Dear UMBC Community,

Today, UMBC voluntarily entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that will bring meaningful improvements to the university’s work to prevent and respond to reports of sexual misconduct and sex discrimination under Title IX. This agreement concludes the DOJ investigation of UMBC’s Title IX compliance, the findings of which were announced on March 18. If you have not already viewed my letter and video message about the DOJ’s findings, which focused on the period 2015-2020, I encourage you to do so.

The agreement we signed today commits UMBC to implement measures to enhance the strength, accountability, and independence of the university’s Title IX office; provide specific support for student-athletes and the Athletics Department staff who serve them; expand training for students and employees to improve UMBC’s prevention and response to sex discrimination; and provide financial relief to certain current and former members of the Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving team, as determined by the DOJ. The agreement requires regular reporting by UMBC to the DOJ and will remain in effect through the 2028-2029 academic year. You can read the full agreement here.

Many of the agreement’s provisions are already under way. In the agreement, the DOJ acknowledges the significant steps the university has taken recently to help prevent and strengthen our response to sex discrimination and sexual misconduct. Those efforts have enhanced our Title IX reporting structures and procedures, expanded training and prevention initiatives, and provided additional support and resources to students and employees. The work is ongoing, and it has included the following improvements since my tenure began in 2022:

Created the role of and hired a Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer to oversee the work of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights, which is well on its way to being staffed with five full-time, permanent positions, including a Director and Title IX Coordinator, Training and Prevention Manager, Case Manager, and two investigatorsRestructured the Office of Equity and Civil Rights to provide greater access and privacy for students and employeesAppointed an external specialist to provide interim Title IX expertiseUpdated the Title IX website and developed targeted educational resourcesUndertook the process of strengthening the university’s Title IX and anti-discrimination policies and proceduresLaunched an annual mandatory online Title IX training module for all studentsImplemented mandatory reporter training for employeesExpanded Title IX training for all athletics staff, coaches, and student-athletes

Those efforts, combined with the additional measures to which we have committed in the agreement, will help us better serve our students and all members of the UMBC community. You can access our resources here. If you need immediate help, please contact the Retriever Support Line at 410-455-3167 or retrieversupport@umbc.edu.

As I have shared with many of you in recent days, the DOJ investigation has caused us to reckon with the past. We cannot take away the suffering and trauma that many of our students endured in those years, nor can we undo the actions or inactions of the past.

We can control how we respond to that painful past and how we ensure that this never happens again. Our resolve and resilience are our strengths, and my confidence in the UMBC community has never been greater. Today’s agreement with the DOJ is an important step forward toward healing and accountability. Our commitment and our work to ensure a safe and vibrant environment where all students may thrive will continue well beyond today.

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby