CT college system approves sweeping harassment rules following scandals
The new rules approved on Thursday require Connecticut State Colleges and Universities regents to promptly report complaints. It comes after a sexual harassment scandal involving former interim chancellor John Maduko.
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After a series of high-profile scandals, sweeping changes are coming to the troubled Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, which oversees every public college except the University of Connecticut.
CSCU’s Board of Regents approved nearly two dozen pages of reforms on Thursday, but critics questioned whether they go far enough.
"OVERALL FAILURE"
It all started with Dr. John Maduko.
As interim chancellor, he was the public face of the state college system. But in private, an investigation found that Maduko sent sexually explicit texts to an employee for two years, including a shirtless photograph of himself.
An scathing outside review found that CSCU ignored repeated warnings in the case.
“There was an overall failure on the part of multiple individuals to initiate and follow established policy and procedures for reporting, responding to, and addressing reports of sexual harassment,” the report by Grand River Solutions concluded. “And in particular, reports of sexual harassment involving an interim system chancellor.”
The scandal led Maduko and Board of Regents chair Marty Guay to abruptly resign.
NEW RULES
On Thursday, regents approved a new discrimination and harassment policy.
It clarifies that Board of Regents members are “required reporters” who are not allowed to “investigate, interrogate [or] assess [an accuser’s] credibility.” The policy also states that regents cannot withhold a report because they think it’s “insufficiently serious, not credible, or unsubstantiated.”
Complaints involving the chancellor will have a separate written policy, that may involve other state agencies.
The board will also undergo new training.
“Our students, employees, graduates and communities deserve a CSCU system they can trust,” said interim chancellor Natalie Braswell, who previously served as Gov. Ned Lamont’s chief counsel. "I'm committed to addressing the problems that have gone on unresolved for too long and making the difficult decisions necessary to move the system forward."
Braswell is filling the role while CSCU searches for a permanent chancellor. The system is developing “a more rigorous hiring and vetting process ” that may involve comprehensive background checks by Connecticut State Police – something that Grand River said did not happen with Maduko. The new policy should be ready by the end of this year, officials said.
CSCU also launched a new “Public Accountability Portal” on Thursday to track the reforms in real-time.
SYSTEM IN CRISIS
But are the changes enough?
CSCU’s problems go far beyond Maduko. His predecessor, Terrence Cheng, stepped down amid a spending scandal – but was paid $442,000 to stay on as a consultant for another year, which led to outrage from state lawmakers.
Just last month, Central Connecticut State University president Zulma Toro resigned amid multiple bullying complaints.
“Interim chancellor Braswell has acknowledged that Connecticut’s public college system has a ‘huge credibility deficit,’” Connecticut Senate Republicans said in a statement. “One common sense action that we have recommended to her in writing would be to hire an independent third party to get answers and accountability regarding former CCSU President Toro and the alleged toxic workplace there. We have received no reply.”
CSCU employees expressed skepticism too.
“Besides these things, what does this body intend to do to build trust with, and earn the respect of, the employees?” asked Kari Swanson, a librarian at Southern Connecticut State University.
The Board of Regents’ new chair, Ari Santiago, asked for patience.
“Trust is not earned in one step,” he said. “This transparency means showing that we are changing.”
