Dear Titan Family:

Thank you for your candid feedback and ongoing engagement throughout our systemwide assessment, we are pleased to update you on our continued efforts to foster and strengthen our culture of caring, safety, belonging and respect at our beloved Cal State Fullerton.

As part of a systemwide effort across our 23 California State University campuses, the Cozen O’Connor Institutional Response Group has assessed how we respond to reports and incidents of discrimination and harassment.

Through a series of interviews, campus visits, survey results and email feedback, Cozen O’Connor has identified core observations for improvements at both the system and university levels. The recommendations from this assessment will guide and help us improve our Title IX and Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation (DHR) training, awareness, prevention, intervention, compliance, and support systems.

The full written report of the systemwide Cozen O’Connor assessment, including a summary report and a separate report concerning Cal State Fullerton, can now be found on the CSU’s Commitment to Change.

In addition, on May 24, Cozen O’Connor presented to the Board of Trustees an initial overview of their assessment. (View a recording of the presentation here: https://youtu.be/37GVdhqjn5o. Cozen section begins at 23:15.)

In anticipation of this report, I have assembled an implementation team, including a broad cross-section of campus stakeholders, to advance Cozen’s recommendations. The team is led by David Forgues, vice president for the division of Human Resources, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Sarah Bauer, director of Title IX and gender equity Title IX coordinator.

Key areas of focus and action over the months to come will include:

• Increasing awareness of processes, ensuring a trusted process.
• Continuing to strengthen the infrastructure and protocols within our Title IX and Gender Equity Offices.
• Evaluating and realigning Title IX and DHR functions and processes
• Developing a system to address other unprofessional conduct.

This work will be challenging. My trust, full support and thanks go to the implementation team members who will invest their time, energy, and expertise in this vital effort so important to all of us. Our ambitious goals will require substantial planning, additional resources, and personnel, and will be accomplished in stages. We will continue to share our progress and specific plans as they are developed and evolve.

Thank you again for helping to ensure Cal State Fullerton is a safe and inclusive place, where all Titans can thrive.

Best,

Fram Virjee
President