An independent review found an “overall failure” on the part of multiple people in the way Connecticut State Colleges and Universities handled sexual harassment allegations involving former Interim Chancellor John Maduko.
“There was an overall failure on the part of multiple individuals to initiate and follow established policy and procedures for reporting, responding to, and addressing reports of sexual harassment, and in particular, reports of sexual harassment involving an interim System Chancellor,” Grand River Solutions, which conducted the review, wrote in the first paragraph of the executive summary.
Maduko resigned in April, and documents released by the Board of Regents in May showed that he had been under investigation after an employee accused him of sending sexual messages and making sexual comments toward her over a period of approximately two years.
On Thursday, Maduko responded to the report with the following statement:
“I will not comment on the recently released report or discuss personnel or student matters publicly. I remain grateful for the opportunity to have served CSCU. I stand by my decision to resign, which has allowed me to prioritize my family’s health and well-being.”
He issued a statement at the time, saying that he believes “it is important to note that, at the time of my resignation, no final findings or determination of responsibility had been made.” He also said that he stepped away because he “believed it was the right choice for [his] family, [their] well-being and the CSCU system. I stand by that decision,” he said.
The newly released report analyzes how CSCU officials responded to the allegations and whether they followed policies.
“The then-Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Regents and key administrators within CSCU failed to report sexual harassment to the Systemwide Title IX Coordinator, acted outside of CSCU policy, and in one instance, acted in place of the Systemwide Title IX Coordinator,” the report reads.
The report said the response lacked timeliness, safeguards, supportive measures, and appropriate communication.
Read the full report below:
Former Board of Regents Chair Marty Guay resigned in May, days after documents detailing the investigation into Maduko became public. At the time, Gov. Ned Lamont said anyone found to have failed to follow proper processes and procedures “should expect to face the appropriate consequences.”
Director of Communications at CSCU Samantha Norton issued the following statement on Thursday.
“The Grand River Solutions review identifies serious issues involving accountability, reporting responsibilities, leadership decision-making, and institutional response. The Board of Regents and CSCU System Office accept these findings and are moving forward with a series of reforms to address them. These actions will include strengthening employee reporting and escalation requirements, improving leadership screening and vetting, reinforcing compliance and training, reviewing governance and oversight practices, and taking appropriate personnel action. The report provides a clear roadmap for change. Our responsibility now is to implement those changes, hold ourselves accountable, and restore confidence in the systems that are intended to protect our students and employees,” said Sam Norton, spokesperson for CSCU.“
The report gave CSCU the following recommendations:
- “Clarify in the policy that General Counsel and Board members are required to immediately inform the Systemwide Title IX Coordinator of any acts of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct of which they become aware. Additional recommendations to clarify employee reporting obligations are found in the policy feedback below.
- Provide annual training to all employees and Board members on their role as individuals who are required to report any disclosures of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct to the Systemwide Title IX Coordinator, the importance of doing so, how to do so, all of the information that is required to be shared. This training should include reminders that the policy applies to everyone, regardless of the status of the respondent, as well as reminders about the myths and biases about sexual harassment, and about those who engage in sexual harassment, and those who experience sexual harassment, as well as what to say, and avoid saying, when receiving a report so as to avoid making victimblaming comments.
- Hold employees accountable through HR performance processes for failing to report incidents of sexual harassment.”
State Sen. Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), Senate chair of the Judiciary Committee, said following the report’s release that lawmakers should consider possible changes to the Board of Regents. His office published the statement Thursday.
“What we see in this report exemplifies gross misconduct and a severe lack of leadership at the CSCU Board level. While we should remain circumspect about this incident, that shouldn’t make us reticent to call this what it is: a betrayal of the public trust. Every person, from the students to the professors to the everyday taxpayers, deserves to know that we take our workplace environment very seriously and that we will move swiftly to protect employees whenever necessary.
What’s before us in this report is not a simple policy-related failure; we’re dealing with a failure of basic human decency and leadership. The report gives the appearance of cover-ups and people who are more worried about themselves than the people they’re supposed to serve. Connecticut residents don’t fund state institutions of higher education to serve as a shield or cover for abuse.
While the Board’s leadership was changed in the wake of the events leading to this report, Connecticut has a responsibility to take a look at the Board as a whole, its make up, and to ensure that it is properly constructed. Resignations of the former Board leadership do not constitute a full execution of the oversight duties we owe to the people of Connecticut.
Needless to say, the next legislature should weigh the possibility of changes to the state Board of Regents.”
NBC Connecticut has reached out to Maduko and other state officials for comment.
