The latest annual report from the Office of Student Conflict Resolution demonstrates continued leadership in campus conflict management, details an increase in the overall number of reported violations of the U-M student code of conduct, and shows a growing number of reported sexual misconduct violations.
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Overall the number of reported violations of the student code, also known as the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, rose by 25 percent from 497 in the previous year to 621 in 2012-13, says Jay Wilgus, OSCR director.
The biggest area of increase came in the number of alcohol and other drug matters, which increased by 49 percent, rising from 272 incidents the previous year to 404. OSCR has devoted additional staff to this area.
Sexual misconduct matters in this annual report were handled under the interim procedure put in place in the fall of 2011. The number of reported violations continued to increase, rising from 64 in the previous year to 83 in 2012-13.
Wilgus says that a rising number of sexual misconduct cases being reported is a good thing. “It’s an indication that students have confidence in our process and are willing to make reports. That helps us keep the campus community safe.”
This OSCR annual report will be the last to include sexual misconduct violations. With the adoption of the U-M Policy on Sexual Misconduct by Students in August 2013, there will be a separate annual report specific to that policy. It will be issued by the university’s Title IX coordinator, Anthony Walesby, director of the Office of Institutional Equity.
In the year ahead, OSCR intends to expand outreach efforts to make students more aware of OSCR services, while working with campus partners to fully implement the policy for addressing student sexual misconduct and to continue work with students on alcohol-related matters.
