Equity and Inclusion at MTSU
Marian V. Wilson, PhD
Assistant to the President,
Institutional Equity and Compliance
Title IX Coordinator
Cope Administration Building 116
615-898-2185
Overview
•
Office of Institutional Equity (Mission and Vision)
•
Equity and Compliance (Fairness, Investigations/Resolution)
o
o
•
Doors Open, Monitoring, Policies, Capacity Building
Retention (Inclusion)
o
•
Large Diverse Institution (Mediation, Investigation, Resolution)
Representation (Access)
o
•
Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, Veteran’s, ADA, AAP etc.
Climate, Support for Affinity Groups, Recognize, Celebrate
Advisor (Support)
o
Data for Decision-making, Sensitive/Confidential, Partnerships etc.
IEC Mission
The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Office of Institutional Equity
and Compliance (IEC) fully embraces and respects students, faculty, staff, visitors
and all who partner or do business with the University. Our mission is to:
•
Support the university community to ensure equal opportunity and fairness
•
Foster a welcoming and engaging environment that supports the recruitment and
retention of underrepresented students, faculty and staff
•
Enhance and influence a campus culture that is diverse and inclusive
•
Provide data that informs university decision-making for inclusive excellence
IEC Vision
The MTSU Office of IEC values the backgrounds, experiences,
perspectives, traditions and talents of all members of our
community. We strive to foster an environment that embraces,
supports and implements best practice in policy, process and
practice and that affirms the diversity of our community through
equity and inclusion.
Equity and Compliance
•
•
•
AAP (Annual Reporting on Utilization)
o
Race
o
Gender
o
Individuals with Disabilities (7% Goal)
o
Veterans (7% Benchmark)
ADA (Monitoring and Reporting)
o
Pre and Post Employment Self-Identification
o
Request for Accommodations (Human Resources, Disability Access Center and ADA Coordinator)
o
Routine Surveying of the Community
o
Outreach
Veterans
o
Pre and Post Employment Self Identification
o
Routine Surveying of the Community
o
Outreach
o
Vets 100 (Reporting)
•
Title VI (Monitoring, Reporting)
•
Title IX (Monitoring, Reporting)
Equity and Compliance Continued…
•
•
Investigations (Reported Violations of Policy)
Discrimination and Harassment Based on Protected Categories Other Than Sex
(1:01:22)
Middle Tennessee State University does not discriminate against students, employees or applicants for
admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic
information, and any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and
activities sponsored by Middle Tennessee State University.
•
Misconduct, Discrimination, and Harassment Based on Sex (including pregnancy,
sexual orientation, and gender identity/expression) (1:01:23)
Title IX: 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. It prohibits:
o
Discrimination on the basis of sex
o
Sexual harassment
o
Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence (Sexual Misconduct)
Equity and Compliance Continued…
•
Sexual Misconduct is a form of Sex Discrimination and a Violation of Title IX
o
It includes the offenses : dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault
o
Dating Violence: when the accuser and accused are dating, or have dated, or have or had a sexual
relationship. “Dating” and “dated” do not include fraternization between two individuals solely in a business or
non-romantic social context.
o
Domestic Violence: when the accuser and accused are current or former spouses, who live or have lived
together as a spouse or intimate partner (not roommates), are related by blood or adoption , are related or were
formally related by marriage, are adult or minor children of a person in a relationship described above.
o
Stalking: a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that
would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested,
and that actually causes the accuser to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested
o
Sexual Assault: nonconsensual sexual contact where the accused knows, or has reason to know, that the victim
did not or could not consent; it includes rape, sexual battery, sexual coercion, sodomy, engaging in sexual
contact after the victim has said No or was not in a position to say No (intoxicated, asleep, minor, disabled etc.)
Equity and Compliance Continued…
•
Responsible Employees are: MTSU employees who have the
authority and duty to report incidents of sexual misconduct,
or whom a student could reasonably believe has this authority or
duty:
o Faculty, Police/Security, Title IX and Deputy Coordinators,
VP’s, AVP’s, Deans, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans,
Directors, Associate Directors, Assistant Directors,
Department Chairs/Heads,, graduate teaching assistants,
Academic Advisors, Advisors for Student Organizations,
Residence Hall/Housing Staff, Athletic Department Staff,
including all Coaches and Academic Tutors, Campus Security
Authorities etc.
Equity and Compliance Continued…
•
Responsible Employees must:
o
Report any incident of sexual misconduct (sexual harassment or sexual
violence) once you become aware of it to a Title IX Coordinator

