WINNIPEG – Winnipeg police say they have charged a former University of Manitoba professor with sexual assault.

Officers say a female student, who was 19 at the time, was allegedly sexually assaulted several times by her jazz professor.

The incidents allegedly took place between September 2014 and January 2017.

Police say Steven Kirby, who is 62, was arrested in May and released on a promise to appear in court in June.

Officers issued a release about the arrest on Tuesday.

News of the arrest comes after university president David Barnard issued an apology to students who have experienced assaults or harassment on campus.

The university says there are currently five investigations at the institution into alleged sexual assaults and harassment, all involving faculty members.

“Incidents of inappropriate behaviour at this university have been reported and investigated over the last few years. Inappropriate behaviour, including sexual harassment and sexual assault on campus is unacceptable, and, quite honestly, I find such conduct to be horrible and appalling,” Barnard said in a statement Sept. 5.

“I am apologizing to students who have experienced such inappropriate behaviour. I am deeply sorry. My promise to you is that we will do everything possible to shape a safe and healthy environment, and we will deal expeditiously with all violations that are reported.”

Barnard also said he discovered that the university issued a letter of employment to Kirby after he left his job in Winnipeg.

“The document provided to Steve Kirby as a letter of employment — that I understood to be a mere chronology of his time at the university — in fact also included an outline of activities and achievements, that, though factual, could be construed as supportive. The inclusion of this material was a mistake that must not be repeated,” he said.

“The letter in no way recommended him for any position. Anywhere.”

The Canadian Press