Title IX Considerations for Parents at Wesleyan
Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments imposes numerous requirements on federally funded schools to prevent, investigate, and sanction sexual harassment and violence affecting students or faculty members. By design, those requirements center mainly on students and faculty members, not their family members. The Title IX considerations for parents of Wesleyan students are very different from those an individual student would need to consider, as our experienced Title IX attorneys could explain in more detail.
Can Parents File Title IX Complaints on Their Child’s Behalf?
If a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 18 suspects that their child has been subjected to any form of sex-based discrimination at a K-12 school, college, or university receiving federal funding, they have the right to file a complaint on their child’s behalf with the Office of Civil Rights within the federal Department of Education. In some situations, parents of minor children can also file suit directly against the school for failing to abide by Title IX’s requirements.
Most Wesleyan students are at least 18 years old and considered legal adults, so their parents and guardians cannot take this type of legal action on their behalf. Furthermore, parents of Wesleyan students will not be informed or provided any information about an ongoing Title IX case involving their child unless that student consents to the information being shared or informs their parent(s) about the case directly.
While many aspects of the Title IX process at Wesleyan are left to the University to establish and enforce, the privacy concerns mentioned above are a matter of federal law—both Title IX and the 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”). Our capable attorneys could answer questions about these and other relevant pieces of federal legislation affecting this type of case during a private consultation.
What To Do After Learning About an Ongoing Title IX Case
Parents and guardians can still play a critical role in their child’s Title IX case at Wesleyan by supporting them emotionally and logistically while the case is ongoing. Additionally, if a Wesleyan student consents to involving their parent(s) in their Title IX case, and everyone signs the necessary FERPA waivers, one parent can accompany the student to Title IX proceedings as their advisor.
However, Wesleyan University policy requires that complainants pursuing Title IX complaints and respondents named in such complaints can only have one advisor accompany them to Title IX hearings or any other official proceeding. A key consideration for parents of Wesleyan students is the extra benefit a qualified Title IX lawyer could offer to achieve the best case resolution possible for their child.
Contact a Seasoned Attorney About Title IX Considerations for Wesleyan Parents
Learning your child is pursuing a Title IX complaint or is the subject of one can be a uniquely challenging experience for a family. However, given how federal law governs privacy with this type of case, the fact that your child told you what they were going through is a legally significant sign that they trust you. You can honor that trust by helping them effectively enforce their rights.
You could access support to understand Title IX considerations for parents at Wesleyan and every other aspect of the case process from our team at Mark Sherman Law. Call today to discuss your options, or click here to read verified reviews on our Avvo.com profile from satisfied past clients.