National Headlines Again — Department of Education Investigation
I opened the Dayton Daily News yesterday and suddenly there was an article from the Associated Press that was plastered across page 10 (with a picture, no less) about the investigation at school (see my earlier post). Quite strange to see anything about VMI out this way. Here’s the same article posted in the Air Force Times in case you all didn’t get to see it. The one in the AF Times is less edited than most of the others I found. Interesting point is that the investigation is into its eighteenth month when they usually last about six. The Washington Times added that the copy of the complaint given to the AP was heavily redacted to not reveal the list of specific policies under investigation as well as any information about the complainant.
Below is from VMI Communications and Marketing that was posted yesterday.
Recent news reports have resurfaced a previously reported issue of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education concerning the treatment of women at VMI. The Institute is confident that VMI’s policies and procedures will be found to be in compliance with appropriate laws and regulations and are, in fact, fair and equitable for all employees and cadets. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights is obligated to investigate complaints. That Office received a complaint in the summer of 2008. VMI has responded to all requests for information, delivering voluminous materials to the Office and assisting personnel of that Office in interviewing numerous VMI employees and cadets. In addition, the Institute has been responsive to news media reporting on this matter, arranging interviews and providing information as requested. The Institute looks forward to a speedy resolution to this matter by the Department of Education.
Background
In August of 2008, VMI was notified of a sexual discrimination complaint filed with the United States Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. The complaint outlined issues with the VMI Marriage and Parenthood policy, the VMI Fitness Test, the environment for female cadets in the barracks and classroom, Title IX complaint procedures not providing for equitable resolution of student and employee complaints, and tenure, promotion and sabbatical processes which discriminate against female faculty. The Office of Civil Rights has since dropped the complaint concerning the VMI Fitness Test.
