Jane McQueeny, Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity & Access (IOA) at the University of Kansas, has resigned.
McQueeny has been the face of the university’s response to an increase in the number of sexual assault and discrimination complaints under the federal Title IX law. The increase does not necessarily mean an increase in the incidence of cases, but an increase in reporting. In the past, McQueeny has said higher numbers of complaints is a good thing because it means more people are coming forward.
“Jane was first person to head the newly-created Title IX office in 2012,” said Erin Barcomb-Peterson, with the KU Office of Public Affairs. “She spearheaded the role of the university’s response to sex discrimination complaints.”
McQueeny came to KU from the Office of Civil Rights in Washington D.C.
The university has been criticized for a lack of aggressive response to sexual violence on campus. K.U. is still under investigation by the Department of Educationfor a 2013 case. That's when a student claimed she was raped in a campus building. Ultimately, she filed a federal charge, claiming the university was too easy on the accused, and took her story to the Huffington Post.
Under McQueeney’s leadership, the IOA has instituted training programs for students, faculty and staff on anti-discrimination law involving race, ethnicity, religion and sex. Just last week, the university announced the creation of a four-person office aimed specifically at preventing sexual violence on campus.
Barcomb-Peterson said McQueeny was leaving to take a job as general counsel of a Kansas City non-profit.
McQueeny is on vacation and was not immediately available for comment.
The university has appointed Josh Jones Interim Director of IOA. Previously, Jones held the position of Assistant Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards for the KU Office of Student Affairs.
