Today, Baylor University announced the creation of two task forces which will work to implement the 105 recommendations made by Pepper Hamilton, the law firm hired to investigate the university's handling of sexual assault.
In a press release, interim Baylor University president David Garland said the university "adopted Pepper Hamilton's recommendations as mandates."
"We are activating immediately to assess and begin implementation of the recommendations to ensure progress toward the safety and well-being of all our students. Student safety demands our commitment and concentration," Garland said.
The Sexual Assault Task Force - led by Regan Ramsower, the senior vice president and chief financial officer for Baylor - will improve upon the school's response to sexual assault and will act "in areas of Title IX protocols and policies, athletics, engagement and education, centralized, reporting and resolution, public safety and counseling and advocacy, as well as other areas across the University."
The Spiritual Life and Character task force is the second executive-level task force announced today. Led by L. Greg Jones, executive vice prsident and provost of Baylor, the task force will focus on the "spiritual life" on Baylor campus, with a renewed focus on the Baptist University's mission.
Baylor also announced the creation of several "implementation groups", which will support both task forces. The groups are made of faculty, staff and administration. According to the press release, the task forces and implementation groups are evaluating the existing policies, as well as working to develop a "consistent and centralized system for preventing and responding to sexual violence."