University president strengthens sex harassment procedures

(AP) — University of California President Janet Napolitano moved Monday to strengthen campus procedures for investigating and disciplining faculty members in sexual harassment cases and asked a committee that looked into the issue to bring her tougher recommendations for further action.

Last week, two graduate students went public with allegations against an assistant professor who has had disciplinary proceedings pending against him since October.

Napolitano said she was sending the committee back to develop additional recommendations for shortening how long it takes for faculty cases to be investigated and for sanctions to be imposed when sexual misconduct allegations are substantiated.

Ten of the faculty members either left the university or agreed to waive their right to have the allegations investigated by their campus Academic Senate, which has sole authority for firing tenured professors.