Student-Student or Faculty-Student (Judicial Affairs)

Student-Faculty/Staff or Student-Other (IEC)
o
Provide all details and facts of the incident, names of those involved, date, time,
location, etc.
o
Do Not wait to determine whether the alleged sexual misconduct actually
occurred, or that a hostile environment was created before reporting an incident
Equity and Compliance Continued…
However, before a student reveals information about
unacceptable behavior/sexual misconduct, you must inform
them that:
•
You have an obligation to report any details shared
•
The student always has the option to report to law enforcement
•
They have the option to report confidentially to the Counseling Center or
the Health Center for medical attention and support
•
In some instances the Title IX Coordinator may not do a formal investigation
(it will depend on the circumstances)
o
If a student requests that MTSU maintain his/her confidentiality, the Title
IX Coordinator will consider a number of factors i.e. weapon involved,
multiple perpetrators, prior history here or another university, threats to
victim or others, victim is a minor/disabled etc.
Equity and Compliance Continued…
•
Confidential Employees:
o
MTSU Student Health Center and the MTSU Counseling Center
(licensed counselors including those who act in that role under the
supervision of a licensed counselor)
o
The Murfreesboro Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Prevention
Center
o
Confidential Employees are not required to report any information about
an incident to the Title IX Coordinator and may not do so without a
victim’s written permission
Equity and Compliance Continued…
•
•
•
•
Resolution
o
Safety (Interim Measures)
o
Fairness
o
Lowest Possible Level (Mediation or informal hearing never acceptable
for sexual violence)
o
Need to Know
Mediation/Support
Investigation
Training/Education (Required)
o
Online (Title VI and Title IX)
o
In-person Sexual Misconduct/Discrimination and Harassment
Representation (Access)
•
Hiring Process (Review and Monitor)
o
Assure Access
o
Assure No Exclusions

Veterans

Individuals With Disabilities

Gender

Race
Retention (Inclusion)
•
Support opportunities for inclusion, professional
development, advancement (Access Funds)
•
Outreach (Veterans and Individuals With Disabilities)
•
Support Affinity Groups (PCSW, BFSA etc.)
•
Recognize and Celebrate (WHM, GLBT Conference, BHM
etc.)
Advisor
•
Counsel to Departments
•
Prepare data for decision-making
•
Work with sensitive and confidential information
•
Partner with stakeholders
•
Serve as ambassador for access, diversity and inclusion
(internally and externally)
Inclusion Continued…
•
Collaborations/Support
o
Human Resources
o
Office of Provost (Colleges)
o
Student Affairs
o
Access and Diversity Board (Academic Affairs)
o
Dissertation Fellows (Academic Affairs)
o
Awareness/Prevention (BHM, WHM) (Academic and Student Affairs)
o
Committee on Disability Issues
o
Information Access Committee (Institution)
o
ROTC (Academic and Student Affairs)
o
Campus Non-violence Committee (Student Affairs)
o
Intercultural Affairs (Student Affairs)
o
Disability Access Center (Student Affairs)
o
GLBT Conference (Student Affairs-April)
o
President’s Commission on the Status of Women (President)
o
Black Faculty and Staff Association
Questions
Contact Me:
Marian V. Wilson, PhD
Assistant to the President,
Institutional Equity and Compliance
Title IX Coordinator
Cope Administration Building 116
615-898-2185