Volume LXX, Issue #11
T H E
V O I C E
O F
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
T H E
N A N O O K ,
Y O U R
S O U R C E
F O R
S T U D E N T
N E W S
Last minute guide to Fairbanks elections pg. 8
An inside view of Title IX Spencer Tordoff & Kyrie Long Sun Star
Though turnaround times have improved for investigations on campus, the Title IX office has faced limited resources for addressing cases to date, according to the office’s administrator. “We did get additional funding,” Kevin Calderara, interim Title IX coordinator, said. “I wish I could hire somebody today...but all that takes time and training.” Two positions have since been opened for the office, and are currently accepting applications. Though Calderara says that most reports to his office have been resolved within the 60 day window recommended by federal guidelines, some cases do run long. Currently, the oldest cases under investigation by the office were opened in A pril 2015.
Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, brought authentic Indian cusine, live performers and a community together on campus in the Wood Center Ballroom on Nov. 5.
See more: “Diwali,” pg. 5
Johnsen reduces tuition hike to assuage students Josh Hartman Staff Writer
The tuition hike proposed for next fall will only increase rates by 5 percent, down from the 10 percent rise proposed earlier this year. This hike, which would apply starting fall semester, will be proposed to the Board of Regents at their meeting this weekend by UA President Johnsen. According to Johnsen, the hike was reduced in response to student worries about the affordability of college. “We are really working hard to keep the tuition increases reasonable,” Johnson said. “We’re the most affordable university system in the United States right now according to a major national study recently released.” . Most students would support a tuition increase of between three and seven percent, according to ASUAF President Colby Freel. Johnsen also worked with the Board of Regents to establish three budgetary scenarios for the
next fiscal year, according to the Regent’s Budget Work Session document. The three scenarios are dependent on the amount of funding the state gives to the universities. The goal of the first plan, “Investing in Alaska’s Future,” is to expand the university to more people, however, it requires that the universities get $341.2 million from the state. This year UA received $325 million. The second plan, called “Current state,” assumes that the universities will receive $335 million from the state in the 2017-2018 school year and will receive less funds in the following years. The last plan, called “Governor’s Guidance For FY18,” is assuming that the UA system only receives $293 million for the 2017-2018 school year, as proposed by Governor Bill Walker. “[The last plan] would require immediate high impact p ro g r a m c u t s, e l i m i n a t i o n , ” reads the work session document. Continued “Tuition” pg. 2
A look at Title IX process The overall goal of a Title IX investigation is to determine whether or n ot a v iolation has occurred, Calderara said. There are broader definitions under Title IX than under state law and investigations need only determine that a violation has likely taken place in order to move forward, as opposed to criminal proceedings where a suspect must be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt. When a complaintant approaches the Title IX office for aid, it is up to them whether their complaint is investigated, with four exceptions — cases involving a weapon, that match a pattern of behavior, that involve a minor, or that involve a group of instigators. If a report has any of those aspects, the Title IX office may have to investigate, according to Calderara. Investigations into reported violations begin with complaintant and respondent interviews. Depending on whether or not the complaintant reported to the police, a criminal investigation may also take place. What happens with police investigation? Information collected as part of police investigations is turned over to the Title IX office, but results gathered from the Title IX investigation are not shared with police, according to Police Chief Steve Goetz. Results of police investigation are forwarded to the district attorney’s office in order to receive an external opinion on investigation results. “We want an independent person to look at the case that we investigated,” Goetz said. “We want that fair and unbiased judgement.”
Resources for complainants D u r i n g i nve s t i g a t i o n a n d deliberation, there are measures that can be taken to ensure an individual’s comfort, according to Dean of Students Laura McCullough. “We’re trying to limit additional issues until that investigation is completed,” said McCullough. “It’s not about fairness, it’s about equity.” Complainants may request a schedule change, withdraw from a class or receive an incomplete grade until they feel safe returning to class. Employer s may be contacted in order to facilitate changes within the workplace. Health & Counseling as well as a contracted advocate are available for mental and emotional support. In some cases with sufficient evidence, an accused party may be banned from campus or have limited access. In the event that they’re allowed back on campus, it falls to the dean of students to inform the complainant. Dean of Students recommendations If, after investigation, the Title IX office finds that a violation has occurred, the findings are passed to the dean of students. Their office reviews the findings and determines whether minor sanctions or major sanctions (such as suspension or expulsion) are warranted. Major sanctions can only be enacted by the chancellor. Last year, in providing data for a federal audit of UA’s Title IX program, it was found that major sanctions were not enacted in cases investigated at UAF from 2011 through 2015. Since then, administrators say, changes have been made to make sure those sanctions are carried out. Results of the federal investigation have not yet been released. Taking action Following the dean of student’s review, a recommendation of sanctions is made to the chancellor and both the complainant and the respondent are given the chance to participate in an appeal process, although the chancellor still has final say on any actions that the university may take, according to McCullough. Major sanctions work systemwide; if a student is suspended or expelled from UAF, they may not apply to any other university within the UA system, including rural campuses, McCullough said. Continued “Title IX” pg. 3
School of Education faces restructure Erin Granger Staff Writer
A single UA school of education, headquartered at UAF, will be proposed by UA President Jim Johnsen at the upcoming Board of Regents meeting this weekend. T he proposal, which was developed as part of Johnsen’s Strategic Pathways cost-saving ef fort, was announced by Johnsen in an email sent Nov. 4. “While UAF would become the administrative home for the College of Education, it would build on the programs currently being delivered by UAF, UAA and UAS,” Johnsen wrote in the email. Tweet us! @ uafsunstar
“Classes and programs will continue to be offered on all three campuses by faculty at those locations.” This proposal is a result of a recent review of the UA’s teacher delivery system as part of Strategic Pathways and there are several reasons behind that choice, Johnsen said. The focus of this program will be to increase enrollment, ensure participation in and completion of education degrees and the retention of those students for Alaskan teaching jobs following g r a d u a t i o n , Jo h n s e n s a i d . “[Among those reasons are] the need for a sharper focus on the state’s needs for more Alaska-prepared
teachers and education leaders, and a greater accountability to meeting those needs,” Johnsen wrote. “Other key reasons include the importance of increasing consistency in the degree and endorsement programs, supporting more faculty collaboration and innovation, and increasing productivity and cost effectiveness.” This plan for the school of education is loosely based off of the UA’s current approach to the nursing program, with the headquarters based at UAA but supplementary programs offered at UAF and UAS. If this proposal is approved by the regents, it will then need to be approved by the Northwest Commission on
Colleges and Universities, which separately accredits UAA, UAF and UAS, according to Johnsen. Johnsen plans to put together a team to plan and execute this program change, chaired by Dan White, UA vice president for academic affairs and research, and supplemented with education faculty from each campus, the Faculty Alliance, the deans of education, the Alaska Department of Early Education and Development, the National Education Association-Alaska and the Alaska Council of School Administrator. The Board of Regents meetings held Nov. 10 and 11 will be open to the public for comment. Like us on Facebook!