2023 Conference Schedule

 

Wednesday, March 1st  

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

Welcome: Meet Your Fellow Attendees, Speakers, and Conference Hosts (Hotel Lobby) 

 

Thursday, March 2nd

 

7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Registration (Dunes Foyer)

 

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast (Dunes Foyer)

 

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 

New Attendee Orientation: Welcome to the Beach! (Dunes I/II)

Presenters: Jahanna Azarian and Timothy Kessler-Cleary

Welcome to the 44th Annual National Conference on Higher Education Law & Policy. The National Conference on Higher Education Law & Policy is a unique, interdisciplinary experience. The Conference brings together professionals from a variety of fields--with a common goal to advance American higher education. Join conference veterans Jahanna Azarian and Tim Kessler-Cleary for a "crash course" on how to optimize your experience at the conference. Get inside tips for navigating the robust series of workshops and presentations offered at this year's event. You will also have the opportunity to get to know fellow new attendees and expand your professional network. See you at the Wyndham on Clearwater Beach.

 

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  (Dunes IV/V)

Showing Your Work: Records Requests as Opportunities, Not Just Obligations

Presenters: Adam Hark and Shalin Shah

Almost any decision is ripe for scrutiny; records requests are an inevitability. Though often feared, misunderstood, or regarded as a burden, producing documentation of an institution's work can be more than mere obligatory compliance. When done well, responding to a records request is an opportunity to showcase institutional strengths. As a provider of records management software to more than 1300 colleges and universities nationwide, Maxient's staff regularly supports student affairs work, Title IX, legal counsel, and other key stakeholders. In this session your facilitators will consider some of the most common scenarios where records are sought-- background checks, public records requests, subpoenas, investigations, and audits. Participants will be guided to examine common institutional record keeping practices in place before a request comes in, what bodes well, and what might be done better. Be better positioned to respond to the next such request! 

 

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  (Pelican)

Utilizing Externships & Clinics on Campus to Teach Reflection and Foster Professional Identity

Presenter: Christine Cerniglia

Clinics and externships allow students opportunities to explore and learn through experiential education. The structure of each externship/clinical experience requires thoughtfulness around two fundamental learning objectives: developing deep reflection skills and a student’s professional identity. Panelists will discuss their “guide on the side” approach to coach students through their professional development. Intentional instruction on the skill of deep reflection provides a foundation for students to become more self-directed in learning. This session will first provide an overview of externship and clinic courses—with emphasis on courses offered in a legal curriculum-- as well as a quick overview of common compliance and policy concerns. Your presenters  will also provide teaching resources related to the development of professional identity and skills of deep reflection.

 

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. / 1:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.  (Dunes I/II)

title ix boot-camp: Preparing for More Title IX Change: A Little Planning Goes a Long Way

Presenters: Jody Shipper and Chantelle Cleary Botticelli

Yes, change is coming. Again, sigh….Your facilitators will help you see that this is also an opportunity to look at your current practices and ensure you are using promising and emerging practices. This is also an opportunity for validation of your commitment to Title IX. Your facilitators will help you also see the best of what you are doing now. Join Title IX’s leading practitioners Jody Shipper and Chantelle Cleary Botticelli for a Title IX Bootcamp to help your campus get #ReadyForTheRegs.  

 

Here is an outline of your Bootcamp experience:  

• Your Definitions Define Your Community 

How are you distinguishing between sexual misconduct covered by the current regulations and that which is not? How will those definitions need to shift once the new regulations come into effect? Let’s discuss the defining characteristics sexual harassment and hostile environment of, and why you will want to rethink them under the new Biden regulations.  

• Investigations Now and Investigations to Come 

Let’s review promising and emerging practices within the scope of the current Title IX restrictions, and when handing sexual misconduct cases falling outside the scope of the current regulations. How will need to adjust practices once the new regulations are issued?  

• The Future of Hearings  

Are live hearings still alive? We will consider the intersection of the proposed new regulations and other federal/state legal mandates.  

• Reshaping your Campus Offices 

What will the new Title IX office look like? Will it cover only the sexual misconduct as defined today, or will its mission expand? And what would be some of the pluses and minuses in broadening the scope of your Title IX Coordinator’s duties and jurisdiction?    

