Office of Civil Rights and Title IX 'ready to listen' with expanded protections, services, resources

January 7, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 9)
Article by Michele Coffill

five people, two standing on either end of a couch and three people seated on couch

From left are Office of Civil Rights and Title IX staff members Kathleen VanderVeen, Stacy Piasecki, MJ Creutz, Heather Walker and Cameron Jones.

Photo Credit: Cory Morse

A day in the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX (OCRTIX) can be heavy at times. Meetings and emails are filled with discussions of potential complaints, violations and compliance requirements.

Kathleen VanderVeen and her team keep the energy high by focusing on service to the campus community. VanderVeen serves as associate vice president, deputy chief inclusion and equity officer and Title IX coordinator. Others on the OCRTIX team are MJ Creutz and Stacy Piasecki, who serve as associate directors and deputy Title IX coordinators; Cameron Jones, Civil Rights specialist; and Heather Walker, administrative assistant. OCRTIX is housed within the new Division of People, Equity, and Culture in the Inclusion and Equity Department.

For them, the university’s Interim Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment and Misconduct, which was implemented last semester, is an opportunity to do more.

VanderVeen said the policy expands protections and resolution options for the entire campus community. The new interim policy was accompanied by a new Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Pregnancy-Related Conditions Policy that outlines rights and resources for students and employees.

What is OCRTIX?
The OCRTIX, in Zumberge Hall, is where students, faculty and staff can go to report incidents of discrimination, harassment or misconduct that involve a GVSU individual, program or activity. Reports can be filed online or by contacting the OCRTIX directly.

After OCRTIX receives a report, VanderVeen said staff discuss options and share resources with the impacted party. Some students may only request a change in their class or housing assignments, while others pursue a formal complaint, investigation and hearing.

VanderVeen said the office’s procedures are designed to help end discrimination, remedy its effects on targeted groups and stop future occurrences. She added it’s important to remember that the OCRTIX can help when discrimination or harassment involves speech, as some speech crosses a line, losing First Amendment protections.

"OCRTIX provides a neutral space and resources for both the person filing a formal complaint and for the person being accused," she said. "Our team is ready to help and keeps a simple motto in mind, 'When you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen.'"

OCRTIX also monitors the completion of the Mandatory Reporter Training, which is available in Workday Learning. VanderVeen said the module is helpful for all employees to understand what's required of them.