Public universities might risk losing a portion of their state funding for failing to meet benchmarks to prevent campus sexual misconduct. Rick Pluta reports that’s part of a budget proposal that’s begun working its way through the Legislature.
The plan is to hold back funding for universities that don’t meet all the requirements of Title Nine and other programs to prevent campus sexual misconduct.
Republican state Senator Tonya Schuitmaker chairs the higher education budget subcommittee. She says the problem is more sweeping than cleaning up after the Larry Nassar scandal at Michigan State University.
“We’re not just talking about sexual assault." Says Schuitmaker. "We’re also talking about sexual harassment, you know, it’s a very broad-ranging issue.”
A spokesman for Michigan’s 15 public universities says they will comply with any rules set by the Legislature to address campus sexual misconduct.