CU-Boulder launches national search for new Title IX programs director

Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano on Monday launched a national hiring search for the newly created position of Title IX director at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The director for Title IX and protected class programs will report directly to DiStefano. Creating a new Title IX director position with ultimate campuswide oversight for all complaints was the most important recommendation from a recently released external Title IX policy review by law firm Pepper Hamilton, DiStefano said.

CU-Boulder currently meets Title IX obligations through two offices. Employee complaints are investigated by the Office of Discrimination and Harassment; student complaints are investigated by the Office of Student Conduct.

In accordance with federal law, the new director will ensure timely investigations of complaints regarding sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and other forms of protected class harassment and discrimination. The successful candidate also will develop and implement a long-term vision for campus training and educational programs on topics such as sexual harassment and sexual violence, dating and intimate partner violence and stalking.

“Ensuring that we foster a culture that does not condone sexual harassment and sexual violence is one of the highest priorities on this campus,” DiStefano said. “While the Pepper Hamilton report found that our campus is in compliance with the law, I want our new Title IX director to take us to the next level and make us a national model. The new director will be in a highly visible role and will be expected to develop, deliver and oversee Title IX programs, as well as the protected class discrimination and harassment programs for students, faculty and staff.”

On July 24, 2013, DiStefano announced that CU-Boulder was the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights into a complaint concerning the university’s handling of a sexual assault involving a student. On the same day, DiStefano called for an external review of the campus’s Title IX policies and procedures.

Last month, the university received the Pepper Hamilton report and released it to the public.

“Hiring a new Title IX director is the first of many steps we will take to expand upon our strong Title IX practices,” DiStefano said. “I expect our new director to carry out other recommendations made by Pepper Hamilton, including the development of additional training, education and prevention programming.”

CU-Boulder will give full consideration to job applications received by March 10, 2014. A job posting may be viewed at www.jobsatcu.com/postings/78824.