Last fall an internal investigation of sexual assaults on the campus of the University of Montana in Missoula determined that several cases were not reported properly. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education opened investigations into the university’s policies and procedures.
As a result, all employees are now required to undergo training on proper procedures for reporting sexual assaults and university staff who deal directly with incidents of sexual assaults must undergo more extensive training than has been the case in the past. Also, all students on campus must complete a new online tutorial called Personal Empowerment Through Self-Awareness (PETSA). The program includes a series of short videos and a quiz that takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Students who do not complete the program during the fall semester will not be permitted to register for classes in the spring. The university is encouraging students to complete the course sooner rather than later. Those that complete the tutorial in the first three weeks of the current semester will be eligible for a drawing for a $500 gift certificate at the university’s bookstore.
University of Montana President Royce Engstrom states in the introduction to the PETSA program, “Sexual violence of any type will not be tolerated on our campus, and those who engage in this predatory behavior will be held accountable. We are strategically working toward a violence-free campus, and this online course is one critical component.”
Readers interested in viewing the videos used in the tutorial can do so here.