WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Title IX
What is Title IX?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §1681 et. seq.)
"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."
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 protects individuals from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX protects members of the WGU community from discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender, gender-identity, gender norms, LGBTQ+, pregnancy/birthing/parenting harassment and discrimination reports, including assault, stalking, quid pro quo, dating and domestic violence (intimate partner violence).
Title IX Policy
Please visit Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy for full details of the WGU policy and Title IX Grievance Process to understand steps taken after reporting through potential formal complaint hearings determinations and other resolutions options.
Policy Statement
Western Governors University (WGU, or “the university”) is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities, that are free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. To ensure compliance with federal and state Title IX laws and regulations, and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program or activity, WGU has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair, and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of sex and gender discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, gender, pregnancy and for allegations of retaliation or sexual violence.
Issues of sexual misconduct under Title IX have a profound impact on academic, social, working, and personal life, and negatively affects friends and families, other students, co-workers, and members of the university community. WGU is here to support students and faculty with supportive measures, individualized and standard, to help remediate concerns to academic and work success. The University encourages any student or employee who thinks they have been subjected to sex discrimination or sexual harassment, including sexual violence, by another student, member of the faculty or staff, or campus visitor or contractor, to immediately report the incident to any of the individual persons or offices listed below.
Pregnancy
WGU does not discriminate against any student or exclude any student from its education program or activity, including any class or extracurricular activity, on the basis of such student's pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery therefrom, unless the student requests voluntarily to participate in a separate portion of the program or activity of the recipient. WGU will excuse a student’s absences because of pregnancy or childbirth for as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences medically necessary. When a student returns to school, they will be allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before their medical leave began.
LGBTQ+ WGU Community Members
WGU welcomes our diverse community members and is consciously working to build an inclusive community that is free from discrimination, harassment and bullying on the bases of sex and gender. Still some community members fear that they may face bullying, harassment and/or discrimination based on sex stereotypes and assumptions. If you believe this has happened to you or a WGU community member, please report.
WGU has appointed a Title IX Coordinator to oversee WGU response to Title IX reports and formal complaints, develop training and education programs/materials for faculty, staff and students, as well as monitor trends and effectiveness of Title IX education efforts.
Rochelle Sydnor Kahl
Title IX Coordinator
Department of Specialized Student Services
4001 South 700 East, Suite 700
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
(385) 428-5843
Email: titleix@wgu.edu
Web: www.speakupwgu.ethicspoint.com
Reporting Alleged Title IX Discrimination or Harassment
All WGU faculty and staff are Mandated Reporters, except for Confidential Resources.
WGU understands reporting Title IX concerns may be overwhelming or may present concerns to the reporter. WGU has Confidential resources, who will keep the reported information confidential. These resources will provide the reporter of alleged Title IX discrimination or harassment the contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and reporting information. These Confidential Resources for students are the Ombuds and Student Wellbeing Services. The confidential resource for employees is Spring Health.
How to Report a Concern
If you believe you or a community member is facing barriers under Title IX circumstances, please report.
Title IX reports can be made directly to the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@wgu.edu or 385-428-5843 or mailed to the address listed above.
Reports can also be made at Speak Up WGU™ online reporting site: www.speakupwgu.ethicspoint.com or Speak Up WGU™ hotline number: 1.844.838.1102. All reporters have the ability to report anonymously through Speak Up WGU™.
Supportive Measures
Supportive Measures are available to students impacted by Title IX reports even without a formal complaint. WGU will offer and implement appropriate and reasonable
supportive measures to the parties upon notice of alleged harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation. Supportive measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to the parties to restore or preserve access to WGU’s education program or activity, including measures designed to protect the safety of all parties or WGU’s educational environment, and/or deter harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation. WGU will maintain the privacy of the supportive measures, provided that privacy does not impair the university’s ability to provide the supportive measures.
These actions may include, but are not limited to:
• Referral to WGU Student Wellbeing Services for counseling, medical, and/or other healthcare services for students
• Referral to the Spring Health and/or Headspace for employees
• Referral to community-based service providers
• Student financial aid counseling
• Altering work arrangements for employees or student-employees
• Safety planning
• Implementing contact limitations (no contact orders) between the parties
• Academic support, extensions of deadlines, or other course/program-related
• Timely warnings
• Course schedule modifications, withdrawals, or leaves of absence
• Any other actions deemed appropriate by the Title IX Coordinator
Violations of no contact orders will be referred to appropriate student or employee conduct processes for enforcement.
Title IX Training
Per 2020 federal regulations, institutions must ensure that coordinators, investigators, advisors, and other participants in the Title IX process receive appropriate training. Federally funded institutions must post any training materials used, where they can be viewed by the public.
WGU utilizes multiple training materials that Title IX staff are required to review. The following Thompson and Coburn modules are used:
- Module 1 – Fundamentals of the Law
- Module 2 – Formal Complaints
- Module 3 – Investigations & Informal Resolutions
- Module 4 – Hearings
- Module 5 – Determinations
- Module 6 – Appeals
In addition to these modules, WGU utilizes ATIXA for providing training and materials. To view these materials email the Title IX Office to arrange an appointment or reach out to ATIXA directly.
