Office of the PresidentCommitteesTitle IX Committee

Title IX Committee

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681 is a federal law that bans sex discrimination in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

Function

The Title IX Committee is formally charged with advising the president of Washington State University on matters relating to the University’s compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These deal with nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities receiving or benefiting from federal financial assistance.

Specifically, the committee is charged with monitoring, evaluating, and determining if sex equity exists in the areas of financial aid, student housing, admissions, intercollegiate athletics, and compensation, and with coordinating the University’s efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX and its implementing regulations, including the investigation of complaints of discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, and sex and gender based violence.

Composition and tenure

The University president appoints members to this committee upon the recommendation of the University’s lead Title IX coordinator. Membership is reviewed on an annual basis to include representation from student affairs, athletics, and faculty/staff.

BACKGROUND

  • Title IX reads, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
  • Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual assault.
  • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX)
  • Washington State University Executive Policy 15 prohibits discrimination and sexual harassment.

Title IX coordinators

If you have a complaint of sexual harassment, sex discrimination, or sex or gender based violence, you may contact any one of the officials listed below, who will facilitate the handling of the complaint with the appropriate office.

LEAD COORDINATOR

Holly Ashkannejhad
Director of Compliance and Civil Rights
Compliance and Civil Rights
French Ad 225
titleix.coordinator@wsu.edu
509-335-8288

As the lead coordinator, Ashkannejhad has responsibility for:

  • Coordinating the University’s efforts to comply with and carry out it’s  responsibilities under Title IX and it’s implementing regulations;
  • Coordinating the investigation of all complaints of discrimination on the basis of sex;
  • Providing yearly training to the other Title IX administrators on WSU specific practices;
  • Providing consultations and making recommendations to university departments regarding Tile IX compliance, including, but not limited to, providing review and recommendations on:
    • Employment practices
    • Single-sex courses/extracurricular activities
    • Admissions, recruitment, and/or advising practices
  • Reviewing Title IX materials, pamphlets, training’s, communications, and other documents to ensure compliance with Title IX;
  • Ensuring WSU grievance procedures comply with Title IX;
  • Coordinating employee climate surveys, related to Title IX;
  • Developing and Coordinating employee training’s on sexual harassment and sexual misconduct;
  • Providing Title IX training to Deputy Title IX Coordinators and/or liaisons on a yearly basis;
  • Record-keeping of Title IX complaints and monitoring for patterns: and
  • Analyzing data and developing reports.

DEPUTY COORDINATOR

Jenna Van Klaveren
Assistant Director – Investigations
Compliance and Civil Rights
titleix.coordinator@wsu.edu
509-335-8288

DEPUTY COORDINATOR, ATHLETICS

Anne McCoy
Deputy Director of Athletics
Bohler Gym 108a
amccoy@wsu.edu
509-335-7149

As the deputy coordinator for athletics, McCoy is responsible for:

  • Coordinating Title IX training and education for student athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators and staff;
  • Coordinating, delegating, and/or participating in Title IX compliance reviews relating to equity in Athletics, including but not limited to:
    • Student Interests and abilities
    • Athletic benefits and opportunities
    • Athletic financial assistance
    • Compensation equity
    • Facilities equity
    • Policy  equity
  • Coordinating athletics related interim measures;
  • Referring complaints to CCR as appropriate; and
  • Delegating the above tasks as appropriate within Athletics-if delegated, the Deputy Title IX Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the delegate is trained and knowledgeable about their specific responsibilities.

DEPUTY COORDINATOR, STUDENT AFFAIRS

Deputy Coordinators share system-wide responsibilities relating to student Title IX compliance, including:

  • Referring complaints to CCR as appropriate;
  • Coordinating academic and support services for students, including for students experiencing Title IX concerns and who are pregnant or parenting;
  • Coordinating interim measures for reporting and responding parties, which may include, but is not limited to, coordinating housing, support resources, and/or academic/work schedules;
  • Coordinating primary prevention and awareness training for new students;
  • Receiving training on Title IX from CCR or external resources on a yearly basis;
  • Administering the student campus climate survey;
  • Delegating the above tasks as appropriate-if delegated, the Deputy Title IX Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the delegate is trained and knowledgeable about their specific responsibilities.  Delegates may be identified as a Title IX Liaison, in order to appropriately identify them to students: and
  •  The Associate Vice President/Dean of Students, is also responsible for coordinating the conduct and sanctioning processes for the system

Deputy Coordinators for Student Affairs include:

Amy Sharp
Interim Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Director of the Women*s Center
Wilson-Short Hall, Ground Floor, Room 8
alsharp@wsu.edu
509-335-5662

Anna Plemmons
Interim Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Associate Vice Chancellor Academics and Student Affairs
Assistant Professor (Career Track), DTC
Floyd 269F
aplemons@wsu.edu
509-372-7000

Jane Summers
Director of Student Affairs and Wellness
SAC 130
jane.summers@wsu.edu
509-358-7537

Domanic Thomas
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, WSU-Vancouver
domanic.thomas@wsu.edu
360-546-9571

Debbie O’Donnell
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, WSU-Global Campus
SAC 211
debrao@wsu.edu
509-368-6901

Anna McLeod
Deputy Title IX Co-Coordinator
Director of Student Services
WSU Everett
anna.mcleod2@wsu.edu
425-405-1600

Sean McNaughton
Deputy Title IX Co-Coordinator
Emergency Management, Building and Grounds Supervisor
WSU Everett
sean.mcnaughton@wsu.edu
425-315-4014

HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES, TITLE IX

Human Resource Services staff share responsibilities for Title IX support and are responsible for:

  • Providing information on WSU processes for reporting, as well as resource information, on request;
  • Providing advice and recommendations regarding Title IX Compliance for employees to CCR, the Office of the Provost, and/or the Faculty Senate, as needed;
  • Referring complaints to CCR as appropriate;
  • Serving as a knowledge expert regarding interim measures and sanctioning processes in employee investigations; and
  • Providing support, recommendations, and review for equity in employment compensation, search processes, and job descriptions.