The Trump administration recently announced new guidance for how college campuses should handle sexual assault complaints.
Michigan universities won’t be changing their policies right away.
The new guidance lets schools use mediation for informal resolution of sexual assault cases. It also lets schools raise the standard of proof for campus adjudication of complaints.
Daniel Hurley is the CEO of the Michigan Association of State Universities. He says Michigan campuses will keep their current policies for now.
“While the university officials are looking at those rules, I don’t foresee any kneejerk reactions.”
He says universities want to figure out what the new expectations are before making changes.
“There’s some uncertainty. I think there’s gonna be some unpacking.”
He says state universities have been trying to improve the culture of sexual assault on campus for years.
“But when there are incidents to make sure that both due process is involved as well as victims’ rights are adhered to at the highest level.”
A part of the guidance lets schools use a higher standard of evidence when judging sexual assault accusations. Another allows schools to use mediation for an informal resolution of a sexual assault case.