 

11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.  (Dunes III)              

WELCOME AND KEYNOTE LUNCHEON: 

Opening Remarks: President Christopher Roellke

Keynote Speaker: Frank Spano

 

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Dunes IV/V)            

Fraternal Law Update

Presenter: Micah E. Kamrass

This session will explore the complicated legal relationships between universities and fraternities and sororities. This will include discussion of relationship agreements, Title IX, hazing, and due process in student conduct. Through this lens, the session will examine why certain universities and certain fraternities and sororities are choosing to sever their formal relationships with each other, and what that could mean for the future of Greek Life.

 

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Pelican)

Florida Individual Freedom Act: Implications for K-16 Education
Presenters: Nathan Adams, Marylin Batista, Karen Chastain, David D’Agata, and Glen Stewart

This special session highlighting The Florida Individual Freedom Act’s (IFA) impact on K-16 education is sponsored jointly with the Florida Bar Education Law Committee. The focus is on k-12 but higher education professionals will find this session of interest.  Panelists include lawyers with decades of experience serving Florida educational institutions and leaders in the K-12 and post-secondary educational arenas. Panelists will present on and partake in interactive discussion about the legal and other implications of IFA. Inter alia, panelists will consider IFA's interrelation with the Florida Civil Rights Act, the Florida Educational Equity Act, public educational programming, professional development programming, codes of ethics and professional standards applicable to K-12 and post-secondary personnel and institutions in the State of Florida—knowledge of which is vital to policy makers, administrators, and legal counsel who serve educational personnel and institutions throughout our state and in those states where similar legislation may be introduced.  

 

3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (Dunes IV/V)

Keeping Your Head on a Swivel—Compliance Mandates are Coming From Everywhere!

Presenters: Donna Smith and Jacob Sapp

Join Donna Smith and Jacob Sapp for an overview of Title IX compliance focused on legal authorities outside of traditional Title IX litigation in the federal court system. This presentation will survey how the various powers that be, including state legislatures and courts, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, and others, have recently taken action to regulate schools’ policies and responses concerning sex-based discrimination. Did you know that one state court has held that failure to provide fair process…is potentially tortious? Your session leaders help you learn about what those developments that might have slipped past your radar, including litigation and regulatory outcomes from Title IX adjacent cases. This intensely practical session will help you return to campus to guide your institution’s decision-makers—and you!

Friday, March 3rd

 

7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Registration (Dunes Foyer)

 

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast (Dunes Foyer)

 

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Dunes I/II)

Practical Advice on Title IX Decision-Making from Decision-Makers Forged in the Fire of the 2020 Amendments

Presenters: Jody Shipper and Melissa Carleton

Two highly seasoned and very down to earth Title IX hearing officers—who prefer “Jody” and “Melissa”-- share their experiences working with public and private institutions across the country under the 2020 regulations.  Jody and Melissa will share best practices for addressing hypothetical situations involving evidentiary issues, surprising testimony, managing advisor expectations, and more. Participants will enjoy the tone and content this ‘let’s learn together’ session, especially if they have experienced ‘my way or the highway’ trainings in the past! 

 

9:00 a.m.  – 10:30 a.m. (Egret)

Authorship, Ownership, and Plagiarism in the Era of ChatGPT

Presenter: Dean Jacob Rooksby

This session, intended for those new to or unfamiliar with intellectual property (IP), will help you understand the questions you should be asking today in order to avoid intellectual problems tomorrow. Our expert presenter is highly sought after for his profound technical knowledge and uncanny ability to convey his wisdom to individuals who do not have his expertise and experience. Dean Rooksby will give special attention to the rise of artificial intelligence and impacts protecting academic integrity.

 

9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.  (Pelican)

Cyber Incident Response Workshop: Table Top Simulation

Presenters: Paul Greene and Daniel Altieri

You have been cyber-attacked---chaos ensues!

 

Not if you are prepared….

The ever-present danger of ransomware incidents, phishing attacks, and hacking demand strong preparation practices. It is difficult to prepare for incident response in a vacuum, however, as many incidents involve issues that an institution may be seeing for the first time. This workshop demystifies the incident response process in higher education with a series of real-world scenarios, engaging participants in realistic real-time discussion. The workshop will address important issues such as Incident Response Plan structure and content, insurance concerns, communications strategies, and best practices for leveraging necessary stakeholders. The workshop will also address preservation of the attorney-client privilege, and engagement of expert third-party support. The goal of the workshop is to provide participants with tested strategies and experience for promoting and informing incident response planning at their institutions.

