Title IX and University Policies

Title IX requires universities to respond promptly and effectively to complaints of all kinds of sexual assault or sexual violence.
In this Section

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. Sex-based discrimination includes all forms of sexual violence or misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. The law covers sex-based discrimination against students, faculty, and staff.

UW-Stout's Responsibilities Under Title IX

Title IX requires universities to respond promptly and effectively to complaints of all kinds of sexual misconduct. Universities must take action to eliminate the offending conduct, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.

UW-Stout is committed to promptly investigating the circumstances of formal complaints to determine what occurred, ensure complainant and respondent safety, and provide remedies. Regardless of whether a complainant files a criminal action, UW-Stout may undertake its own investigation of the circumstances of the complaint if the complainant wishes it to do so.

Title IX Coordinator

The Title IX Coordinator has primary responsibility for coordinating University Title IX compliance efforts, including oversight of implementation and monitoring of the student Sexual Assault Policy, and the employee and student Sexual Harassment Policy and Non-Discrimination Policy; coordination of training and communications; and administration of grievance procedures.

Sandi ScottDean of Students
130 Bowman Hall
715-232-1181
duexs@uwstout.edu

Title IX Compliance Certificate

Deputy Title IX Coordinators

The Title IX Coordinator has appointed the following Deputy Title IX Coordinators to receive complaints of sexual misconduct against students and employees.

Jacqueline Bonneville, Associate Dean of Students
130 Bowman Hall
715-232-1181
bonnevillej@uwstout.edu

Nate KirkmanAssistant Dean of Students
130 Bowman Hall
715-232-1181
kirkmann@uwstout.edu

Erin Sullivan, Associate Athletic Director
206 Sports and Fitness Center
715-232-2487
sullivaner@uwstout.edu  

Terry McCann, Senior Human Resource Officer
203 Administration Building
715-232-3076
mccannte@uwstout.edu

Title IX Training

Title IX Coordinators, Deputy Coordinators, Hearing Board Members, and Advisors, have access to the following training: 

UW-Stout Sexual Harassment and Title IX Training provided by Vector Solutions (required every three years).  Contact hendersonc@uwstout.edu for access to the training.

SUNY Student Conduct Institute’s Educational Portfolio

US Department of Education Webinar

New Title IX Regulations and Clery Case Studies 

Title IX Minors and Reporting  

 

UW Law Days Trainings

Additional professional development activities attended by the Title IX Coordinator, investigators, decision-makers, and staff who facilitate the informal resolution process are listed in the spreadsheet available here.  Availability of materials created by non-UW entities may be limited and subject to copyright law.  For questions about a particular professional development activity listed on the spreadsheet, please email Dean_Of_Students@uwstout.edu.

What is an Official With Authority (OWA)?

An OWA is any official of the university who has the authority to institute corrective measures on behalf of the university.  At UW-Stout the OWA’s include the following:

UW-Stout OWAs
  • Chancellor
  • Vice-Chancellors
  • Academic Deans
  • Department Chairs and Supervisory Staff
  • Dean of Students and DOS Staff
  • Director of Human Resources and HR Staff
  • Chief of University Police
  • Director and Associate Director of Athletics
  • Residence Life Coordinators in University Housing
  • Title IX Team Members

Title IX Reporting: What is a "Responsible Employee?"

A Responsible Employee is an individual who 1) has the authority to take action to redress sexual misconduct; or 2) Who has been given the duty of reporting incidents of sexual misconduct by students or employees to the Title IX coordinator or other appropriate school designee.

Responsible Employee Examples

At UW-Stout, Responsible Employees include, but are not limited to:

  • All instructors, including full-time professors, adjuncts, lecturers, adjunct instructors, and any others who offer classroom instruction or office hours to students;
     
  • All advisors
     
  • All coaches, trainers, and other athletic staff that interact directly with students
     
  • All student affairs administrators
     
  • All residential hall staff
     
  • Employees who work in offices that interface with students
     
  • All supervisors and university officials.

Title IX Reporting: What is a "Confidential Employee?"

Counselors and health care providers working in the Counseling Center or Student Health Services, and victim advocates working for The Bridge to Hope or similar agency do not have an obligation to report information known to them, and students may speak to them with anonymity if desired.  Confidential Employees may not share personally identifying information with university officials without an individual’s consent.
 

Clery Report: What is a "Campus Security Authority (CSA)"

“Campus Security Authority” (“CSA”) is a Clery Act-specific term that encompasses four groups of individuals and organizations associated with an institution. The function of a Campus Security Authority is to collect crime information relating to reports of Clery Act crimes that they conclude were made in good faith and immediately report that information to UW-Stout Police. A Campus Security Authority is not responsible for determining whether a crime took place—that is the function of law enforcement.

Campus Security Authority (CSA) Groups
  • A campus police department

  • Any individual or individuals who have responsibility for campus security but who do not constitute a campus police department

  • Any individual or organization specified in an institution’s statement of campus security policy as an individual or organization to which students and employees should report criminal offenses

  • An official of an institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings. An official is defined as any person who has the authority and the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution

Federal Resources for Responding to College Sexual Violence

Title IX has gone through recent changes in interpretation by the Obama and Trump administrations, which have broad impact on the way in which Title IX is applied at institutions of higher education.

Below are documents that summarize these interpretations. UW-Stout is currently operating under the Final Rule guidance document summarized below.

Dept. of Education, Office of Civil Rights – Title IX Final Rule (2020)