At Colorado College, our Title IX process reflects a collective commitment to peer involvement and community-informed decision-making. Updates to federal Title IX regulations in 2020 required colleges to implement a more formal, standardized approach to handling complaints, including investigations and hearings with designated decision makers. This shift created an opportunity for CC to engage the campus community in shaping how hearings would function, resulting in a model grounded in shared governance. Faculty and staff expressed a clear preference for trained colleagues to serve as Decision Makers, ensuring outcomes are informed by the values and context of our own community.
That model depends on broad participation to be sustained. We aim to have a pool of about 50 trained Decision Makers, including at least 25 faculty; currently, we have ten participants, including three faculty. Without a significant increase in participation in the coming months, we will need to move away from this community-based approach and transition to a single Decision Maker model—an outcome that does not reflect what our campus community asked for.
We need additional faculty and staff to step forward for training to sustain this model. Serving as a Decision Maker is a meaningful way to uphold a process shaped by and for our CC community.
Decision Maker trainings are offered from April-July on the third Wednesday of each month, from 12:30-4 p.m. Lunch is provided. The next training will be Wednesday, April 29. These trainings are built to provide you will all the tools you will need to be prepared to serve on a three-person hearing panel. The training provides an overview of key civil rights laws, including Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, and the ADA, and how federal and state requirements are applied at CC. You’ll engage in discussion, work through practical case examples in small groups, and gain a clearer understanding of how the College supports fair, equitable processes.
This is a structured, supported role and a meaningful way to contribute to a process this community asked for—while also building knowledge and experience that can inform your work more broadly.
If you’re open to participating or would like to learn more, please reach out to me directly at djensen@coloradocollege.edu. You may also review the policy on our website.
Thank you for helping ensure this work remains grounded in our community.
With appreciation,
