In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the findings of a July 2023 audit examining the California State University (CSU) system's policies and practices for investigating sexual harassment. The audit, led by Shel Sanders, revealed significant weaknesses in how CSU handles allegations, with a focus on three main issues: inconsistent investigations, inadequate disciplinary measures, and a lack of system-wide oversight.

The audit was prompted by high-profile sexual harassment cases within the CSU system, including investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice into San Jose State University and the resignation of a former chancellor due to mishandling complaints. Between 2018 and 2022, CSU received over 1,200 sexual harassment complaints but only investigated about 20% of these cases, substantiating allegations in roughly 39% of investigations.

Key findings highlighted that CSU campuses struggled to consistently investigate claims, often closing cases without proper rationale or documentation. In 11 of 15 reviewed cases, complaints were closed at intake without investigations, raising concerns about accountability and transparency. Investigators frequently applied overly restrictive interpretations of sexual harassment, leading to questionable conclusions about the severity of allegations.

The audit also pointed out issues with documentation and timeliness, noting that many investigations exceeded the 100-day completion policy, with some taking over a year. Furthermore, records of disciplinary actions were often incomplete, with instances where no action was taken against individuals found to have engaged in harassment.

Recommendations from the audit included the need for clearer guidelines and training for Title IX coordinators, a secondary review process for investigations, and the establishment of a system for tracking the status of complaints. The report emphasized the importance of consistent documentation and accountability to improve the handling of sexual harassment allegations across the CSU system.