Georgia Board of Regents updates campus sexual misconduct investigation policies

Georgia Board of Regents members listen to a staff presentation on proposed changes to its sexual misconduct policy for public colleges and universities. ERIC STIRGUS/ESTIRGUS@AJC.COM

Georgia Board of Regents members listen to a staff presentation on proposed changes to its sexual misconduct policy for public colleges and universities. ERIC STIRGUS/ESTIRGUS@AJC.COM

The Georgia Board of Regents voted Tuesday to revise its process of investigating sexual misconduct complaints on the state’s four-year public colleges and universities.

The new rules are aimed at giving administrators at the University System of Georgia greater oversight over these investigations, allowing officials to spend more time educating students about sexual misconduct and ensuring greater consistency in how campuses conduct the investigations.

Some major changes include the USG’s office being notified when a complaint is filed that could lead to the suspension or expulsion of a student. The new policy also more directly spells out penalties —suspension or expulsion — of students who file false complaints.

Sexual assault victims’ rights activists say they supported the effort to make the revisions, but believe some additional changes should be made. They also believe the final revision of the proposed changes should have been shared earlier with the public.

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