This general qualitative research utilized semi-structured interviews of eight (8) experienced Title IX investigators from institutions of higher education (IHEs) in Massachusetts to understand federal Title IX regulatory compliance burdens. The rate of occurrence of sexual assault and harassment, as forms of sex discrimination, at IHEs remain…

This study explored how 14 higher education and student affairs (HESA) professionals navigated institutional policy vacuums to address interpersonal racial conflict between students. Grounded in perspectives of policy vacuums, findings revealed that HESA professionals learned about racial conflict by referring to their own personal, professional,…

While the U.S. population has become increasingly diverse, college faculty may not reflect those same levels of diversity. Little is known at the national level about the relationship between faculty diversity and student outcomes. Separately, faculty have reported experiencing discrimination at colleges. GAO was asked to review faculty diversity…

Title IX Coordinators are responsible for implementing standardized procedures related to each component of Title IX procedures on college and university campuses. The problem this study addressed was the gap in practice regarding the ways colleges and universities implement standardized procedures to ensure equitable due process for involved…

This qualitative study furthers understanding of psychological contract violation experiences as examined through the lens of administrative middle managers in higher education settings. Psychological contract is defined as unstated expectations in the employment relationship which, when violated, results in negative outcomes for employers and…

It is well known that disabled students face a myriad of barriers to inclusion while navigating higher education. Institutional policies and practices serve as fundamental drivers to the operation of a university and, as such, play a significant role in the support, experiences, protections, and inclusion of disabled students. This study…

In this case Title IX noncompliance grievances filed against higher education institutions (HEI) due to sexual misconduct incidents are explored. The Office of Civil Rights on the Department of Education's website provided data on the proper way to file Title IX sexual misconduct grievances. The OCR website also provided letters of findings from…

Complaints are an essential tool not only to resolve student problems but also to identify patterns of widespread misconduct and take action to prevent ongoing harm to students and taxpayers. However, the current complaint landscape is complex and not well designed to serve students' needs. "Unheard Voices: The Case for Improving Higher…

Despite sexual harassment being rampant in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) of Nepal, there are no sexual harassment prevention policies or mechanisms in universities. The Government of Nepal formulated the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention) Act 2014, but it is insufficient in the context of universities. Moreover, due to the lack of…

'Grievance and Complaint Handling' encompasses the policies and procedures implemented by higher education providers in response to a grievance or complaint expressed against the provider by another party, including students, staff or members of the wider community. However the "Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards)…

Most education and legal scholarship overlook gendered-race themes in pre-Brown v. Board of Education desegregation higher education cases that remain relevant to examining post-"Brown" race-conscious admissions cases. The author engaged critical race feminism to create a counterstory with Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, a U.S. Supreme Court…

The purpose of this report is to share with the U.S. Department of Education (Department) observations made by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) concerning institutions of higher education (IHE) that ceased to provide educational instruction in all programs of study (closed) and received or had access to coronavirus response and relief aid…

In this study, students' perceptions of Title IX were examined before and after a training session on Title IX. Conducted at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the southeastern region of the United States, the goal of this qualitative study was to explore how Title IX training affected the students' perceptions of sexual assault…

Institutional Title IX processes fail to adequately address harms and needs which result from campus sexual misconduct, leaving many students dissatisfied. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate this problem within a specific university community and consider how to aim for improvement. Through surveys, interviews, and a…

Sexual assault reporting rates remain low on college campuses due to many barriers, including lack of knowledge about navigating the reporting process (Yoshimura & Campbell, 2016). Additionally, newly implemented Title IX regulations require a formal complaint in order to hold the perpetrator accountable and provide appropriate resources to…