Functions
The Title IX Committee is formally charged with advising the president of Washington State University on matters relating to the university’s compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These deal with nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities receiving or benefiting from federal financial assistance.
Process
- Compliance and Civil Rights Procedural Guidelines
- Center for Community Standards Policies
- Standards of Conduct for Students
Resource information is available for WSU locations throughout the system.
Washington State University Amnesty Statement
Washington State University (WSU) encourages students to report incidents of sexual violence without fear of consequences for having possessed or consumed alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the incident. WSU’s primary concern is to ensure the safety of the students involved and gather relevant information so the university can address the student(s)’ concerns. Generally**, WSU will refrain from imposing formal discipline for alcohol or drug use and/or possession under the Standards of Conduct for Students for victims and potential witnesses of sexual violence in order to facilitate reporting and resolution of sexual violence concerns.
This practice will not provide relief from disciplinary action for other alleged violations of the Standards of Conduct (e.g., hazing, theft, drug/alcohol manufacture or distribution). Moreover, students who distribute alcohol and/or drugs that intentionally, or through negligence, contribute to the sexual violence will not be granted the same consideration.
**In rare circumstances where CCS has concerns that a student’s repeat or severe misuse of alcohol or drugs will result in additional harm if unaddressed, the university may impose care-driven educational sanctions to address those concerns.
Background
- Title IX reads, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
- Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual assault.
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX)
- Executive Policy 15: WSU Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment
- WSU Standards of Conduct for Students prohibits discrimination and sexual misconduct (including sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence).
Lead Title IX Coordinator
Holly Ashkannejhad
Director
Compliance and Civil Rights
509-335-8288
TitleIX.Coordinator@wsu.edu
Washington State University
French Admin 225
Pullman, WA 99164-1022
Fax: (509) 335-5483
Title IX Personnel Training
WSU provides targeted training to employees who participate in Title IX processes. In general, all new staff are provided onboarding regarding WSU policies and procedures, records retention, FERPA requirements, and technology and record-keeping systems. Employees are also provided ongoing internal training and consultation with their supervisors, including providing trauma informed care, options for supportive measures, and investigative best practices. In addition, WSU requires all Title IX Coordinators, Deputy Coordinators, investigators, decision-makers, and any person who facilitates an informal resolution process to take the below training:
–Title IX Regulations Training (2020-2023)
Members of the WSU Conduct Board and Conduct Officers are also required to take the below trainings:
–Conduct Officer and Conduct Board Trainings (2020-2023)
Additional trainings taken by employees with Title IX responsibility include the following:
-Case IQ, How to Gather, Store, Review & Share Title IX Data Effectively (2023)
-Columbia University Center for Suicide Risk Assessment, C-SSRS Training (2023)
-Stalking Prevention and Awareness Center, Stalking on College Campuses (2023), Stalking and Intimate Partner Violence (2022)
-Department of Homeland Security, Foundations of Targeted Violence Prevention (2023)
-National Constitution Center and Anti-Defamation League, 2023 Annual Supreme Court Review (2023)
-Thompson Coburn LLP, Introduction to Managing Title IX Sexual Harassment on Campus (2023), Formal Complaints of Title IX Sexual Harassment (2023), Title IX Investigations & Informal Resolutions (2023), Title IX Hearings (2023), Title IX Determinations (2023), Title IX Appeals (2023)
-Queer Newark, The Role of the Listener: Trauma-Informed Interviewing (2023)
-Jim Hopper, Ph.D., Neurobiology of Trauma & Sexual Assault (2023)
-Department of Children, Youth & Families, Mandatory Reporter Roles and Responsibilities (2023)
-Bernard and Associates, Inc., Foundations of Trauma Informed Investigations (2023)
-Perkins Coie LLP, The Delicate Task: How to Conduct Trauma-Informed, Survivor-Centered Internal Investigations (2023)
-It’s On Us, Intimate Partner Violence Prevention 101 Workshop (2023)
-New Era ADR, The Psychology of a Title IX Dispute & the Importance of Empathy on the Path to a Successful Resolution (2023)
-Prevent Connect, Health Equity Approaches to Preventing Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence: An Overview (2022)
-National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, Partners in Prevention: Engaging the Campus Community to Prevent Gender Based Violence (2022)
-The Chronicle of Higher Education, Strategies to Prevent Student Sexual Violence (2022)
-Association of College and University Educators, Examining and Mitigating Implicit Bias (2022)
-Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, OCR Title IX webinar: The First Amendment and Title IX (2022), Due Process Protections under the New Title IX Regulations (2022)
-Certified FETI, The Importance of the Interview in Title IX: Maximizing Opportunities for Information (2022)
-Grand River Solutions, Reducing Bias in Sanctioning (2021)
-Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, OCR Webinar: Title IX Regulations Addressing Sexual Harassment (2020)
-Internal Training and Guidance from Supervisors (2020-2023)(no materials)