RALEIGH  – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill officials have told federal investigators that it  it has revamped its procedures handling sexual assault claims has been revamped in response to new federal mandates headed down two years ago. The university disclosed the changes in 36-page response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. The OCR is investigating charges made by five women that the university systematically mishandled sexual assault claims.

In 2012, the university pulled sexual assault cases from the student-run honor court. The new policy provides both formal and informal processes for handling student complaints.
UNC has hired a consultant on sexual misconduct cases, Gina Smith. She has been to the campus six times since February to conduct open sessions with students, staff members and faculty, the university said in its response.  Smith will make recommendations to the school in the next few weeks.

The university also has hired a sexual misconduct investigator and a deputy Title IX officer who explains procedures and available resources to students.