Faculty and staff on the three University of Michigan campuses, including Michigan Medicine, are now required to complete an online education program on sexual and gender-based harassment and misconduct.

The program, “Cultivating a Culture of Respect: Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Awareness,” provides employees with information about maintaining a respectful, inclusive and equitable working and learning environment free from sexual harassment and misconduct.

It includes information on confidential and non-confidential reporting resources for those affected by sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct, as well as guidance on safe, effective bystander intervention techniques. Techniques include speaking up when these behaviors occur, providing support to those affected, and referring individuals to appropriate resources.

U-M students are already required to complete education on sexual misconduct prevention.

President Mark Schlissel announced the launch of the new training in an email to employees of the three campuses.

“Sexual harassment and misconduct have no place at the University of Michigan. Our new online training is an important part of our shared commitment and responsibility to make U-M safe and supportive for all,” said Schlissel.

Participation in the online program is required for all U-M employees, including temporary staff, student employees, bargained-for staff and graduate student employees. The training is expected to take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Employees are expected to complete the training by Dec. 31. The university will launch an awareness campaign this fall to continue to promote participation in the online training among employees.

The training is a one-time requirement for existing faculty and staff, and will be required for all newly hired faculty and staff on an ongoing basis.

Participation will be tracked, and the leadership of schools, colleges and administrative units will be responsible for ensuring completion by the end of the calendar year.

The online education program is the first step in a multi-layered approach to a series of education and training programs designed to have a lasting impact. It is part of the university’s ongoing efforts to reduce and address sexual and gender-based harassment and misconduct on campus.

Additional programs under development include a workshop for university leaders, led by the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, bystander intervention training and other facilitator-led engagement.

The mandatory online training was recommended by a broad internal Working Group on Faculty and Staff Sexual Misconduct that was charged last fall by the president with reviewing existing programming and activities related to sexual misconduct, and developing recommendations for faculty and staff education and training.

The group included faculty and staff experts from the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses and Michigan Medicine. It was co-chaired by Laurita Thomas, associate vice president for human resources, and Daniel Little, professor of philosophy in UM-Dearborn’s College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, and former chancellor of the Dearborn campus.

Tags:

• sexual harassment
• sexual misconduct
• training