UT Southwestern statement on UT System CLASE survey results

DALLAS – March 24, 2017 – This afternoon, the Chancellor of The University of Texas System, William H. McRaven, announced the results of a Cultivating Learning and Safe Environments (CLASE) survey across 13 UT System institutions.

For the survey, students anonymously and voluntarily answered questions using a web-based platform in three broad areas: health and well-being; general perceptions about the institution’s response to addressing four areas protected under Title IX legislation (sexual harassment, stalking, dating/domestic abuse and violence, and unwanted sexual contact); and if they had personal experience with any of these since their enrollment at a UT System institution.

Among the UT System health institutions, the response rate was 13%. The investigators retained by the UT System aggregated responses for the five health institutions that participated, including UT Southwestern Medical Center, since overall responses for individual institutions were insufficient to draw meaningful conclusions. 

UT Southwestern is committed to a culture of excellence and a learning environment where all students can achieve their full potential. Reaching these goals requires a willingness to continuously adapt and refine our understanding of the problems students face, and the best ways to support them.

UT Southwestern has had several longstanding measures in place to prevent and address sexual misconduct, including policies and procedures prohibiting sexual misconduct and providing complaint resolution options; an institutional Title IX Coordinator as well as three Deputy Title IX Coordinators, one in each school; mandatory campuswide training on eliminating sexual violence; and a variety of resources for students impacted by sexual misconduct so they can obtain information and support.

After reviewing the results of the CLASE survey, UT Southwestern has put in place additional robust initiatives to increase reporting, and to make it even easier for students to access information, resources, and support. Our goal remains the provision of a safe and secure learning environment, free of sex discrimination, and we will not waver from that goal.

(See Title IX at UT Southwestern for more information about UT Southwestern resources and programs in place. See the UT Southwestern campus message.)