UT Regents to Study Relationship Policies

Paul Foster, the vice-chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, will lead a review of policies regarding inappropriate relationships between students and employees at all 15 UT institutions, the system announced on Sunday.

The announcement came hours after the conclusion of a more-than-two-hour closed-door meeting of the regents by telephone. The rare Sunday meeting was called after the revelation on Friday that Major Applewhite, a co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Texas at Austin, had admitted to a one-time, consensual encounter with an adult student in 2009. His discipline by UT-Austin administrators included a nearly one-year salary freeze and mandatory counseling.

According to a statement from the system, the review led by Foster "will include policies concerning disciplinary actions and procedures as well as compliance with policies for immediate notification of institution administration and the Board of Regents whenever and wherever policies are violated."

A timeline for the review, as well as other details, are expected to be released in the coming days. The system indicated that the study will include interviews with national experts.

"Our goal is to be both timely and thorough in building a model that can be used nationwide as an example of best practices in dealing with these critically important issues of student protection and student safety," the system said.