The University of Minnesota has drafted new policies on sexual harassment and misconduct in response to the actions of its former athletics director and a gymnastic coach.
The documents largely consolidate information from eight separate policies. The move should “make it easier for University members to find information about the University’s sexual misconduct resources and processes,” according to materials prepared for a University Senate meeting.
The University Senate endorsed the new policies Thursday. The Board of Regents is expected to discuss the changes next month.
The policy revisions, as well as additional training and data collection, were required under a November 2015 settlement agreement between the university and the U.S. Office for Civil Rights.
That agreement resolved an investigation into a gymnast’s complaint that Jim Stephenson, a volunteer assistant coach and artist, made inappropriate comments while she was doing semi-nude modeling for him.
Stephenson left the team in the wake of the allegations. So did his wife, head coach Meg Stephenson, who was accused of retaliating against the gymnast.
The U paid the gymnast $250,000 to settle a gender discrimination complaint and paid Meg Stephenson a $98,972 severance.
The U admitted no wrongdoing.
About the same time the U settled that matter, athletics director Norwood Teague resigned after sexually harassing two co-workers. A panel tasked with reviewing that incident also recommended changes to the U’s sexual harassment policies.