This document provides training for Florida Atlantic University student employees on their responsibilities as "Responsible Employees" under Title IX. As Responsible Employees, student employees are required to report incidents of sexual misconduct, including the names of involved students, to the Deputy Title IX Coordinator. The training defines sexual misconduct, outlines reporting requirements and procedures, addresses how to speak with students about sensitive issues, and provides campus resources and answers to frequently asked questions about Responsible Employee obligations and the reporting process.

1. Florida Atlantic University
Office of Student Conduct
Title IX:
Student Employees and
Sexual Misconduct on
campus

2. Office of Student Conduct
Why is Title IX important?
 Title IX of the Education Amendments act of 1972
protects people from sex discrimination in
educational programs and activities that receive
federal financial assistance.
 FAU is committed to providing an environment free
from discrimination on the basis of sex. FAU
provides many resources to students, faculty, and staff
to address concerns relating to discrimination on the
basis of sex, which also includes sexual misconduct.

3. Office of Student Conduct
To provide university student staff of their role asrole as
a Responsible Employeea Responsible Employee in compliance with
federal law and University policy
To inform university student staff of their
obligation to report incidents of prohibited sexual
conduct pursuant to federal law and University
policy
Purpose of this training

4. Office of Student Conduct
Sexual Misconduct
What is it?

5. Office of Student Conduct
Defining Sexual Misconduct
 Conduct of a sexual nature including stalking,
dating/domestic violence, sexual
battery/assault, sexual harassment
 Is unwelcome, and
 Denies or limits a student’s ability to
participate in or receive the benefits, services or
opportunities of the university’s program
 This includes sexual violence (conduct of a
criminal nature)

6. Office of Student Conduct
• Under Title IX, the University is obligated to address
sexual misconduct about which a responsible employee
knew or should have known about.
• Under Title IX, certain university employees are
obligated to report incidents of alleged sexual
misconduct.
• Misconduct to the University Deputy Title IX
Coordinator or other appropriate school designee.
• The Deputy Title IX Coordinator must be informed of all
reports of complaints raising Title IX issues. Deputy
Title IX Coordinator for Student Affairs – Joanna Ellwood
(jellwood@fau.edu)
Title IX Responsible Employee

7. Office of Student Conduct
• Any employee who has the authority to take
action to redress sexual misconduct
• Any employee who has been given the duty of
reporting incidents of sexual violence or
prohibited sexual misconduct
• Any employee a student could reasonably
believe has the authority or duty
Who is a Responsible Employee?
YOU ARE!

8. Office of Student Conduct
In cases involving Student-on-Student sexual misconduct or
violence a Responsible Employee must report the following:
•All relevant details about the alleged sexual misconduct that
the student another person has shared. These facts may
include:
• Name(s) of alleged perpetrators
• Name(s) of student who experienced the alleged sexual
violence
• Locations of the alleged sexual assault
• Time and Date of the alleged sexual assault
What must a Responsible Employee report?

9. Office of Student Conduct
Before a student reveals information that he or she may wish to
keep confidential, a responsible employee should make every
effort so that the student understands:
•Student employees obligation to report the names of the
alleged perpetrator and student involved in the sexual
misconduct
•Students option to request that the school maintain his or her
confidentiality
•Students ability to share information confidentially with
counseling, advocacy or other sexual-assault related services
Speaking with students

10. Office of Student Conduct
So what should you do if responding
to possible sexual misconduct?
 Don’t be judgmental
 Listen closely and attentively
 Acknowledge how the individual is
feeling
 Explain you will need to inform a
university official

11. Office of Student Conduct
Resources for Students
 Title IX Coordinator
 Deputy Title IX Coordinators
 Victim Advocate - Library Room 156
 Counseling (free & confidential)
 FAU PD
 Student Health Services (confidential)

12. Office of Student Conduct
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS

13. Office of Student Conduct
QUESTION: Why do I have to report?
ANSWER:
IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO
TITLE IX as enforced by the U.S. Department of
Education’s Office of Civil Rights requires certain
University employees who come in contact with
students report such matters so that the
University can appropriately respond.

14. Office of Student Conduct
QUESTION: Can I tell the student that the
information is confidential?
 ANSWER: NO! You are required to report the information to your
supervisor, do not promise confidentiality as a subsequent
investigation may not be able to provide “complete confidentiality”
(due to the fact that an investigation may include interviewing a
witness or multiple witnesses that would have to be informed about
the nature of the allegation in order to respond to it) PLEASE
NOTE: There is a difference between confidentiality and privacy.
You can inform the student that you will keep the information
private. Privacy suggests that you will only inform the University
employee(s) that need to know in order to respond to the complaint;
inform them that you will not repeat the information to colleagues,
other students, or third parties.

15. Office of Student Conduct
QUESTION: What will happen after I
report the information?
ANSWER: It depends on the nature of the allegations, the entities
involved, the student’s level of cooperation, and several other factors.
However, generally the Deputy Title IX Coordinator will initiate contact
with the student and in consultation with other appropriate University
offices (Dean of Students’ Office, FAUPD, Counseling Center etc) first
ensure that the student is safe and determine what, if any, interim measures
are necessary to ensure safety. Interim measures could separating the
accuser and the accused if they share the same residence hall, classes,
student organizations, etc. Interim measures could include interim
suspension, a “no-contact order”, or other measures that are deemed
appropriate given the situation and determined to be necessary to ensure
safety for the accuser while also providing due process to the accused.

16. Office of Student Conduct
QUESTION:I know this student pretty well. Can
I help them resolve the matter instead of
reporting it?
 ANSWER: ABSOLUTELY NOT! If you have a good
relationship with the Student and truly want to help, then
report the matter to the proper University officials. Often
times good intentions can quickly go awry when individuals
attempt to handle such matters without proper training or
experience. The University also would never want you to put
yourself in a situation that could bring you (or the Student
harm). The best thing that you can to is forward the
information to the appropriate authorities i.e the Deputy Title
IX Coordinator.

17. Office of Student Conduct
QUESTION: I do not believe what the student is saying
and do not want to “get anyone in trouble”. In fact, I
think the allegation is ridiculous; do I still have to report?
 ANSWER: ABSOLUTELY! Regardless of what you think
about the merits of an alleged misconduct you MUST report it
to the Deputy Title IX Coordinator. It is the responsibility of
appropriate University officials i.e. Deputy Title IX
Coordinator, UPD, Dean of Students, to investigate and
determine the merits of an alleged assault. Please report
forward and let the appropriate officials do their job. A
subsequent investigation can assist in determining the merits
of an allegation and whether a punitive measure is required.

18. Office of Student Conduct
•Title IX Coordinator: Ms. Katrina
Oliver (katrinaoliver@fau.edu)
www. fau.edu/eic
•Deputy Title IX Coordinator: Joanna
Ellwood (jellwood@fau.edu)
www.fau.edu/studentconduct/
Thank You!
For More Information, Please Contact: