In October 2026, Temple University President John Fry announced that he would convene a group comprised of students, faculty and staff to review the university's current practices for supporting survivors of sexual assault and responding to incidents of sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct.
To ensure that our processes are as rigorous, comprehensive and humane as possible, I will be convening a Sexual Harm Advisory Group comprised of students, faculty and staff to review our current practices and make detailed recommendations to university administration. Temple remains committed to fostering a safe environment for all members of our community and an intensive, objective review is an important first step in this process.”
Temple University President John Fry
Summary and charge
The Sexual Harm Advisory Committee is charged by President Fry with evaluating and strengthening Temple University’s approach to preventing and responding to sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, stalking, dating violence and domestic violence.
The committee will examine university policies, practices, resources, education, communication and institutional responses to identify strengths; address gaps; and recommend improvements in prevention, support, safety and accountability. The review will draw upon institutional data; effective practices; and the experiences of students, faculty, staff and community partners.
The group is expected to examine both institutional requirements and the experiences of individuals navigating university systems, recognizing that compliance alone does not establish whether those systems are effective, accessible, adequately resourced or responsive to community needs.
The expectation is that some changes will be implemented immediately, and more broad changes will be implemented once the committee’s work is complete. The group will identify actionable improvements during the fall semester, conduct formal progress reviews in November and March, and submit a final report to the in May 2027. Additional updates will be shared via this website. The group also plans to hold listening sessions with students, faculty and staff to ensure that every member of the Temple community has an opportunity for their voice to be heard.
The Sexual Harm Advisory Committee will examine six interconnected areas via smaller working groups.
Policies, Reporting and Institutional Response
Evaluate university policies and procedures governing reporting, investigations, adjudication, supportive measures, sanctions, safety considerations and follow-up.
Examine how Title IX, the Student Conduct Code, other university policies and criminal investigations operate and intersect, including incidents occurring on and off campus.
Assess whether appropriate institutional responses and supportive measures are considered when conduct falls outside Title IX requirements. Identify opportunities to improve timeliness, coordination, fairness, clarity and accountability while protecting the rights of all involved.
Support Services, Resources and Institutional Investment
Assess the accessibility, quality, capacity and coordination of services for individuals affected by sexual misconduct, including advocacy, counseling, medical assistance, academic accommodations, housing adjustments and safety planning.
Evaluate staffing, funding, professional expertise, community partnerships and barriers to accessing assistance, including support outside regular business hours.
Identify immediate service improvements and longer-term investments needed to ensure appropriate support is available regardless of whether an individual pursues a formal complaint or criminal investigation.
Prevention, Education and Campus Culture
Evaluate prevention education, training and awareness efforts addressing consent, healthy relationships, bystander intervention, reporting options and available resources.
Examine how prevention is incorporated throughout the student experience, including Orientation, the first-year experience, residential and commuter communities, athletics, student organizations, fraternity and sorority life, graduate education, and off-campus living.
Assess barriers to reporting and help-seeking, including concerns about retaliation, stigma, institutional trust, peer culture and uncertainty about available options.
Identify opportunities to strengthen ongoing education, encourage help-seeking, reinforce community expectations and measure prevention effectiveness.
Communication, Transparency and Community Trust
Assess how clearly and consistently Temple communicates its policies, reporting options, support resources, institutional responsibilities and responses to sexual misconduct.
Evaluate community understanding of the distinctions among Title IX, university disciplinary processes and criminal investigations, including their respective authorities, requirements, limitations and potential outcomes.
Examine how Temple explains what happens after a report, what supportive and safety measures are available; what institutional actions may be taken; and what information can be shared while protecting privacy, due process and ongoing investigations.
Ensure that community education explains that Title IX’s jurisdictional and procedural limitations do not necessarily prevent Temple from providing support or pursuing action under other applicable policies.
Identify opportunities to improve communication with affected individuals, address misconceptions, and develop sustained education and communication strategies that strengthen transparency, understanding and institutional trust.
Coordination, Student Experience and Educational Continuity
Evaluate coordination among Student Affairs, the Title IX Office, Public Safety, Student Conduct and Community Standards, academic units, law enforcement, and community partners.
Assess how individuals navigate reporting and support processes, including referrals, communication, continuity of assistance, and safety and retaliation concerns.
Evaluate whether individuals receive timely information, consistent support and appropriate follow-up throughout and after university processes, including when formal disciplinary action is not pursued.
Examine the impact of sexual misconduct and institutional responses on student well-being, academic progress, campus participation and retention. Identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary burdens and support students’ ability to continue their education.
Assessment, Effectiveness and Accountability
Review how Temple measures the effectiveness of its prevention, reporting, response and support efforts.
Examine institutional data, campus climate information, service utilization, response timelines, and constituent feedback to identify strengths, gaps and emerging concerns.
Recommend meaningful measures of effectiveness, clear institutional responsibilities, and a sustainable process for monitoring improvements, evaluating outcomes and reporting progress.
Committee membership
- Jodi Bailey Accavallo, vice president for student affairs (co-chair)
- Jennifer Ibrahim, dean, College of Public Health (co-chair)
- Monika Williams Shealey, dean, College of Education and Human Development (co-chair)
- Roxana Aguilar, Assistant Director for Fraternity & Sorority Life, Division of Student Affairs
- Kristy Lee Bannon, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student Affairs
- Marian Braccia, Practice Professor of Law, Beasley School of Law
- Olin Chamberlain, student, Fox School of Business, and men’s basketball
- Maia Cucchiara, Associate Professor, College of Education and Human Development
- Ray Epstein, CLA ’25, KLN’25, Founding President of Student Activists Against Sexual Assault
- Amber French, student, Fox School of Business, and deputy chief of staff, Temple Student Government
- Thomas Macartney, Captain, Department of Public Safety
- Ryan McKee, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Public Health
- Anna Oppenheim, Associate University Counsel
- Steve Orbanek, Executive Director of University Communications and Media Relations
- Megan Patrick, Associate Director, Civil Rights Compliance and Title IX
- Naomi Rosenberg, Associate Professor, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
- Laura Sinko, Associate Professor, College of Public Health
- Annika Verma, student, College of Liberal Arts