Title IX Office: Wake Forest’s commitment to addressing sexual harassment, misconduct

This is a guest post from Tanya Jachimiak, Director of the University’s Title IX Office and Title IX Coordinator.  In the post, Tanya Jachimiak offers information on the comprehensive effort at Wake Forest to create and implement a strategic plan for preventing sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct at Wake Forest. For more information about the Title IX Office, visit here.

Culture of Respect Prevention Framework

As part of Wake Forest’s ongoing commitment to addressing sexual harassment and misconduct on campus (including workplace harassment) — through the Division of Campus Life — Wake Forest is a member of the NASPA Culture of Respect Collective (CORE). The CORE initiative is a strategic planning process grounded in a comprehensive, evidenced based, ongoing self-assessment. The initiative is co-led by the Title IX Office and the Safe Office.

A key component to the CORE’s success is its emphasis on cross-campus collaboration. Building off of the work initiated by the Sexual Misconduct Prevention, Policy, and Resource Team, the CORE Campus Leadership Team (CLT) — comprised of Wake Forest faculty, staff, and students — spearheads Wake Forest’s participation in this initiative. Currently, there are over 50 members on the CLT who actively contribute to creating and implementing a strategic plan for preventing sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct on the Wake Forest campus.

Title IX Office’s Sexual Misconduct Prevention Programs

 The following is an overview of the Title IX Office’s ongoing prevention programming concerning issues of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence and domestic violence.

New Hire Employee Training

Intersections: Preventing Harassment & Sexual Violence: All new employees, including temporary, part-time employees, are required to complete the online program Intersections: Preventing Harassment & Sexual Violence within 60 days of their respective hire dates. The course takes about one hour to complete, and is divided into the following main sections: avoiding unlawful sexual harassment, avoiding abusive behavior, protecting students, crimes and conduct violations, and employee roles and responsibilities. There is an advanced section of this course for supervisors.

Ongoing Employee Training

Bridges, Taking Action: This online course builds upon the knowledge gained through Intersections and includes a more in-depth review of inappropriate workplace behavior through the use of examples as applied under University policies. As with Intersections, there is a supervisor version of this course.

 How We Can Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: How We Can Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Workplace is an in-person, interactive workshop conducted by the Title IX Office. Employees learn what behaviors constitute sexual misconduct and create a hostile environment; gain an understanding of how to become an effective bystander; and become familiar with the avenues available to report sexual harassment as well as to receive support. As with the Title IX Office online trainings, quizzes as well as pre-and post-assessments are utilized to monitor effectiveness. This workshop is available by request and is also offered annually through the PDC.

 Stop, Drop and Roll: A Framework for Responding to Disclosures: Stop, Drop and Roll is an in-person, interactive workshop conducted by the Title IX Office in collaboration with the Safe Office. The workshop provides faculty, staff and student employees with information and skills to effectively respond to disclosures of sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct with care and confidence while also fulfilling mandated reporting requirements. Attendees engage in role play and active listening activities. This workshop is available by request and is also offered annually through the PDC.

 Sexual Assault Prevention for Athletic Staff: Under the NCAA rules, all Athletic Department staff are required to complete sexual misconduct prevention training. To meet this requirement (and in addition to the in-person training), the Title IX Office administers an online program entitled Sexual Assault Prevention for Athletic Staff. This online course covers issues related to sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment, hazing, and bullying. The course reinforces staff members’ commitment to combatting sexual misconduct and utilizes sports-related case studies.

Student Training

Haven Understanding Sexual Assault: All incoming undergraduate students are required to successfully complete Haven Understanding Sexual Assault, a two-part online course administered by the Title IX Office. This course provides an initial baseline understanding of relationship violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking. The course includes a review of University policies and case studies while emphasizing University resources and reporting options. Students must also complete a pre-and post-assessment. Students complete Part 1 prior to the start of the Fall semester. Part 2 of the course is completed 30 to 45 days following completion of Part 1.

HavenPlus: All incoming graduate students and professional school students are required to successfully complete HavenPlus, a two-part online course administered by the Title IX Office. Like Haven, this course provides an initial baseline understanding of relationship violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking. The course includes a review of University policies, effective bystander intervention, case studies while emphasizing University resources and reporting options. Students must also complete a pre-and post-assessment. Students complete Part 1 prior to the start of the Fall semester. Part 2 of the course is completed 30 to 45 days following completion of Part 1.

Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing Education: The Title IX Office also offers Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing Education for current students. This online course is approximately 30 minutes in length and provides a review of what behaviors constitute sexual misconduct and ways in which to effectively intervene as a bystander. This course also engages students with recognizing their core values and builds upon those values to identify successful relationships. Students complete a pre-course assessment as well as a post-course assessment that provide benchmarks to gauge learning outcomes. This course is also delivered in two parts, with Part 2 to be completed 30 to 45 days after completion of Part 1.

Sexual Assault Prevention for Student Athletes: Per NCAA requirements, student athletes are required to complete Sexual Assault Prevention for Student Athletes, a continuing education online course administered by the Title IX Office. The course builds off of the knowledge gained through Haven and reviews University policies, resources and reporting options through sport-related case studies.

Preventing Sexual Misconduct – An Overview of Title IX: Throughout the year, the Title IX Office conducts in-person orientation sessions for students, faculty and staff. Building off of knowledge gained through the Title IX Office online courses, this overview provides attendees with an opportunity to interact with additional case studies that stress reporting options and support avenues, including interim measures and other accommodations, as well as an opportunity to ask questions about policies and processes. This in-person overview is available upon request.