On Sept 7, 2017, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos spoke about concerns about Title IX enforcement. We wanted to share here what we’ve seen so far in response from JHU. If we are missing something, please comment and add the link! Thanks.

Vice Provost for Institutional Equity Kim Hewitt spoke to the HUB days later. A quick excerpt: “We were mindful of the guidance of the ‘Dear Colleague’ letter when we revised our policies and procedures and will be following closely the efforts of Secretary DeVos,” Hewitt said. “We want to emphasize, however, that the secretary’s announcement does not change Johns Hopkins policy. Our current policy and procedures remain fully in effect.”

Two days ago, September 14, the News-Letter published “Admin Resists Potential Shift in Sexual Assault Policy.”  Addressing administrative and student response, the article quotes Title IX Coordinator and Assistant Vice Provost Joy Gaslevic, who “affirmed the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)’s commitment to addressing sexual misconduct on campus regardless of changes in federal guidelines.”

“We are watching closely to see what the Department of Education will do with regard to prior guidance,” Gaslevic wrote. “[The University’s] policy regarding sexual misconduct remains in place and would not automatically change even if that guidance is rescinded.”

The article includes responses from SARU (Sexual Assault Resource Unit at JHU) and students from the (mandatory) Bystander Intervention Training.

Meanwhile, here’s this from September 7 (same day DeVos spoke) from UC schools and UC-Berkeley.