The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is forming a campuswide working group to advise and improve efforts to address sexual assault and harassment on campus.

Membership in the Title IX Collaborative includes key stakeholders appointed to represent students, faculty and staff. The group will work in an advisory role, consulting with the chancellor on matters related to Title IX and violence prevention.

“Maintaining a safe campus for scholarship, learning, and intellectual growth is our priority,” Chancellor Ronnie Green said. “We must all work together to create a campus whose collective community members act to prevent sexual misconduct, including harassment or sexual violence of any kind. Over the past several months I have listened carefully to survivors of sexual assault and harassment who have courageously come together through their personal experiences to call for elevated University attention to prevention, advocacy, and support.

“This collaborative will continually evaluate all aspects of our efforts on campus and provide recommendations for how to better communicate our resources, improve our efforts or address any gaps. I look forward to the kick off of their work later this month and to their advice, recommendations and counsel.”

The collaborative is modeled after similar initiatives at other Big Ten institutions, including Indiana, Rutgers, Illinois, Maryland and Purdue, according to Tami Strickman, Nebraska’s Title IX coordinator.

“It’s important that we work together campuswide to address issues relating to sexual misconduct,” she said. “Through this collaborative effort, we will gather information and identify strategies as we work to strengthen our response to sexual misconduct.”

Responsibilities of the working group include:

• Reviewing sexual misconduct-related policies, practices and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and agency guidance.

• Identifying best practices related to prevention, awareness, education and response to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

• Reviewing, recommending and assisting with ongoing violence prevention activities and training programs.

• Alerting campus administration to trends or needed changes in educational programs, interventions or services.

• Promoting collaboration and information-sharing among the university, community-based organizations and local law enforcement

• Evaluating the impact of prevention programming and services provided to survivors

• Survey campus climate related to prevention and sexual violence to address gaps in knowledge, services and reporting.

In its work, the Title IX Collaborative will follow best practices as outlined in the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ “Culture of Respect: CORE Blueprint.” The publication is a strategic roadmap designed to address sexual violence on university campuses.

Membership will include representatives from the Association of Campus Religious Workers; Association of Student of the University of Nebraska; the Athletic Department; Big Red Resilience and Well-Being; Center for Advocacy, Response and Education; College of Law; Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Faculty Senate; Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life; Global Education; Graduate Student Assembly; Human Resources/Employee Assistance Program; Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance; Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Council; Office of Research and Economic Development; LGBTQA+ Resource Center; PREVENT; Residence Life; Services for Students with Disabilities; Student Conduct and Community Standards; Office of Undergraduate Education; University Association for Administrative Development; University Health Center; University of Nebraska Office Professionals Association; and University Police Department.

Where possible, members with expertise in related content areas (such as sexual violence prevention, bystander education, advocacy and support) will be selected. This will include faculty and Clery Act compliance officers.

Nebraska’s vice chancellor for student affairs and its Title IX coordinator will serve on the group as ex officio members.

The collaborative’s work will begin as soon as membership is decided.