Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

“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.” 

The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issues regulations on Title IX.  These regulations require every educational institution to have a Title IX Coordinator to oversee compliance with all aspects of the sexual and/or gender-based harassment, discrimination, and misconduct policy.   

Title IX At Lawrence University

On May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released new Title IX regulations. To adapt to these new regulations, the Title IX office and campus partners worked over the summer to ensure Lawrence University was compliant by the OCR's August 14, 2020, deadline and that efforts were aligned with the university’s commitment to ensure that its students, faculty, and staff, are able to live, learn, and work in an environment that is free of hostility based on gender and sexuality 
 

Detailed information on the changes is available in the new Title IX policy.

Explore the Title IX pages to:
  • Learn about your protected rights at Lawrence University
  • Find confidential resources and non-confidential resources to reach out to
  • Report an incident of sexual misconduct 

Sexual Misconduct Policy/Title IX

Lawrence University's Sexual Misconduct Policy is centered around providing safety and security for students, faculty and staff, protecting members of any gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. The full policy is available online.  

Reporting Options and Process

What does a filing report do?

A report notifies the Title IX Coordinator of sexual misconduct.  Reports may be used to begin a conversation about available resources, connect individuals to appropriate support services, identify trends, enhance campus safety, and address needs. They are not formally investigated unless they indicate a pattern, predator, threats, violence, or weapons.

How do complaints of sexual misconduct operate?

A complaint of sexual misconduct is a request for action by the university. Complaints of sexual harassment or exploitation may be investigated internally or externally or settled by mediation; complaints of sexual assault (non-consensual sexual contact or intercourse) are investigated by an external investigator contracted by the university.

Mandated Reporters

What/Who are mandated reporters?

Mandated reporters are employees who are not designated a confidential resource. They must report sexual harassment to the Title IX Coordinator.  Mandated reporters include faculty, administrators (deans), coaches, residence hall directors and RLAs, campus safety officers, human resources personnel, and any staff who supervise students or employees.

Confidential Resources

What are confidential resources?

Confidential resources are people who are not required to report misconduct. These resources for Lawrence are counselors, health care providers, ministers, sexual assault crisis centers, and our campus advocate.

Anyone who has experienced sexual assault is encouraged to speak with one of these resources as soon as possible.

Annual Title IX Report 2020

The Title IX office publishes an annual report highlighting the work done during that year. You can find this year's Title IX Annual Report here.

Training

Title IX regulations require institutions to “ensure that Title IX Coordinators, investigators, decision-makers, and any person who facilitates an informal resolution process, receive training on the definition of sexual harassment in § 106.30, the scope of the recipient's education program or activity, how to conduct an investigation and grievance process including hearings, appeals, and informal resolution processes, as applicable, and how to serve impartially, including by avoiding prejudgment of the facts at issue, conflicts of interest, and bias.” 34 C.F.R. § 106.45(b)(1)(iii). These regulations also required that the university post “all materials used to train Title IX Coordinators, investigators, decision-makers, and any person who facilitates an informal resolution process” on our website. 34 C.F.R. § 106.45(b)(10)(i)(D).

Below, you will find all materials used to train our grievance process administrators. Please be aware that the materials listed below may be protected by copyright and should not be copied or used in any way without the permission of the creating entity.

Title IX Coordinator

Advisors

Lawrence University Process Advisor Training - 2021.pdf

Hearing Officer and Investigators

Lawrence University uses outside investigators and Hearing Officers/Decision-Makers to minimize conflicts of interest and bias. Before retaining any investigator, the University verifies that the investigator has been trained in accordance with 34 C.F.R. 106.45(b)(1)(iii).

Coordinator of Equity & Title IX

Allison Vetter, Title IX Coordinator
Dr. Allison Vetter

Room 93 Brokaw Hall 
115 S. Drew Street 
920-832-7496
titleix@lawrence.edu 
 
Mailing Address:
711 E. Boldt Way
Appleton, WI 54911
 

The Title IX Coordinator addresses issues related to sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sex-and gender-based discrimination or harassment, and gender equity. The Title IX Coordinator receives non-confidential reports and works with all parties involved in the reporting process to ensure a fair, equitable, and timely response. They are available to answer any Title IX related questions.

A report may be made at any time, including during non-business hours, by using the listed telephone number or e-mail address, or online by clicking HERE. Due to COVID-19, in-person reporting to the Title IX Coordinator is temporarily suspended, but will resume as soon as possible.