Dear Members of the Lafayette Community,
With everything that has been happening in the world and at home, Secretary of Education Betsy Devos’ May 6 announcement that new Title IX (TIX) regulations will go into immediate effect may seem like a faint and distant memory. On behalf of the Presidential Oversight Committee on Sexual Misconduct (POCSM), we, as co-chairs of the committee, would like to update you on some of the significant steps Lafayette College will be taking in order to be in compliance with these new federal regulations, many of which affect the changes our institution implemented over the past couple of years in promoting and maintaining the health of the college community.
We are posting an interim Title IX policy, effective today, to comply with the directive of the United States Department of Education. We will bring the policy and completed procedures through our normal governance process immediately at the start of the fall semester. This means the faculty, staff, student government, and our Board of Trustees will all have an opportunity to provide feedback and propose changes.
While there are varying opinions as to the strengths and weaknesses of the new regulations, it is the College’s goal to emphasize the best parts of the regulations while also addressing the potential impact of some of the more challenging provisions. Importantly, Lafayette provides procedural protections that are important to all members of this community, including:
While the new regulations require changes to the College’s policies and procedures, what remains constant is our dedication to a process that respects the equal dignity of all members of the Lafayette community. We respect the right of those who experience sexual harassment to proceed in the way that is best for them and their healing. We respect their right to choose to bring a report forward for a formal resolution or to seek a response from the College that is primarily centered on supportive measures and resources available from the College and/or the larger community. Fair process is a priority, as is repairing harm and facilitating healing and safety for all members of the community irrespective of race, sex, gender identity/expression, age, ability, religion, socio-economic status, and the other qualities/identities that we value as a diverse community.
To learn more about the revised College policies, please visit Lafayette’s Title IX website. POCSM is in the process of finalizing updated procedures that will be posted in the coming weeks.
If you have questions about the process or wish to talk to someone about your options to report or seek support, please contact Amanda Hanincik, director of educational equity and Title IX coordinator. We will continue to respond to One Pard reports with offers of resources and the opportunity to meet and discuss options. Additionally, there is a new form for formal complaints. There is no time limit on the reporting of offenses to the College. If you have been accused of an offense, please find resources to support you: FACE and SAVE.
We understand these are complex issues, and individuals have strong feelings about the regulations. We welcome your voices and input as we strive to improve our Title IX program and be responsive to the concerns of members of our community. We will host several open meetings to collect your feedback as we move the interim policy through our governance process. We wish you a healthy and safe 2020-21 academic year.
Amanda Hanincik, Director of Educational Equity/TIX Coordinator
Sidney Donnell, Professor of Spanish (Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures)