetings will be facilitated roundtables and all participants will have common information and facts to support constructive engagement. More details will follow, including co-facilitators and initial meeting timing.

Members of the Community Working Group will include students and student organizations, faculty, staff, university administrators, and the best practitioners who work on issues of sexual harassment, sexual violence, training, and other key elements. Key partners will include the Office of Equity and Title IX, the Center for Well-Being Programs and Psychological Services, the Office of Campus Life, AUPD, the Office of the Provost, and Human Resources, among others.

We will be reaching out with invitations and any community members who are interested in participating can fill out this online form. We will respond to all submissions of interest. Additional participants will be engaged based on specific issues addressed by the Community Working Group. We will draw on the breadth of expertise within our community, including wellness, Title IX, safety, community engagement, training, and more.

I believe community is the way forward. That has always been true at American University, particularly when we face difficult times. Coming together in dialogue, identifying challenges, listening to multiple perspectives, considering solutions, and creating a shared plan of action will be our focus.

Thank you for your commitment and constructive engagement.

Sincerely,
Sylvia