Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin recently announced that he will make the Title IX coordinator — the officer responsible for handling student and employee complaints regarding sexual discrimination, harassment and sexual assault — a full-time position.

“We have been working to improve coordination among law enforcement, our Title IX coordinator and the Office of Student Conduct related to the handling of conduct allegations and investigations, particularly those involving sexual assault,” Loftin said in an email sent to the MU community.

Loftin acknowledged the need for such improvements after an investigation revealed that while MU’s handling former Missouri swimmer Sasha Menu Courey’s case was not in violation of the law, [MU did not properly follow Title IX guidelines](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2014/4/22/report-condemns-universitys-handling-menu-courey-c/), which are in place to [prohibit sexual violence, sexual harassment and discrimination based on sex](http://equity.missouri.edu/resource-library/athletics.php).

Prior to the investigation, the Title IX coordinator was a part-time position.

MU spokesman Christian Basi said that in light of the report, Loftin decided such an important position needed to be full-time.

“The position has evolved over time as duties and responsibilities have changed,” Basi said. “Safety is MU’s top priority, and we are always looking for ways to enhance and improve policies and procedures to make the university a safer place for everyone.”

Until a permanent full-time Title IX coordinator is hired, Linda Bennett — who had previously served as an assistant to the provost and an associate professor of learning — will be appointed as the interim coordinator.

Bennett hopes to get the ball rolling toward improving campus safety.

“Chancellor Loftin has given me the responsibility to do three things,” Bennett said. “The first one is to oversee the university’s compliance efforts as it applies to Title IX. The second is to assist the chancellor and the campus with reviewing our policy and procedures. And then third is to develop training for Title IX for faculty, staff and students.”

Bennett also said many faculty and staff hope that by making the position full-time, there will be more time and effort put toward making students more aware of the information and resources available to them when it comes to issues such as sexual assault.

“We want to educate and be proactive in supporting of students if they’re in need or have questions, or want to help out others,” she said.

Noel English, the previous Title IX coordinator, will remain as a deputy coordinator and focus on cases regarding faculty and staff.

English was unavailable for comment.