Essential training for faculty and staff - TODAY!

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I write to you today as the Title IX Coordinator for Lewis & Clark College, with an invitation to attend one of several training sessions for members of the campus community.

On Monday, February 24, we will be hosting W. Scott Lewis, JD from The NCHERM Group, LLC, which specializes in holistic, proactive prevention and risk management.  During the day, Scott will hold four training sessions for staff and faculty. Please identify at least one time that works with your schedule and make it a priority to attend this event. If you are a supervisor, please allow all the employees you supervise to attend a session.

NOTE: All sessions will take place in the Council Chamber

February 24, 2014
9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.: Law 101 for Faculty

Audience: Adjunct Faculty; Distance and Online Education Faculty; Professors, including Assistants/Associates; Deans, including Assistants/Associates; Department Chairs; Provosts and Vice Provosts; Assistant/Associate Provosts and Vice Provosts; Other Academic Administrators; Teaching Assistants

Staff who serve on judicial boards, etc. will be invited

This 1½ to 2-hour program will provide all faculty members with the necessary tools and information to understand the legal concerns that most commonly impact them and how to best prevent litigation.

11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Lunchtime Meeting

Audience: Principal investigators, Title IX officers

Discussion will be facilitated by Scott Lewis and will be focused on examining case studies – what is each person’s role in the process of reporting? What are best practices?

12:40 p.m.-1:40 p.m.: What Is a Responsible Employee?

Audience: All Staff (Faculty are welcome to attend.)

This session is designed to inform participants about institutional and individual duties to report sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and other behaviors that fall under Title IX.

1:50 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.: What Is a Responsible Employee? (repeat of 12:40 p.m. session)

3 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.: LAW 101 for Faculty (repeat of 9 a.m. session)

At Lewis & Clark, we aspire to create a learning environment where all members of our community can participate and thrive. This goal is both an aspirational priority for us and a legal requirement.   

The recent re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act, coupled with the March 2013 enactment of the Campus Save Act, reminds us of the pervasive nature of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct on College Campuses. Under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, we were advised that: “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…” Sexual misconduct in our college community has the potential to exclude members of our community who have a legally protected right to participate.

As an institution, Lewis & Clark has been taking steps to ensure a sex discrimination-free environment and to have effective and just remedies available when such discrimination does occur.  Over the past 18 months, a committee of Student Life staff members worked with students and outside consultants to review our Sexual Misconduct Policies and Procedures with an eye to making them more accessible to members of our community, and to align them with the ever-changing legal climate. Please review the new Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures. 

Thank you for making this a priority, as part of our collective commitment to making Lewis & Clark a safer and more supportive community.

Sincerely, 

Jane

–
Jane Monnig Atkinson
Vice President and Provost