 

9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. / 2:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. (Dunes IV/V)
Title IX Investigator Training Certificate Program

Presenters: Jennifer Hammat and Kyle Griffis

This session is intended for Title IX Coordinators and administrators who will be called upon to conduct a Title IX investigation (or for those to whom the Title IX coordinator reports). Your facilitators will cover how to prepare outreach documents, investigation interview orders, how to gather “the universe of information,” and how to navigate the latest regulatory mandates. Additionally, we will discuss the importance of framing and constructing a solid investigation report to provide the decision-maker with all that they need to have a compliant, and successful, hearing. This session will feature vibrant and lively discussion. A certificate of completion for this training will be available at the end of the session.

 

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (Dunes I/II)

The Diversity Dilemma: The Potential Impact of the Supreme Court’s Upcoming Admission Decisions

Presenter: President Jonathan Alger

Sometime within the next few months, the U.S. Supreme Court will issue decisions in challenges to race-conscious admissions programs at a public (North Carolina) and private (Harvard) university. Given the Court’s current composition and recent track record, there is wide speculation that it will overturn decades of precedent and forbid the consideration of race to achieve a diverse student body. Led by a president who formerly served as part of the University of Michigan’s legal team in its landmark affirmative action cases 20 years ago, this session will explore the possible outcomes of these cases, as well as the ramifications for diversity-related policies and programs in admissions, financial aid, outreach and recruitment, etc. At a time when the culture wars in higher education are heating up once again, this session will explore possible strategies to pursue diversity and inclusion no matter what the outcome of these cases.

 

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Egret)

In the Spotlight: Student Safety Abroad

Presenters: Elizabeth Brenner and Ros Thackurdeen 

Moderator/ Contributor: David Rowe and Timothy Kessler-Cleary

 

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Dunes III)

KEYNOTE LUNCH

Presenter: President Rhea Law 

 

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Dunes I/II)

University Leadership Panel Discussion

Presenters: President Jonathan Alger, President Rhea Law, Fredrick Lawrence, and Dean Jacob Rooksby

Moderator/ Contributor: David Rowe

Attendees clamor for an opportunity to hear directly from higher education’s most senior leaders on the issues that keep them up at night—and even more so their vision for the future of the field. Are we at a historic inflection point in higher education? What makes a great leader in these challenging times? Please join our esteemed panelists for a lively and informative discussion of how to navigate higher education through turbulent and exciting times.

 

2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. (Pelican)

Campus Safety Session on Promising Practice and Prevention: The Role of the Modern Campus Security Officer

Presenters: Frank Spano and Francisco “Cisco” Ortiz

2:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. (Egret)

THE NEW LANDSCAPE FOR STUDENT WELL-BEING: How Prioritizing Safety, Health, and Inclusion Improves Student and Institutional Outcomes  

Presenter: Kimberley Timpf

Many college officials believed that the 2020-21 academic year was an outlier in enrollment and retention and that once the pandemic was in the rear-view mirror the numbers would return to their historical form. Even in cases where that was true, retention and graduation rates in higher education as a whole were flat before the pandemic, and many institutions were struggling to recruit and retain underrepresented students who, in the coming years, will make up a larger proportion of the student body.  

 

Using these demographic and generational shifts as a backdrop, this session will provide data demonstrating how a commitment to safety, well-being, and inclusion can drive outcomes on higher education’s greatest challenges—from enrollment and academic performance to retention and career readiness. The presenter will discuss how investing in a culture of social-emotional wellness is both the right move and the smart move for colleges and universities.  

 

3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (Pelican)

Young Professionals, the Higher Education Workplace, & A New Supreme Court: How Young and Emerging Professionals Can Navigate a New Era in Higher Education & Supreme Court Religious Liberty Jurisprudence

Presenters: Blaze Bowers and Joy Mosley

This session will explore the new law and policy developments-- and challenges-- for new and emerging higher education professionals. It’s a new era at the Supreme Court. The practice of higher education has evolved dramatically in the last few years. A new Supreme Court, rapidly evolving religious and civil liberty law, shifting employee expectations, and new student demands/needs create a higher education ecosystem promising opportunities for new professionals-- but also prognosticating the need for innovation.

 

Notably, the Supreme Court has moved in a direction increasingly focused on religious liberty --and issues that impact both sectarian and non-sectarian institutions. The Court’s inclination to address matters related to religion and civil liberties mandates new responsive practices by higher education practitioners at all levels. New professionals will need to be boots-on- the- ground ready for changes in the law that are not familiar to seasoned professionals from their prior work. A new generation of higher education professionals arrives just in time for 21^st Century higher education law and policy.

 

Saturday, March 4th

7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Registration (Dunes Foyer)

 

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast (Dunes Foyer)

 

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (Dunes I/II)

Pregnancy and Students: Supporting Pregnant Students, and the Laws That May Apply

Presenters: Jody Shipper and Crystal Coombes

The changing landscape of student disabilities and conditions often impacts the application of Title IX and ADA intervention processes.  Pregnancy, under certain circumstances, can implicate both processes, creating situations ripe for miscommunication and misapplication of either or both processes. The coordination of efforts between Title IX and Student Accessibility/Disability offices when addressing a pregnant student’s request for assistance is key to successfully resolving concerns before they rise to the level of conflict and complaint. Compliance with pregnancy protections is a signature issue of current DOE enforcement: this will be a cannot miss session for many our participants. 

 

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (Dunes IV/V)

Data Protection and Management in Higher Education—Beyond FERPA

Presenters: Melissa Carleton and Paul Greene

Few areas of the law have been as dynamic as data protection. Higher education institutions now face increasing compliance burdens in the protection of their IT systems and the precious data.  FERPA compliance is simply a starting point.  State-level and international privacy and security regimes have taken aim at the types of data that a higher education institution processes, but many institutions risk ‘regulatory myopia’-- focusing on their primary regulators to the detriment of others. This discussion will discuss and analyze the roles of ‘data protection regimes’. Myths and misunderstandings abound: here participants will receive understandable information on practical approaches on how to balance ever increasing compliance obligations in the data protection space.

 

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (Pelican)

Employment Law Update

Presenters: Dean Oren Griffin and Susan Deniker

Employment law issues in higher education continue to evolve at a breakneck pace. Two gifted higher education employment leaders return this year. Relying upon vast courtroom and decanal experience, they will discuss significant and relevant updates in employment law over the last year. Every higher education institution needs to know to survive the endemic risks in this area. The list of topics that will be covered is lengthy - free speech, discrimination, wage and hour rules, faculty contract issues, and more.  

 

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Dunes I/II)

Freedom Of Speech Issues On Campus

Presenter: William Thro, Neal Hutchens, and Tyler Coward

This session will present an overview of Freedom of Speech issues on campus. The session includes some basics but will feature a high- level discussion of cases and trends. Specifically, presenters will explore the implications of the Supreme Court's recent cases as well as potential implications for cases being argued this Term or possibly being heard next Term. The panelists include a representative of FIRE, a public university General Counsel, and one of America's distinguished scholars on the intersection of the First Amendment and higher education.  We are proud to note that two of the panelists are recipients of the Kaplin Award for Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy—and the third, with a distinguished career may be a nominee in future years!  

 

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Pelican)

Inside the Beltway: Legislation & Regulation Update

Presenters: John Przypyszny and Jonathan Tarnow 

This session will review major regulatory and policy developments going into the second year of the Biden presidency and a sharply divided Congress, including U.S. Department of Education rule-makings focused on student loan relief, institutional accountability and federal student aid certification requirements, other federal agency actions impacting higher education institutions and students, and emerging trends in state postsecondary authorization and accreditation. 

 

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Egret)

Title VII and Title XI: Venn Diagram or Parallel Universe?

Presenters: Julia Green and Allana Forté

Both Title VII and Title XI require higher education institutions to respond to allegations of sex discrimination involving employees, but how exactly do we know which one governs the response—or both? This session will step through the differences between the statutes and associated response and process obligations, including practical advice about how to ensure compliance with each or both as indicated by different situations. Your presenters will also preview changes the proposed Title IX regulations may bring to this area.

 

12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Dunes III)

LUNCH SESSION: Crystal Ball Panel

Presenters: Melissa Carleton, Adam Hark, Peter Lake, Thomas Major, Jacob Rooksby, Jody Shipper, Frank Spano, William Thro, Kimberley Timpf, and Julian Williams

Moderator/ Contributor: James Haggerty

Join our panel of visionaries as they take a mostly serious, but sometimes fun, look into the future of higher education law and policy. There may be an appearance from futurist “Whammo-the Magnificent”, although in the future nothing is certain. 

