Office of Compliance
and Equity Management
Staff Orientation
THE BASICS
OCEM

Oversees equal opportunity

Prepares the University Affirmative Action Plan

Resolves issues of harassment and discrimination

Serves as liaison to outside agencies regarding civil
rights complaints and contract compliance

Coordinates Title IX efforts on campus

Reports to the Office of the President
Protected Classes

Age

Political affiliation

Color

Pregnancy

Creed

Race

Disability

Religion

Ethnicity

Sex

Gender identity

Sexual orientation

Genetic information

Veteran or military status

Marital status


National origin
Any other basis protected by
federal and/or state law.
What is …
Discrimination

Occurs when an individual is
treated adversely because of
his/her membership in a
protected class
Harassment

Unwelcome behavior

Creates a hostile or
intimidating environment

Makes it difficult or
impossible to learn or work
Retaliation

Taking adverse action against
someone participating in a
protected activity

Action taken because of their
participation in that protected
activity
What is sexual
harassment?
Two forms

Quid pro quo

Hostile environment
Essentially meaning “this for that.”
*A supervisor who will not
promote an employee unless that
employee submits to sexual
advances.
*A professor who tells a student
that, if the student will go to
dinner with the professor, the
professor will provide a better test
grade to the student.
*A colleague who repeatedly
tells sexually explicit jokes.
*A vendor who shares explicit
details of her dating life, and
asks about those of her clients.
Title IX

Prohibits discrimination based on sex in all programs
and activities of the University.

Our institutional responsibility is to provide prompt and
effective remedy once we have knowledge of
allegations related to such discrimination.
Sexual Misconduct
Discrimination, Harassment and Misconduct Policy (13.02)
 Prohibited are:


Non-consensual sexual intercourse

Non-consensual sexual contact

Sexual exploitation

Dating violence

Domestic violence

Sexual assault

Stalking
What is Consent?
Knowing, voluntary, and
clear permission to engage
in mutually agreed-upon
sexual activity.
Bystander intervention
• Why intervene?
• If you see something,
say something.
• Maintain your own
safety.
Consensual Relationships

Consensual romantic and/or sexual
relationships where a power
differential exists, whether real or
perceived, may constitute sexual
harassment

All University employees are strongly
discouraged from entering into
romantic and/or sexual relationships
which could lead to creation of
hostile environments
Reporting

Whenever you have a concern or question about
equity or protected-class issues, you should
contact OCEM* as soon as possible.

We listen.

We present options.

We handle issues on a case-by-case basis.

*OCEM houses the Title IX Officer and a Title IX Deputy.
Reporting (cont.)
Per policy, University employees with supervisory responsibilities who are aware of or witnessing
discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct or retaliation are required to promptly report to the
Title IX Officer or a Title IX Deputy Coordinator.
Non-supervisory employees who are aware of or witnessing discrimination, harassment, sexual
misconduct or retaliation involving students are required to promptly report to the Title IX Officer
or a Title IX Deputy Coordinator.
Students who are aware of or witnessing discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct or
retaliation are encouraged to promptly report to the Title IX Officer or a Title IX Deputy
Coordinator.
Title IX Officer
Title IX Deputies
Leah Gutknecht

Assistant to the President for
Compliance and Equity Mgt.


Jean Berger
Interim Athletic Director/SWA
Gwenne Berry
Associate Director, Compliance
and Equity Mgt.
Leslie Williams
Dean of Students
UNI.edu/safety
Online training

Prevention of discrimination and harassment

Title IX

You’ll soon receive an assignment email with guidance.

It can be completed on various platforms.

You can stop and start at your convenience.

Call us (3.2846) with questions

FAQs are here: www.uni.edu/equity
(click on “online training FAQs)
How to contact us
Gilchrist 117
273-2846 (phone)
273-7045 (Fax)
OCEM Staff
UNI.edu/equity

Leah Gutknecht
Assistant to the President for
Compliance and Equity
Management; and Title IX Officer

Gwenne Berry
Associate Director for Compliance
and Equity Management; and
Title IX Deputy Coordinator
Q&A
What would you like to know?