UC Davis will join a new partner network to the National Academies’ Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education. UC Davis is among thirteen higher education-focused organizations in the inaugural group of network partners, which will share their work to prevent and address sexual harassment in higher education.

“We’re pleased to participate in the Action Collaborative Partner Network,” said Wendi Delmendo, chief compliance officer for UC Davis, who will represent the campus in the network. “We are hoping to enhance our already strong sexual harassment prevention program by learning from the best practices of other institutions both within and outside of UC.”

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine established the Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education in 2019 to facilitate the work of higher education institutions in developing and implementing efforts that move beyond basic legal compliance to evidence-based policies and practices for preventing sexual harassment. Sixty colleges, universities, and research institutions are currently members of the Action Collaborative.

UC Davis commitment

UC Davis has already demonstrated a strong commitment to creating a community free of sexual harassment and sexual violence with a range of policies and initiatives, Delmendo said. These include: mandatory sexual violence prevention education for all students and employees, including education tailored to specific groups; implementing a comprehensive policy prohibiting all forms of sexual violence; responding promptly and effectively to all reports of sexual misconduct; developing a case management team approach for sexual misconduct cases; taking significant disciplinary action against those who have been found to have engaged in sexual harassment; and providing confidential advocacy services to students and employees who have experienced sexual harassment. The Office of Compliance and Policy issues an annual report about case handling.

The campus has also instituted a reference check process for candidates for tenured academic appointments and provides preventative guidance to all incoming faculty.  

As a member of the partner network, UC Davis pledges to actively participate in the work of the Action Collaborative; share information about campus efforts and innovations around preventing and addressing sexual harassment; and use, adapt, implement and share the resources and practices identified or published by the Action Collaborative.

The other inaugural partner network organizations are: Association of American Universities (AAU); Center for Institutional Courage; Emory University; Fieldwork Initiative; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Oregon State University; The 1752 Group; University of Arizona; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Whatcom Community College.

The organizations’ statements of commitment to doing this work and information about how other organizations can join can be found on the Action Collaborative’s website.