 

2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.  (Pelican)

Program Closure? Merger or Acquisition? The Growing Need for Strategic Alliances in Higher Education

Presenters: Daan Braveman and Joseph Casion

Institutions of higher education are facing disruptive forces that are challenging long-held traditions and what many considered as “norms” for day-to-day operations. As a result, industry experts are expecting record number of institutions to fail by the end of the decade. To prevent failure and preempt decision-making in crisis, these institutions should consider strategic alliances that may include shared administrative services, sharded academic programs, and even consolidation with another institution. This session will explore various aspects of such affiliations, including the various legal structures that might enable institutions to align in a manner that preserves the mission and cultures of the participating schools.

 

2:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Dunes I/II)

Balancing Legal and Political Challenges to DEI in Higher Education with Institutional Commitments and Expectations

Presenters: Julian Williams, Carmen Johnson, and Allana Forté

The higher education industry is experiencing increasing scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts in curricula and teaching methods, student engagement and retention efforts, and other institutional trainings and initiatives. As state and federal laws evolve, how do education practitioners and counsel best support their institutions and campus constituencies in this ever-changing landscape?  How will we manage vague, evolving or even conflicting mandates at federal and state levels? How do various academic freedom policies enter the conversation? Will what is known as DEI work today come to be known under other identifiers?

Participants will receive an overview of the growing challenges to DEI concepts in higher education, analyze some of the impacts on institutional outcomes and commitments, and explore practical strategies to best support the diverse array of students and employees given the varying degrees of scrutiny and regulation.

 

2:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (Dunes IV/V)

Section 504 at 50: The Changing Lens of Academic Accommodations

Presenters: Laura Rothstein and Crystal Coombes

The last decade has brought significant changes to higher education that have major impact on disability discrimination law in higher education. The presentation will focus on today’s key issues and provide a framework for what must be done (legal requirements), what can be done (beyond what may be legally mandated), and what should be done (to ensure fairness and balance in the face of shrinking resources. Specific focus will be on emerging issues such as: mental health, neurodiversity, documentation of disabilities, attendance as an essential function, technology, and Covid-19 related issues. (It will be helpful for participants to have a basic level of knowledge of Section 504 and the ADA for this session, although the panelists are well-known and highly welcoming instructors in the field.) The great successes of disability laws have translated into increasing numbers of students entering college with both observable and non-observable disabilities or conditions under ADA and Section 504. These students have been exposed to Universal Design,  and received a wide array of accommodations. Students arrive in higher education with great expectations of a post-ableist learning environment. Are higher education institutions  ready for universal design in the classroom---and accommodations beyond the classroom?

 

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Egret)

Book Talk: The Constitution on Campus

Presenter: William Thro

William Thro, one of the co-authors of The Constitution on Campus:  A Guide to Liberty & Equality in Higher Education (Rowman & Littlefield 2022), will present an overview of the book and answer questions about it. In particular, this special presentation will emphasize the Supreme Court's reformation of the Religion Clauses.

 

6:00 p.m.

Sunset Celebration at the Beach

Join us at the beach for a Sunset Celebration!

 

Sunday, March 5th 

 

7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Registration (Dunes Foyer)

 

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast (Dunes Foyer)

 

9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (Dunes IV/V)

Title IX Litigation Update

Presenters: Julia Green and Jacob Sapp

Join Julia Green & Jacob Sapp for an in depth review of Title IX litigation in the federal court system over the past year. This presentation will cover the basics of Title IX lawsuits, and the traditional causes of actions that are brought against institutions of higher education. We will also explore some of the more recent (and more polarizing) developing causes of action. Our focus for this session is to provide Administrators and Attorneys with helpful ‘in-the-trenches’ takeaways based on how courts are structuring Title IX Compliance.

 

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (Pelican)

NCAA Update

Presenters: Scott Bearby and James Haggerty

The world of intercollegiate athletics has never been more unsettled, with issues of student-athlete status, compensation and governance making news every day. Join NCAA General Counsel Scott Bearby and attorney and communications consultant Jim Haggerty of PRCG | Sports as they review the latest changes from both legal and public perception perspectives.

