November 27, 2023 - Independent Review Released on University’s Handling of Biological Sciences Department Personnel Matter

Dear Campus Community,   

Earlier this year, the Chancellor’s Office Systemwide Human Resources retained a consultant from an independent firm, HR Results, to conduct an assessment of the University’s response to the personnel matter involving a professor in the Biological Sciences Department. The assessment was initiated at the request of President Gayle Hutchinson and the University’s Academic Senate.   

The independent review began in May 2023, and the report was released to our campus today. It is available here in its entirety (PDF). I appreciate the thorough review and the opportunity to consider our practices moving forward.   

We continue to owe a debt of gratitude to those who were brave enough to come forward and share their experiences. We look forward to honoring their courage and building trust among our campus community as we implement the recommendations of the Cozen O’Connor campus review (PDF) and of the State Audit. The University is hard at work gathering information and developing strategies to build more robust response systems and enhance our campus culture of safety. Thank you to all of those who are involved. 
 
The independent assessment is one of several requests outlined in the Academic Senate resolution passed last December. I recently provided the Academic Senate with a comprehensive update regarding the University's progress in addressing all aspects of the resolution. Here is a copy of the presentation (PDF) outlining our progress.  

I look forward to all of us continuing to work together to support each other and make our University a safer environment to learn and work.  

Thank you,  

Steve Perez