On Thursday, November 18, 2021, after considering consistent recommendations of the UC Riverside Academic Senate Committee on Privilege and Tenure, Chancellor Wilcox, and President Drake, the Board of Regents voted to dismiss a tenured member of the Department of Sociology, Dr. Augustine Kposowa, for violating the Faculty Code of Conduct due to sexual misconduct with a student over whom he had academic responsibility. Upon recommendation by the UCR Committee on Privilege and Tenure and Chancellor Wilcox, President Drake also denied Dr. Kposowa emeritus status.

The UCR College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences subsequently terminated the former faculty member’s access to all department and College facilities and resources. All CHASS honorary awards and recognition extended to the former faculty member are revoked.

The Office of the Dean stands in solidarity with those adversely affected by the serious violation of the Faculty Code of Conduct and of our community expectations of faculty as disciplinary experts and as responsible student mentors. We offer our compassion to survivors of sexual misconduct and other behaviors that diminish a student's full rights to a world-class UCR education in a chosen major.

I call upon each member of the CHASS community to commit themselves to a learning, research, and working environment of equity and respect. I pledge to work with all faculty and staff within CHASS to ensure a climate that values the contributions and potential of all of our members, and in which students, faculty, and staff feel safe to report and proactively prevent sexual misconduct, abuse of power, and bullying.

— Daryle Williams,
Dean, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences