Title IX
At UWRF, we're committed to preventing and responding to sexual misconduct and interpersonal violence in order to ensure a safe and equitable educational environment for all. Our office is responsible for responding to reports of sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking and taking prompt action to stop that behavior, prevent its recurrence and remedy its effects. Because we must all do our part to ensure a safe and equitable educational environment, our office regularly collaborates with other campus partners and community stakeholders.
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File A Title IX Report
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Resources, Definitions and Laws
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Sexual Misconduct
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Reporting Concerns and Requirements
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Pregnant, Expecting, Parenting Students
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Violence Prevention
Title IX is a federal civil rights law passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972 and it protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Just 37 words long, Title IX provides that: "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."
Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, sex-based misconduct, relationship violence, discrimination based on pregnancy and the failure to provide equal opportunities in employment, admissions or any educational programs or activities.
UW-River Falls adheres to all federal, state and local civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and education, and does not discriminate in its admissions practices, in its employment practices, or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex.
For the purpose of compliance with section 106.45 of the Title IX Final Rules, the UWRF Title IX Coordinator, investigators, decision-makers and any person who facilitates an informal resolution process in Title IX compliance and practices are required to take the State University of New York (SUNY) training.
Sex discrimination is interpreted by the university to include discrimination based on the following:
- Sex
- Gender
- Gender identity
- Gender expression
- Sexual orientation
Conduct prohibited by Title IX and UWRF's policy:
- Sex Discrimination
- Sexual Harassment
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Exploitation
- Dating Violence
- Domestic Violence
- Stalking
- Retaliation
- Providing false information to a reporting or investigatory office on a Title IX matter
- Refusal to comply with a reasonable request on a Title IX matter
Title IX’s protection extends to a broad array of university programs, benefits and services, including:
- Admission/Recruitment
- Housing
- Facilities
- Access to classes
- Counseling
- Financial assistance
- Employment assistance
- Health insurance
- Marital or parental status, including pregnancy
- Athletics
- Employment
The mission of University of Wisconsin-River Falls is to provide a teaching, learning and working environment in which faculty, staff, and students can discover, examine critically, preserve, and transmit the knowledge, wisdom, and values that will improve quality of life for all. To promote these institutional values, UW-River Falls is committed to creating and maintaining a community environment that is free from sexual violence and sexual harassment.
NOTE: In accordance with new federal Title IX regulations effective August 14, 2020, the UW‐River Falls policy on sexual violence and harassment has been updated.
The Title IX and Compliance Office reports to the Dean of Students within the Division of Student Success.
If you have any compliments, suggestions, information or concerns about our office, please let us know using this process.
Staff
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April Chaney
Title IX Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Office: 232 Rodli Hall
Phone: 715-425-0720
Email: april.chaney@uwrf.edu
Education:
- Juris Doctor, cum laude – University of Mississippi
- B.A., Geography/Environmental Studies, cum laude – University of California, Los Angeles
Training:
- Aug. 22, 2023 – Restorative Justice training, 4 credits
- Dec. 6, 2023 – Informal Resolutions in Title IX training, 6 credits
- Dec. 18, 2023 – Lunch and Learn: The Cost of Caring: Understanding Your Vicarious Trauma, 1.5 credits
- Jan. 17, 2024 – What is Severe, Persistent, and Objectively Offensive Title IX Sexual Harassment?, 0.3 credits
- SUNY Title IX Compliance Certificate 2023-2024, valid Feb. 13, 2024-Feb. 12, 2025
- Jan. 29, 2024: Legal Framework for Understanding Conflicts of Interest and Bias, 0.65 credits
- Jan. 29, 2024: What Is Affirmative Consent?, 0.25 credits
