Title IX Considerations for Parents of Yale Students
It is not uncommon for you, the parent, to want to continue to stay involved in your Yale student’s life after he or she leaves home for college. It is not uncommon for you to want to be there as they make the transition from childhood to adulthood. Unfortunately, once your child turns 18 and legally becomes an adult, your child is not obligated to either involve you or inform you about any legal proceedings they become involved in. This includes legal proceedings involving violations of their own Title IX rights or their alleged violation of someone else’s Title IX rights.
Therefore, understanding how the process works from a distance, rather than how to influence the process or directly participate in it, is the most significant Title IX considerations for parents of Yale students. If your child informs you or consents to their school informing you about a Title IX case , support from an experienced Title IX lawyer is key to protecting your child’s best interests and your own as effectively as possible.
Are Parents Notified of Ongoing Title IX Proceedings?
Whether they are the complainant filing a Title IX complaint, the respondent being accused of violating the complainant’s Title IX rights, or a witness supporting any of the parties directly involved in such a case, Yale’s Title IX office will not independently notify the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of their child’s involvement in the case. l Federal law rather than the individual policy, prevents the schools from contacting the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the Yale student regarding a Title IX investigation.. Title IX regulations impose a duty on federally funded universities to protect their students and imposes no duty on those schools to involve the students’ parents.
The only scenario in which Yale’s Title IX office or anyone else affiliated with the school’s administration can lawfully discuss details of a Title IX case with the parent(s) or guardian(s) of an involved party is if that party formally permits for that information to be disclosed and signs a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) waiver. The parent(s) or guardian(s) must also sign a FERPA waiver themselves before they can receive anything more than general information about how Title IX claims broadly work.
How to Help Your Child Through a Title IX Case
Another important consideration for parents of Yale students involved in Title IX proceedings is that students involved in such proceedings are typically only allowed to have one “advisor” represent them and their best interests while the proceedings are ongoing. A parent or guardian can fill this role if they wish to do so, but that would mean their child cannot also have legal representation present during their Title IX hearing.
This can be significant for many reasons, but chief among them is the fact that Title IX proceedings are subject to a less strict standard of proof than criminal trials. This means it is easier for Yale to conclude that a student has committed a Title IX violation than it is for a Connecticut court to convict that student of criminal wrongdoing. Under circumstances like this, it can be essential to have guidance from start to finish from skilled legal counsel.
A Qualified Attorney Can Walk Parents Through Yale Title IX Considerations
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to any type of legal proceeding, and that is especially true for Title IX cases overseen by institutions like Yale. However, there still may be a lot you can do as the parent or guardian of a student going through this type of case to support them emotionally throughout the process and to ensure they get the legal assistance they need as well.
Our qualified attorneys can discuss Title IX considerations for parents of Yale students in more detail during a confidential consultation. Call Mark Sherman Law today to schedule a meeting, or see what past clients have said about working with us by visiting our Avvo.com profile.