Category: Policy

Dear Colleague Letter on Resource Distribution Equity

On October 21, 2014, the Office for Civil Rights through United States Department of Education released a Dear Colleague letter regarding how students have equal access to education resources. In conjunction to President Obama’s larger equity agenda and takes into account the ongoing efforts of states, schools districts, and schools to improve equity.

According to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, all students––regardless of race, color, national origin, or zip code––deserve a high quality education that includes resources such as academic and extracurricular programs, strong teaching, technology and instructional materials, and safe school facilities.

Click on view resource below to read the letter.

Sample Language for Interim and Supportive Measure to Protect Students Following an Allegation of Sexual Misconduct

This document presented by the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Misconduct provides assistance on how “interim measures” required by Title IX can be incorporated into a college’s sexual misconduct policy and offers sample policy language.

This is not meant to replace actual policy making by campus administration, but it helps to inform how policies should be stated and enforced by campus officials.

Click on the view resource button to read the document.

Dear Colleague Letter from July 2014: VAWA Amendments to Clery

On July 14, 2014, The U.S. Department of Education released its clarification on “the implementation of changes to the Jeanne Clery Act made through the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA)”. The Clery Center offered highlights of areas that will change through the Reauthorization Act. The letter requests a “good faith effort” to:

  1. Implement and organize procedures following an incident of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault,or Stalking
  2. Have Options and Accommodations for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking
  3. It published 2013 Statistics for Dome犀利士
    stic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking
  4. It suggests Training Using Draft Regulations (Not Statutory Language)

To read the letter, click on view resource below.

 

Guide for university adjudication panels

Legal Momentum provides a guide developed by the University of Pennsylvania called Sexual misconduct complaints: 17 tips for student discipline adjudicators. It provides a template for other non-profit colleges/universities and thorough information to further inform adjudicators of sexual violence.

Curriculum for Adjudicators of Sexual Violence Cases

The Curriculum for Adjudicators of Sexual Violence Cases is the collaboration between the University of Southern California’s (USC) Rosier School of Education, Peace Over Violence, Los Angeles Community College District, and Mt. Saint Mary’s College provides a resource for college and university adjudicators of sexual violence cases. The curriculum has modules that review consent, the adjudication process, evidence, and decision rendering.

 

Toolkit for judicial officer when responding to sexual, dating, and domestic violence

“Striving for Justice: a toolkit for judicial resolution officers on college campuses” is a resource provided by the University of Michigan. The toolkit provides information on how to respond to sexual, dating, and domestic violence at colleges/universities, and recommended sanctions for those held responsible.

ACLU – gender-based violence and harassment

The American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) Women’s Rights Project provides a fact sheet of student rights and school responsibilities in regards to Title IX and gender-based violence.

Campus sexual assault: suggested policies and procedures from the AAUP

Campus Sexual Assault: Suggested Policies and Procedures is a report from the American Association of University Professors outlines: the problem and consequences of campus sexual assault, the laws related to protect students from gender violence, how to develop strong policies and procedures, and the responsibility of faculty members in addressing the issue.  Read about the approaches in ending campus sexual violence and how faculty members can support.