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Show Notes
In this episode, Dr. Sarah Holtan talks to Dr. Andy Luptak, who is a retired Title IX Coordinator and Vice-President of Student Life at Concordia University Wisconsin. He put in more than 50 years in student affairs and directed several Title IX overhauls. They talk about the proposed changes in Title IX regulations by the Biden administration. This episode is part graduate-level class, part debrief on the proposed changes, and part playbook to execute the next wave of changes. What do those proposed changes mean for colleges? What’s it going to cost them?
Andy is a strong believer in building networks. No matter what he’s doing, he tries to build a network on various topics, especially in Title IX, because the help of colleagues at other institutions is an excellent resource and a way of sharing costs.
Andy emphasizes training coaches and campus safety staff annually. He highlights the importance of developing a healthy relationship with your campus safety staff because they’re the first entry point with complaints, more specifically with harassment. Listen to know how to operate a fiscally-viable institution related to the Title IX overhaul.
Please note this episode was recorded on January 10, 2023.
Episode Highlights
12:21 – Biden’s administration strengthens protections for the LGBTQI populations and particularly students who faced discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or their gender identity. They also said that there’s going to be separate rules and regulations versus male students’ eligibility to participate in female athletic sports. So, we have to see really what’s going to happen there.
21:47 – I really think that the changes that will occur won’t be as major as were done under the Trump administration. It might be tweaking some. You might have to develop some new policies or redefine new policies. Certainly, I think the process is going to be different. So, you have spent some time doing the process, but not as much as creating an entire new process as I did under the Trump administration.
24:22 – You have to start with your staff, what expertise you have within your staff and on your campus. So, again, going back to if you’ve got knowledgeable attorneys that can advise you, if you’ve got staff. That would be the first step. Second step would be colleagues. So, let’s say you need to redesign your adjudication process. Maybe there’s a neighboring school like you that says, “Well, here’s what we’re doing. That might be a good fit for you.” So, you can share with one another.
30:15 Title IX Coordinators need to be the eyes and ears of what’s fair and equitable on campus, including the visual images on promotional materials, such as websites.
40:04 – Hire qualified staff. I am an advocate of the Jim Collins’ philosophy that he wrote, “Good to Great,” which is get the right people on the bus. And then when you get the right people on the bus, then get them in the right seats on the bus.
