UK to Host Second National Conference on Campus Climate and Adjudication of Sexual Misconduct

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 3, 2018) — The University of Kentucky Center for Research on Violence Against Women (CRVAW) will host its second national conference this fall on issues relevant to campus climate and sexual misconduct. Registration for the conference is currently open, with discounted rates available to UK employees and graduate students.

This year's event, titled "Campus Responses to Sexual Misconduct: Navigating Change at the DOE" will be held Oct. 4-5, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Lexington. The conference will build on last year's event by expanding conceptual and practical focus to other forms of sexual misconduct and stalking on campus, and will include targeted sessions highlighting how universities have navigated ongoing Title IX changes. There will also be a specific focus on vulnerable groups such as international students, graduate students, students with disabilities and LGBTQ students. 

Nationally known experts have been invited as session speakers and panelists to discuss the full range of approaches to these issues while exploring current directions and best practices. The topics will be pertinent to university administrators, student affairs personnel, faculty, researchers, lawyers, Title IX officers and graduate students. The conference agenda and a list of speakers can be found at www.uky.edu/crvaw/2018-conference-agenda.  

Registration information is available at www.uky.edu/crvaw/2018-national-conference. For questions or information about discounts, contact crvawconference@uky.edu.

Emerging from the commitment of the UK President's Office, CRVAW has now sponsored three conferences on this topic. CRVAW's first two conferences focused on the development and implementation of a campus climate survey for local (2015) and regional (2016) institutions. After the success and feedback of 2017's first national conference, CRVAW will be hosting a second national conference, which will again be sponsored by the UK President's Office.

The Center for Research on Violence Against Women was created by the UK Board of Trustees in 2003. As an academic area of study, the crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and their attendant risks present complex challenges. The Center for Research on Violence Against Women was designed to promote a cross-discipline, content-specific approach integrating practice, theory and research. Thus, the center has worked for over a decade to strengthen the research infrastructure at the university to promote scientific exploration in the area of violence against women by bringing in federally funded grants, conducting on-campus research projects, offering consultation to faculty in their preparation of research grants, facilitating access to data sets, and engaging in other initiatives to support the research interests of faculty, graduate students and undergraduates.