Like some of you today, I listened to U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ speech on the future of enforcement of Title IX sexual misconduct laws. While the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) will assess impacts from any new U.S. Department of Education proposals, we will continue to diligently follow federal law and strive to maintain the best practices and policies possible.
Executive Director and Title IX Coordinator for the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance Valerie Simons
We have worked hard to create a fair process for all parties involved in a sexual misconduct investigation. The prevention of and response to incidents and the fulfillment of the promises of Title IX remain a priority at the university.
Our nationally recognized Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance employs highly trained investigators—the majority of whom have law degrees—who treat all individuals with respect and dignity and ensure a fair, robust and unbiased process. We appreciate the collaborative efforts with a variety of campus stakeholders who provide meaningful input into our process and the work we do.
Our campus also offers a variety of support services for all individuals involved. They include the Office of Victim Assistance, Counseling and Psychiatric Services, Student Support and Case Management and Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, to name a few.
Secretary DeVos invited feedback from campuses on how to make the Title IX process effective for all higher education institutions across the country. We believe we have an equitable and efficient model and look forward to sharing it with other campuses in the spirit of both preventing sexual misconduct in the first place and investigating incidents in an impartial manner.
Valerie Simons,
Executive Director and Title IX Coordinator,
Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance
