Division News & Statements
Statement on Title IX Regulation Changes
May 15, 2020
Dear Campus Community,
In all work and learning conditions,
Grand Valley’s commitment to maintaining a learning environment free
from sexual and gender-based discrimination remains steadfast.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education issued its Title IX
Final Rule, a set of regulations that restructure how educational
institutions that receive federal funding address sexual misconduct.
Grand Valley is required to adhere to these regulations, which have
the force of law, by August 14, 2020.
Since their issuance,
we have been carefully reviewing the regulations with special
attention to how they impact our current policies and procedures, as
well as our compliance with federal and state law. I want to assure
you that the safety and welfare of our campus community guide our
reviews of the new regulations and will inform any changes made to our
policies and procedures.
Updates and training are planned to
ensure the entire campus community is familiar with any changes. In
the meantime, I encourage you to learn more about the university’s
Title IX obligations and support at gvsu.edu/titleix, which also
provides information on remote operations and guidance on how to
report an incident of sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual
assault, dating or domestic violence, stalking, or sexual
exploitation.
The new regulations come at a time when the
very notion of a campus community is undergoing a change due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. As we quarantine in our respective safe places all
over the world, it is not so much the face-to-face interaction and
activity that define our campus community as it is our shared
investment in the value of a liberal education, and our shared belief
in the mission and values of Grand Valley. Wherever we are now, we
are still Lakers.
If you have any questions, you may reach
us by phone at (616) 331-9530 or email at [email protected].
Very sincerely,
Jesse M. Bernal, Ph.D.
Vice President for Inclusion and
Equity
Executive Associate for Presidential Initiatives
Theresa Rowland, M.Ed.
Title IX Coordinator & Equity Officer/Director