Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

University Faculty, Staff Receive Training on Investigating Complaints of Sexual Violence, Title IX Compliance

Monday, February 6, 2017, By Kathleen Haley
Share

About 50 University faculty and staff members took part in training Jan. 27 that involved matters relating to Title IX, including  investigating and adjudicating complaints of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment and stalking.

University faculty and staff members, who are responsible for investigating and/or adjudicating complaints of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment and stalking by students, staff and faculty at the University, participated in training sessions as part of ongoing education on the latest methods and processes.

“This training educates investigators and adjudicators so the University is able to provide impartial, equitable and trauma-informed investigation and adjudication processes for students, faculty and staff,” says Pam Peter, assistant dean/director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. “It is meant to enhance and improve our processes and what we’re doing for the University community.”

The sessions included material on the University’s policies, procedures and resources relating to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, including complaint policies and procedures, prohibitions on retaliation and student code of conduct; each employee’s specific role and responsibilities under the University’s policies and procedures; and how to conduct adequate, reliable, thorough and impartial complaint investigations and adjudications, including the effects of trauma and the rights of both parties.

The training for staff was conducted by Debbie Osgood, a partner at Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose Ltd., and the former national enforcement director for the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). She has extensive expertise on Title IX, having worked for OCR for 25 years and assisted in the development of the model the OCR uses when investigating institutions.

There was also a session on “Fairness and Compassion for All Parties in the Complaint Process,” facilitated by Cory Wallack, director of the University Counseling Center, and Osgood.

“The session discussed how these situations impact students and how to be objective but caring to both parties,” Peter says. “We reviewed how not to traumatize individuals who are going through the process, how to ask appropriate questions and how to phrase questions in different ways to get the necessary information to make an assessment about the facts.”

Faculty members underwent training facilitated by the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion & Resolution Services and the Office of Faculty Affairs. The training included material on the University’s policies, procedures and resources, and also covered conducting effective investigations. Wallack also facilitated the same session on “Fairness and Compassion for All Parties in the Complaint Process” for the faculty members.

In addition to the training on Jan. 27, members of the Chancellor’s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence met with Osgood Jan. 26 to learn about strategies and best practices for Title IX compliance.

The session for members of the task force reviewed such matters as reasons to focus on Title IX compliance, the Title IX investigation process, trends in recent Title IX court cases and OCR sexual violence cases, and what upcoming changes might be expected in federal Title IX enforcement.

“This session allowed for greater understanding of what happens when an investigation takes place and then also a discussion of what might occur in the new administration,” Peter says. “The presentation provided a broader overview of the Office for Civil Rights, and the office’s overall purpose.”

Representatives from the OCR were on campus Jan. 24 and 25 to assess Syracuse University’s processes for handling complaints of sexual violence or harassment. These visits take place at campuses around the nation, as part of a Title IX review. OCR is looking into about 300 Title IX complaints at universities and colleges nationwide, including two cases at the University. While on campus, OCR hosted two community meetings, both of which were open to students, faculty and staff.

  • Author

Kathleen Haley

  • Recent
  • University Musicians, West Point Band to Perform Together This Weekend As Part of Events Around Military Appreciation Day
    Friday, September 22, 2023, By Christine Weber
  • Turning Young Enthusiasts Into Scientific Researchers
    Friday, September 22, 2023, By Wendy S. Loughlin
  • Languages Unlock Opportunities for English for Lawyers Alumna
    Thursday, September 21, 2023, By Hope Alvarez
  • Fall 2023 Career Week: Helping Students Achieve Professional Goals
    Thursday, September 21, 2023, By Gabrielle Lake
  • A Commitment to Arts and Sciences Excellence
    Thursday, September 21, 2023, By Dan Bernardi

More In Campus & Community

University Musicians, West Point Band to Perform Together This Weekend As Part of Events Around Military Appreciation Day

The spirit of the Orange will unite with the precision of the United States Army’s oldest active-duty band, the West Point Band, for several events this weekend at the University, including a public concert with the University’s Wind Ensemble in…

Fall 2023 Career Week: Helping Students Achieve Professional Goals

“It’s never too early to begin taking action to achieve your unique professional goals,” is advice frequently shared by school, college and unit career teams in partnership with Syracuse University Career Services. Supporting students within their unique trajectory to career…

The State of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at Syracuse University With Mary Grace Almandrez

As the University’s vice president for diversity and inclusion, Mary Grace Almandrez was paying close attention to the Supreme Court rulings that were issued towards the end of the court’s term in June. In particular, Almandrez and her Office of…

A Commitment to Arts and Sciences Excellence

A welcoming community where students of varying backgrounds thrive. An infrastructure that nurtures top-tier research and academics. These are two cornerstones of the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) experience. Over the past six years, A&S has shown important strides…

Study Abroad and the Academic Experience

Sophie Creager-Roberts ’24 is a senior double major in environment, sustainability and policy and history in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs with a minor in atrocity studies and the practices of social justice in the School of…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2023 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.