Title IX Considerations for Parents at Sacred Heart University
Parents and guardians of college students over 18 may have limited roles in their child’s Title IX proceedings. Both federal law and Sacred Heart’s Title IX policies may limit parents’ participation.
One of our experienced Title IX attorneys from Mark Sherman Law can provide you with further information during an initial consultation. Here is a brief overview of important Title IX considerations for parents at Sacred Heart University:
How Does Title IX Address Parents of Students?
Like all educational institutions that receive funding from the United States government, Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments is a federal law requiring Sacred Heart University to proactively prevent sex-based discrimination on campus, thoroughly investigate alleged instances of such discrimination, and provide remedies to students and faculty members affected by that discrimination. If your child is attending Sacred Heart, they may file a Title IX complaint if their rights to a discrimination-free learning environment are violated. Your child may also be a respondent in a complaint if they allegedly violated someone else’s rights.
Crucially, though, federal regulations governing the application and enforcement of Title IX include substantial protections for the privacy of all parties involved in the proceedings. Likewise, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) provides additional rights to your child. What this means for you as a parent is that your child may sign a FERPA waiver, which denies you notice about their Title IX case at Sacred Heart. The university will not only not inform you about the case but is also prohibited by federal law from providing any information about it other than very basic procedural details.
Being Involved in a Title IX Case on Your Child’s Behalf
If your child does consent to you being informed about their case, you must sign a FERPA release form before you can receive information. This includes any allegation(s) made by or against your child, accommodations they may be provided or affected by, and dates or other relevant details regarding the school’s Title IX investigation. Broadly speaking, Title IX investigations last about 60 days, but this is a general guideline, and it is not uncommon for complex investigations to take much longer.
At the end of the investigation, Sacred Heart’s Title IX office will schedule a hearing for all involved parties to attend, present evidence and testimony on their behalf, and hear the university’s final decision regarding long-term sanctions and accommodations. While you do have the right to serve as your child’s advisor during this proceeding with their consent, both complainants and respondents in Title IX cases can only have one advisor attend. Therefore, it is wise to seek help from a seasoned lawyer to learn how a parent could best serve their child during a Title IX case at Sacred Heart.
Learn More About Title IX Considerations for Sacred Heart University Parents
As a parent, learning your child is part of a Title IX proceeding can be stressful, but it is worth remembering that your child telling you about their case is a legally binding sign that they trust you. The best thing you can do is to support them during what may likely be an immensely stressful experience for them as well.
For further questions about Title IX considerations for parents at Sacred Heart University, our lawyers could provide the answers you need. Call Mark Sherman Law today for help, or click here to read verified reviews from satisfied clients on our Avvo.com profile.