What is Title IX?
Title IX is federal law that was established as part of the 1972 Higher Education Acts to address sex-based discrimination in educational settings. On higher education campuses, such as CoW, Title IX requires that there be a designated person who responds to all reports of sex-based discrimination. This person is known as the Title IX Coordinator. At CoW, this person is:
Chelsea C. Polly, J.D.
Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator
Longbrake Student Wellness Center
330-265-2350
cpolly@wooster.edu
How do I report an Incident of Title IX?
Any student, faculty, or staff member can report directly to the Civil Rights and Title IX Coordinator by email, phone call/teams call, or by filing an online report. Persons may also report to any mandatory reporter on campus, such as professors, advisors, RAs, and/or coaches. Unless designated otherwise, ALL employees are mandatory reporters at CoW. Please see below for confidential reporting options.
- On Campus
- Counseling Center – Longbrake Wellness Center – 330-263-2319
- Student Health Services – Longbrake Wellness Center – 330-263-2319
- Rev Erin Guzmán – College Chaplain – Lowry Center – eguzman@wooster.edu
- Off Campus
- Timely Care (STUDENTS ONLY) – Virtual 24/7 – timelycare.com/wooster
- Employee Assistance Programs (EMPLOYEES ONLY)
- OneEighty (Crisis Center) – 104 Spink St, Wooster, OH 44691 – (330) 264-8498
What happens when a report is filed?
Whether a report is filed by the affected person or on their behalf, the Civil Rights and Title IX Coordinator will outreach to the affected person to schedule some time to discuss the report and go over options and resources. This outreach is the ONLY guaranteed step to occur. Students and employees are not required to schedule this meeting and can decline it. The meeting will always be an open invitation.
A report can but does not always lead to disciplinary action. There are intermediate steps and supportive measures that can be used to mitigate or resolve the situation. All of theses options and resources will be discussed in the initial meeting.
Does the other person know that a report was filed against them?
No, unless a No-Contact Directive (NCD) or formal complaint has been filed against them. A person will not be informed by the Title IX office that an initial report has been filed against them.
What is the difference between a Formal Complaint and an Initial Report?
An initial report alerts the Title IX Coordinator that there is someone on campus who needs access to options and resources. One of the potential options is to file a formal complaint against the other person. The formal complaint opens up two pathways; an informal resolution and an official investigation. The Title IX Coordinator will inform the affected person if a formal complaint is an option for their situation.