College convenes a Hiring Practice Task Force

March 14, 2019

Dear Mount Holyoke community,

By now, many of you are aware of the recent Boston Globe article reporting on a Mount Holyoke staff member’s alleged assault of a student. Any such allegation is deeply distressing, and it is particularly so when the alleged perpetrator is a member of our own community. I understand your concerns and, like you, am acutely aware of the questions raised by this situation and all the attendant emotions.

I recognize that this specific incident is especially troubling because it calls into question our employment practices and the ways in which we can best provide a safe environment for all members of our community. I also understand the desire to have the College share more information, given the disclosures on the part of the Globe and other media sources.  The College is, however, bound by certain confidentiality obligations, given the sensitive nature of this incident, as well as the open investigation and our policies related to student and personnel matters. I will share what I can while honoring the need for privacy and confidentiality.

In my initial review of our hiring practices, I have learned that we conducted a reference check on the staff member in question, as is standard practice for positions of this type. The reference check did not raise any concerns, and consequently, an offer of employment was made. I want to know, as do others, in what circumstances we can or should do more when considering applicants for a range of positions. As we balance the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ statutory limitations on candidates’ disclosure of past legal issues with our own commitment to nondiscriminatory hiring practices, the critical focus of our attention needs above all to be on providing for the safety and well-being of our community.

To that end, I am convening a Hiring Practice Task Force, composed of leaders in the Department of Human Resources and hiring managers at the College. They will be supported in their work by external experts. The task force will review our policies and procedures and, prior to the start of the next school year, develop and implement initial recommendations to refine our approach to safe, equitable and effective hiring practices. I also commit the College to creating a dedicated page on our website where information on this process will be shared on a regular basis.

These events are a reminder of the tremendous responsibility borne by those of us who constitute the faculty and staff of Mount Holyoke College. Our first responsibility is always the safety of our students and other members of the community. It is incumbent upon us to know and observe the policies in place and to create an environment of mutual respect and higher learning.

Should anyone have relevant information or concerns about the health and safety of any member of the community, I urge you to direct them to visit, call or email the Title IX office. Title IX Coordinator Shannon Da Silva can be reached at 413-538-3642 and TitleIXofficer@mtholyoke.edu. Chief Diversity Officer Kijua Sanders McMurtry is available at kijuasm@mtholyoke.edu and 413-538-3569. For more information about our related policies and trainings, as well as how to report an incident of misconduct, please visit our Title IX compliance page.

As our work continues, both in support of the external and internal investigations and in the review of our policies and procedures, I will continue to share additional information with you as I can.

Sincerely,

Sonya Stephens
President