UR properly addressed the workplace sexual conduct of Professor T. Florian Jaeger, though it could have done better, according to a long-awaited investigation report released Thursday.
“The University’s investigations relating to Jaeger in 2016 were conducted in good faith, impartially, professionally and in accordance with UR Policy 106,” the report states. “At least in hindsight, however, there are aspects of the initial University investigation that could have been done differently, and better.”
The report agreed with the University’s initial determination that Jaeger had not violated any policy.
His conduct was at times “inappropriate,” “blurred personal and professional boundaries,” and “created a negative academic environment for some BCS students,” but was “permitted by UR policy” at the time.
The report also lists a spate of “missed opportunities” during the course of the investigation, including that
- the then-chair of the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department should have told Jaeger to end his living arrangement with Professor Celeste Kidd, who accused him of years of sexual harassment,
- with better training and sensitivity, department leaders could have better investigated the initial hostile environment claims,
- UR could have introduced its more robust faculty-student relationship policy earlier than 2014,
- and that the Board of Trustees could have been notified of the situation and the “turmoil and dissension” it was causing in the department.
This report will be updated.
Clarification (1/15/18): The original version of this story referred to the chair of the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, but it was unclear whether it meant the current or former. It was the latter and the story has been updated to reflect such.
