In mid-October, Oregon State University professor, researcher, and Director of Center for Quantitative Life Sciences Brett Tyler was arrested on sex crime charges.
Tyler allegedly committed five separate illegal sex acts in the state of Virginia. According to an article from OPB, he had been “charged two counts of forcible sodomy, two counts of taking indecent liberties with children and one count of aggravated sexual battery.”
Virginia law states that “taking indecent liberties with children” involves any child under the age of 15 and includes acts such as sexual intercourse and sexual bribery. Although it is unclear when exactly these charges were filed, OSU spokesperson Steve Clark says they were recent.
“We understand the charges against him [Tyler] were filed in Virginia only recently,” Clark said, “and relate to incidents alleged to have taken place from 2005 to 2009 and reported to authorities recently.”
Tyler taught at Virginia Tech from 2002 to 2011 and has worked at OSU since 2012, according to the OPB article. Clark added that Tyler was initially hired by OSU in late December of 2011.
Tyler is set to retire from OSU on November 30 and is working from home until that date. He is teaching two thesis classes through the end of the term.
The Vetting Process
As of June of this year, OSU employed 4,800 faculty members, with Tyler being one of them. That being said, what exactly does a prospective OSU employee go through during the hiring process to ensure the safety of students? Clark claims the process is “quite extensive.”
“It [the hiring process] involves a search process; a search committee’s evaluation of candidates and finalists; interviews on campus with university community members and stakeholders; reference checks; criminal background checks for candidates for work in keeping with OSU’s criminal background check policy; and ultimately, a decision by the position’s supervisor,” said Clark. He added that OSU takes the task of hiring new employees very seriously.
Additionally, OSU employees are mandatory reporters to the State Department of Human Services if they suspect abuse or neglect, and a list of reporting methods is available via this public link.
Clark also explained that OSU’s criminal background policy may require background checks for many university positions, including those involving direct contact with a minor or with student residence facilities.
“Oregon State University (OSU) is committed to protecting the security, safety, and health of faculty, staff, students, and others as well as safeguarding the assets and resources of OSU,” the policy states.
According to the policy, such background checks are for positions “designated as critical or security-sensitive.”
Clark did not specify whether Tyler’s position fell under one of those categories, and stated that he cannot comment on “a specific individual’s confidential employment records or results of background checks performed for the university.”
By: Rebekah Harcrow
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