Title IX is a federal law expressed via Roosevelt University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and was created to protect the entire university community from any discrimination based on gender or sex. The laws and university policy applied to individuals participating or seeking to participate in the educational program or activity. In Roosevelt's Sexual Misconduct Policy, sexual misconduct is defined to include, but is not limited to, the following:
Any act of sexual misconduct that is severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive is a violation of, Sexual Misconduct Policy. Other behavior that does not rise to the level of severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive may be a violation of the University Student Code of Conduct or Anti-Harassment Policy. The Office of Title IX Compliance is responsible for investigating all reports of sexual misconduct where a faculty, staff or a student is involved. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for receiving all reports and ensuring the incident(s) are investigated. When sexual misconduct of any kind occurs, the Title IX outcome will focus accountability, prevention of future occurrences, and on providing accommodations for the individual(s) affected by the offense, such as:
This policy applies to sexual misconduct:
The Title IX Coordinator oversees the entire Title IX function of University which includes the education and training component, as well as the University’s centralized review, investigation, and resolution process for reports of sexual misconduct and the University’s compliance with Title IX. The Title IX Coordinator will appoint deputy coordinators and investigators who are trained in state and federal laws that apply to matters of sexual discrimination, as well as University policy and procedure. In all matters related to Title IX, it is the role of the Title IX Coordinator to facilitate the decision-making of the University.
Shana M. Ware, M.S. Ed., NCC
Director for Student Advocacy & Title IX Coordinator
Roosevelt University | Division of Student Affairs
430 S. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL, 60405
Office number: (312) 341-3761
Mobile number: (312) 244 0577
Email address: sware05@roosevelt.edu
Jenni Jordan
AUD T-1735
Office number:(312)341-2198
Email address: jjordan22@roosevelt.edu
To report an incident involving sexual misconduct, any member of the Roosevelt community may contact the University Title IX Coordinator via the communication mechanisms below. RU offers reporters (regardless of being a bystander, third party, or direct party to the issue) opportunity to report electronically, anonymously, and privately. People working in these offices will assist any reporter with notifying local police if they so desire.
Additionally, community members can also contact University Campus Safety or local police.
All parties involved with instances of sexual misconduct have access to resources on and off campus. The Party Rights and Resources for Responding to Sexual Misconduct document is a comprehensive list of campus offices and community organizations available to assist in navigating various capacities of one’s life including but not limited to medical attention, legal assistance, and financial services.
Roosevelt University takes Title IX very seriously. A team of incredibly smart and dedicated faculty, staff, and students has been assembled to conduct a deep-dive analysis of the University’s current policies, procedures, and educational programming centered around Sexual Respect and Title IX. It is not enough for Roosevelt University to simply be in compliance with state and federal regulations; but we strive to make certain that our culture and policies demonstrate our social justice mission and is in compliance with all regulations that govern interpersonal conduct on campus. If you are interested in joining the Sexual Respect Committee please email titleix@roosevelt.edu.
In accordance with 34 CFR 106, RU will post all training documents on this website. The training documents will be links to the slide decks used for a specific training; these links will be named with the title of the training, the group trained, and date of training. For example, Responsible Employee Training for Student Employees, 01.01.2020.
Husch Blackwell - Final Title IX Regulations
Previous Policy
New Policy – Compliant with New Regulation
“Conduct on the basis of sex” that is so severe or pervasive “conduct on the basis of sex” that is determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive.
The university responded to reports of sexual misconduct that occurred on- or off-campus, and abroad. The reporting party could be a student, faculty, or staff member, OR an external community member. Schools must respond when sexual harassment occurs in the school’s education program or activity, against a person in the United States. Education program or activity includes locations, events, or circumstances over which the school exercised substantial control over both the respondent and the context in which the sexual harassment occurs, and also includes any building owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by a postsecondary institution.
Any person could trigger the investigatory process by submitting a report. An investigation could be triggered even though the alleged victim requested to remain anonymous. Roosevelt’s formal obligation to investigate a report of sexual harassment under this grievance procedure is triggered by the filing of a “formal complaint”. A formal complaint is a physical or electronic document signed by an alleged victim of sexual harassment or the TIX Coordinator specifically requesting an investigation.
Any report received alleging misconduct would be investigated to determine if a violation occurred, regardless if submitted by the alleged victim. The new policy requires the submission of a formal complaint, by the alleged victim (or Title IX Coordinator), non-anonymously, for an investigation to ensue. A formal complaint may be filed with the Title IX Coordinator in person, by mail, or by electronic mail.
The former policy was a single investigator model; one person conducted the investigation and made a recommendation to the Title IX Coordinator. The new policy requires the Title IX Coordinator to manage the reports and supportive measures; requires a separate individual to be the investigator; requires a separate individual (from the investigator and coordinator) to be the decision-maker (Adjudicator); requires the institution to provide advisors when either party does not have one; requires an appellate officer. Therefore, there are possibly five individuals involved in a case.
The former policy allowed for one person, the Title IX Coordinator or Investigator, to make the determination based on a separate hearing (one on one with the investigator) with both parties. The new law requires the university to conduct a live hearing in which both parties must be present; this may occur using technology to prevent both parties from being in the same room. This live hearing grants each party the opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence to the Title IX Adjudicator. Each party is represented by their Advisor, who will conduct cross-examination of the opposing party’s witnesses and other evidence. The hearing must be recorded, and the recording and transcripts must be made available to both parties.
Supportive measures, formerly interim measures, were offered to both parties without restrictive guidelines.
The former policy allotted 90 days for the investigation to take place; the hearing and appellate review were not constrained by a number of days. The new policy defines university business days as days in which the institution is open and fully operating, barring act of god incidents, university holidays, and other unforeseen closures. The investigation is allotted 90 university business days; the hearing is allotted 45 university business days; the appellate review is allotted 45 university business days.
Both parties were granted the right to have an advisor to be of support to them throughout the process; advisors were not engaged by the investigator or title IX coordinator. Both parties must have an advisor to conduct the cross-examination during the live hearing. If a party does not have an advisor, the university must provide one free of charge.
Witnesses were given the opportunity to provide statements for either party involved in the case, and if relevant, it would be used in the determination analysis. Witnesses’ or parties’ statements will not be considered in the determination analysis if that individual chooses not to participate in cross-examination.
Either party could appeal the outcome of an investigation. The appeal would be granted if one of the following were met:
The new regulations require appeal criteria to include:
Additionally, the non-appealing party must be notified of the appeal and allowed to submit a written statement in response.