UW regents to review harassment policies

In the wake of the #MeToo movement and elevated allegations of sexual harassment at campuses across the state, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved a resolution to review human resources policies to prevent harassment.

“The board has a paramount responsibility to ensure the safety of our students and our employees at every institution,” Board Vice President Drew Peterson said at the regents’ meeting at UW-Milwaukee.

According to a news release from University Relations, the board unanimously called for the UW System to “develop or modify” human resources policies in regard to reference checks and maintaining records during the hiring process.

The motion for more policies comes after recent reports that a UW-Stevens Point assistant dean, Shawn Wilson, sexually harassed a campus vendor employee. Wilson then left Stevens Point and was able to get the same job at UW-Eau Claire as reference checks failed to reveal his history.

Suggested policies include requiring all UW schools to share personnel files for current and former employees with other UW System schools.

Another suggested policy is that all harassment allegations and investigations be documented in employee files, along with the result of the investigations and how the employee responded — if they resigned, were disciplined or fired.

Journal Sentinel staff; Associated Press