Dear Colleagues,
I am writing in my capacity as George Fox University Title IX coordinator to you in your capacity as a faculty member (including adjunct faculty members), administrator, or staff member who has regular contact with students, colleagues and campus visitors. This information is very important, so I ask you to read it carefully and let us know if you have any questions.
At George Fox, we place a very high value on the importance of fostering a Christ-centered campus climate that rejects discrimination and supports members of our community. Our individual roles as stewards of the safety and well-being of others is coupled with our responsibility to carefully and faithfully fulfill our legal obligations under Title IX, the Clery Act, and the Campus SaVE Act, and other relevant federal and state actions. (As you are no doubt aware, Title IX is federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment and assault. Among other requirements, the Campus SaVE Act has expectations about campus-wide education and reporting mechanisms surrounding sexual misconduct, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, and bystander intervention.)
These obligations include the following, of which you may or may not already be aware:
Campus Education
Every university faculty member, administrator and staff member who has contact with students and colleagues is required by law to have training and education in the areas noted in this letter. Information regarding future trainings and educational opportunities will be sent to you from the Office of Student Life and the human resources office.
Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, or Sexual Assault
If a student discloses to you an incident involving sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual assault or you witness such an incident, you are obligated to report it to me as the Title IX Coordinator or to one of the designated deputy coordinators in accordance with our policies and procedures as well as Title IX obligations.
Please see the following for community policies:
Harassment, Discrimination, Bias Incidents, Stalking, Domestic Violence, or Dating Violence
Under university policy and legal requirements, if a student wishes to disclose information to you in confidence about harassment, discrimination, bias-related incidents, stalking, domestic violence, or dating violence please inform the student that you may not be able to guarantee confidentiality; that, depending on what the student discloses, you may be obligated to take appropriate follow-up action whether the student wants you to or not (particularly if the Title IX Coordinator or deputy determines that there is a potential threat to the student or the George Fox community).
(Important Note: Under Title IX, confidentiality can only be assured by the counseling staff at the Health and Counseling Center, Behavioral Health Clinic and the university’s pastoral staff in the spiritual life office. All other employees of the university must report the incident.)
Word to Supervisors
If you are a supervisor, including faculty who oversee student research assistants or other student employees, and you observe or otherwise learn of harassing or discriminatory behavior by employees in your area of oversight, you are likewise obligated to take action in accordance with federal and state laws and university policies and procedures. Failure to do so is not only a potential violation of law and university policy, the consequences for non-compliance are high – the health, happiness and safety of others in our Christ-centered community may be jeopardized and failure to comply with Title IX puts the university’s federal funds at risk as well.
Thank you for doing your part to ensure compliance with federal laws and rules, both in letter and in spirit. If you have any questions or concerns (or need consultation about a particular situation), please feel free to contact:
Sincerely,
Brad Lau,
Vice President for Student Life/Title IX Coordinator
Title IX Deputy Coordinators:
- Laura Hartley, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences (503-554-2143, lhartley@georgefox.edu)
- Mark Pothoff, Dean of Community Life (503-554-2313, mpothoff@georgefox.edu)
- Lisa Burton, Associate Director of Human Resources (503-554-2183, lburton@georgefox.edu)
- Elise Trask, Associate Director of Athletics (503-554-2934, etrask@georgefox.edu)
- Carol Brazo, Associate Professor of Education, Portland Center (503-554-6115, cbrazo@georgefox.edu)
- Rebecca Hernandez, Associate VP for Intercultural Engagement & Faculty Development (503-443-2217, rhernandez@georgefox.edu)
