Case: Department of Education OCR Title IX Investigation of Wittenberg University

15-13-2141 | No Court

Filed Date: April 10, 2013

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

On April 10, 2013, the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received a complaint filed by a university student, which alleged that the Wittenberg University discriminated against her on the basis of sex. Specifically, the complaint alleged that the university failed to respond appropriately, including by conducting a timely investigation, when the student was sexually assaulted by a male student athlete, in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.OCR det…

On April 10, 2013, the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received a complaint filed by a university student, which alleged that the Wittenberg University discriminated against her on the basis of sex. Specifically, the complaint alleged that the university failed to respond appropriately, including by conducting a timely investigation, when the student was sexually assaulted by a male student athlete, in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

OCR determined that it had jurisdiction and that the complaint was filed timely, and opened an investigation. They investigated two issues: (1) whether the university interfered with or limited the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the university by effectively causing, encouraging, accepting, tolerating, or failing to correct a sexually hostile environment of which it had actual or constructive notice; and (2) whether the university failed to adopt grievance procedures that incorporate appropriate due process standards and that provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of student complaints under Title IX. OCR combined this complaint (15-31-2141) with a complaint from 2011 (15-11-2015) for the investigation, since the allegations in both complaints were substantially similar.

OCR concluded its investigation, summarized in a Letter of Findings dated March 24, 2017. The investigation found that the university violated Title IX. The university failed to indicate that inquiries could be referred to the university's Title IX coordinator or OCR in the university's notification of nondiscrimination. The university also failed to provide a Title IX coordinator during the 2010-2011 school year, and failed to provide notice of its Title IX coordinator from 2010 to March 2017. Additionally, the university failed to comply with Title IX because its grievance procedures only applied to sexual harassment and sexual assault, and not all forms of sex discrimination. The grievance policies also contained conflicting information as to whether they applied to third parties, and expressly allowed for termination of a Title IX proceeding if a party initiated a civil, criminal, or agency proceeding. The university also permitted mediation in matters regarding sexual assault, in violation of Title IX, and failed to provide equitable responses to complaints of sexual assault filed by the two students.

The university entered into a voluntary Resolution Agreement on March 7, 2017. The university was required to adopt and publish an updated Notice of Nondiscrimination, revise its Title IX policies and grievance procedures and submit them for OCR review, and to publish a policy addressing communication between the university's Title IX coordinator and the university's police department. The university also agreed to provide Title IX training to relevant personnel. The Resolution Agreement required the university to issue letters to both student complainants, explaining the steps the university had taken over the past several years to improve its response to sexual assault allegations. The university was also required to reimburse both students or their families for the cost of counseling up to $2000 each that took place after the date of the incident mentioned in the complaints and up to a year following the Resolution Agreement.

The university agreed that OCR monitoring would continue until OCR determined that the university had fulfilled the terms of the agreement and was in compliance with Title IX and its implementing regulation.

Summary Authors

Elizabeth Heise (11/25/2018)

Related Cases

Department of Education OCR Title IX Investigation of Wittenberg University, No Court (2011)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Chandra, Meena Morey (Ohio)

Attorney for Plaintiff

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

15-13-2141

[Notification letter and data request for Wittenberg University]

April 18, 2013

April 18, 2013

Notice Letter

15-13-2141

[Notification letter for Wittenberg University]

April 18, 2013

April 18, 2013

Notice Letter

15-13-2141

15-11-2115

Resolution Agreement

March 7, 2017

March 7, 2017

Settlement Agreement

15-13-2141

15-11-2115

[Wittenberg University Letter of Findings]

March 24, 2017

March 24, 2017

Findings Letter/Report

Resources

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:27 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Ohio

Case Type(s):

Education

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 10, 2013

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Female student at Wittenberg University who alleged that the university did not respond appropriately after she was sexually assaulted by a male student athlete.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Wittenberg University (Springfield, Clark), Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

College/University

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Order Duration: 2017 - None

Content of Injunction:

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Reporting

Monitoring

Issues

General:

Assault/abuse by residents/inmates/students

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female