CEDAR FALLS - Students at the state's three public universities should begin seeing information about their school's new student-to-student sexual misconduct policy early next year.

The Iowa Board of Regents on Thursday approved the policies during their meeting in Cedar Falls. The policies outline where victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment can go for help, including medical, law enforcement and university contacts.

"It is so important that we now have a formal process," said Regent President David Miles.

The policy revisions were requested after an independent investigation into how the University of Iowa handled a high-profile sexual assault case found that the existing policies were unclear.

In addition to outlining the steps to be taken when a student or witness reports a sexual assault, the policies also define the term consent and sexual misconduct.

At the University of Northern Iowa, a victim services coordinator from the Office of Violence Intervention Services will serve as the primary contact for students who allege an assault. The dean of students will coordinate the university's response to all reports of sexual misconduct.

The policies vary in wording and format but consultants from Schuster & Clifford, an Ohio-based consulting firm hired to help develop the policies, said the overall intent is the same.

Students who believe they have been sexually assaulted or harassed will be "strongly encouraged" to report the incident to their school's police department. A good Samaritan provision also states victims and witnesses will not be disciplined if drugs or alcohol were involved in the alleged assault.

Kathleen Clifford, a partner at Schuster & Clifford, said the universities must now launch a campaign to educate their students and staff on the policies, which go into effect immediately.

She recommended dissemination of the information during new student orientations, to student-athletes through the athletic departments and through a resource Web site that also could include other safety information.

Jon Buse, the University of Northern Iowa dean of students, said the school's policy will result in the revision of the student conduct code and sexual harassment policy.

Jeanne Prickett, superintendent of the Iowa School for the Deaf, said administrators at the state's special schools had to make some extra concessions in their policies because they also deal with minors and young adults who are still in the legal care of their parents or guardians. Prickett said they are working to secure an outside student advocate to ensure that the victim is represented by a neutral party.

Saundra Schuster, a partner at Schuster & Clifford, said the universities should audit the policies and implementation sometime in the next six to 12 months.

"We never want to hear another comment that 'I don't know what the process is. I don't know where to go,'" she said.

Contact Emily Christensen

at (319) 291-1570 or

emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.