- Jan. 29, 2024: Privacy, Confidentiality & Privilege in Disclosures of Sexual and Interpersonal Violence, 0.5 credits
- Jan. 30, 2024: Due Process Part One: Theory and History, 0.7 credits
- Jan. 30, 2024: Cultural Relevance and Inclusiveness, and Responding to Sexual and Interpersonal Violence on Campus, 0.6 credits
- Jan. 30, 2024: Understanding the Investigative Report Template for Investigations of Title IX Sexual Harassment, 0.35 credits
- Jan. 31, 2024: Title IX Final Rule Basics, 0.6 credits
- Jan. 31, 2024: No Contact Orders, Emergency Removals, and Interim Suspensions, 0.5 credits
- Jan. 31, 2024: Collecting and Understanding Specialized Evidence, 1 credit
- Feb. 2, 2024: Effective Interviewing of Parties and Witnesses, 0.85 credits
- Feb. 2, 2024: Relevance and Decorum in a Title IX Hearing, 0.5 credits
- Feb. 12, 2024: Cross-Examination in a Title IX Hearing, 0.5 credits
- Feb. 12, 2024: Determining Relevance in Title IX Hearings, 0.5 credits
- Feb. 13, 2024: Neurobiology of Sexual Assault Trauma – Part 1, 0.35 credits
- Feb. 13, 2024: Disability Law in Student Conduct Proceedings, 0.4 credits
Michelle Benedict
Deputy Title IX Coordinator/Chief Human Resources Officer
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Office: 216 North Hall
Phone: 715-425-3073
Email: michelle.benedict@uwrf.edu
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Jordan Cantele
Title IX Investigator
Pronouns: he/him/his
Office: 235 Rodli Hall
Phone: 715-425-0720
Email: jordan.cantele@uwrf.edu
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Kayla Ross
Title IX Investigator
Pronouns: she/they
Office: 235 Rodli Hall
Phone: 715-425-0720
Email: kayla.ross@uwrf.edu
Training:
- July 6, 2023– FERPA Fundamentals: Releasing Records without Consent, 0.4 hours
- July 6, 2023– What is Affirmative Consent, 0.25 hours
- July 6, 2023– CAS Standards: Sexual Violence Related Programs and Services, 0.25 hours
- July 6, 2023– Privacy, Confidentiality & Privilege in Disclosures of Sexual and Interpersonal Violence, 0.5 hours
- July 6, 2023– Making your Practices More Inclusive: The Intersection of Title IX and LGBTQ+ Support, 0.65 hours
- July 7, 2023 – Due Process Part One: Theory and History, 0.7 hours
- July 7, 2023 – What is Severe, Persistent, and Objectively Offensive Title IX Sexual Harassment?, 0.3 hours
- July 7, 2023 – No Contact Orders, emergency Removals, and Interim Suspensions, 0.5 hours
- July 7, 2023 – Supportive Measures in response to Reports of Sexual and Interpersonal Violence, 0.65 hours
- July 7, 2023 – Title IX Final Rule Basics, 0.6 hours
- July 7, 2023 – Due Process Part Two: Practical Application, 0.25 hours
- July 10, 2023 – Collecting and Understanding Specialized Evidence, 1.0 hours
- July 10, 2023 – Legal Framework for Understanding Conflicts of Interest and Bias, 0.65 hours
- July 11, 2023 – Disability Law in Student Conduct Proceedings, 0.4 hours
- July 11, 2023 – Appeals in Student Conduct Proceedings, 0.5 hours
- July 11, 2023 – Decision-Writing Basics for Conduct Hearings, 0.5 hours
- July 11, 2023 - Law & the Hearing Panel, 0.5 hours
- July 11, 2023 – Pre-hearing Preparations, 0.5 hours
- July 11, 2023 – Effective Interviewing of Parties and Witnesses, 0.85 hours
- July 11, 2023 – Cultural Relevance and Inclusiveness, and Responding to Sexual and Interpersonal Violence on Campus, 0.6 hours
- July 11, 2023 – Evidence in the Student Conduct Process, 0.6 hours
- July 11, 2023 – FERPA Fundamentals 1: What Does FERPA Protect?, 0.25 hours
- July 12, 2023 – Understanding the Potential Impact of Illicit Substances on College Students, 0.5 hours
- July 12, 2023 - Introduction to Cannabis for Practitioners of Student Conduct; Abuse, Effects, and Legality, 0.35 hours
- July 12, 2023 – Introduction to Restorative Justice, 0.65 hours
- July 12, 2023 - Understanding the Investigative report Template for Investigations of Title IX Sexual Harassment, 0.35 hours
- July 12, 2023 – Neurobiology of Sexual Assault Trauma – Part 1: Introduction, 0.35 hours
- July 13, 2023 - Online Harassment, 0.5 hours
- July 13, 2023 – SCI’s Guide to Starting a Restorative Justice Program, 0.15 hours
- July 17, 2023 - Relevance and Decorum in a Title IX Hearing, 0.5 hours
- July 18, 2023 - Hazing, 1.25 hours
- July 19, 2023 – Yik Yak and its Implications on your Campus and Conduct Process, 0.5 hours
- July 19, 2023 - Unconscious Bias 101, 0.5 hours
- Aug. 9-10, 2023 - Husch Blackwell Annual Title IX Trainings for Coordinators Investigators and Title IX Team Members, 9 credits
- Aug. 24, 2023 – Restorative Justice in Higher Education Student Conduct Processing Training, 3 hours
- Sept. 20, 2023 - Fundamental of Incident Report Writing, 0.5 hours
- Dec. 8, 2023 - Technology Basics – Information Security, Confidentiality, and Decorum, 0.35 hours