 

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Dunes I/II)

Supportive Measures, Accommodations, or Remedies? Where is the line?

Presenters: Jody Shipper and Crystal Coombes  

A student in a Title IX process requests extra academic support. Is this a supportive measure? An accommodation? Might it be a remedy? Did you know why these labels matter? There are significant differences in process, paperwork, and determining who has authority for making determinations about each of these; and it is important to understand the differences among them. Come join us as we learn more about the importance of being precise in the application of interventions and language used to describe those interventions.  

 

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.  (Dunes I/II)

Creating and Sustaining a Campus Community of Care to Support College Student Mental Health and Well-Being: Implications for Policy and Practice

Presenter: John Dunkle and Jennifer Hammat

The mental health of students has been and continues to be one of the top priorities of college and university presidents and other senior administrators. The general consensus is that there is no one way or single solution to address the layered and nuanced issues in supporting students’ mental health and well-being.  To tackle these issues, it takes a village, wherein all campus community members can and must play a role. How this happens on each campus is easier said than done and requires constant vigilance and adjustments. Creating and sustaining a community of care is critical indeed, and the panelists for this session will share some opportunities, and challenges, in achieving this goal based on their many years of experience working on college campuses as both counseling center mental health professionals and a student affairs administrators. They will discuss what a community of care may look like and implications for policies and practices. They will also integrate case examples to enrich the discussion. A central pillar for the success of the community of care is the development of collaborative, trusting, and mutually respectful relationships among members of the campus. A commitment to a community of care increases the likelihood of a greater  sense of belonging, safety, and, in the end, it contributes to student success and persistence in achieving their academic aspirations.

 

12:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. (Dunes III)

CLOSING KEYNOTE Address: LUNCHEON SESSION: “From My Road Tour of Campus Visits: Current Trends, Challenges, and Promising Practices in College Student Mental Health”

Presenter: John Dunkle  

The Jed Foundation (JED) is a non-profit organization that protects emotional health and prevents suicide among our nation’s teens and young adults.  The signature program, JED Campus, involves JED working with and supporting over 400 campuses and almost 5 million students nationwide by shepherding campus teams through a strategic planning process based on the JED Comprehensive Public Health Framework.  The ultimate goal is that campuses will build upon on and improve their programs, services, and policies around mental health and suicide prevention.  Over the course of his tenure at JED, Dr. Dunkle has visited (either virtually or in-person) over 50 schools in their JED Campus journey.  He will highlight current trends, challenges, and promising practices in college student mental health based on his observations from his road tour of campus visits.  He will also draw from other national clinical and non-clinical data sources on college student mental health to enrich the presentation.  Finally, he will also provide an overview of the JED Public Health Comprehensive Framework.

 

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Pelican)

Defining Opportunities: Mental Health Supports for Today’s Students

Presenters: Thomas Major and Zainab Okolo

Campus-wide mental health support for today’s postsecondary learners is urgently needed, and the needs—and opportunities—facing individual campuses vary greatly. In this session Zainab Okolo, Strategy Officer for Student Success at Lumina Foundation, and Thomas Major, Jr., Associate General Counsel for Lumina, will present an overview of the foundation’s approach to supporting mentally healthy campuses.  After establishing a basic conceptual framework for the session Dr. Okolo and Mr. Major will identify five key opportunities for campus administrators. Throughout the session the presenters also will reflect on ways that campus lawyers can use their unique perspective and role to help their campus proactively implement “student-ready” mental health policies and practices.

 

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Dunes I/II)

Responding to Risk: Best Practices of Crisis Management

Presenters: James Haggerty, Gene Deisinger, and Jean Demchak

 

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Dunes IV/V)

Conducting Effective Informal Resolutions in Title IX

Presenters: Melissa Carleton, Nathan Perry, and Russ Froman

Three experienced informal resolution facilitators will discuss the legal underpinnings of strong informal processes in the context of Title IX---and why an institution considering whether to use such processes might do so. The key is to develop informal resolution process that fit your campus culture and resourcing. Participants will learn about ways to facilitate reaching agreement that will be supportive of the impacted Individuals and that are enforceable/manageable by the institution. 

 

Monday, March 6th 

Post Conference Workshop: Separate Registration Required

 

7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Registration (Third Floor Foyer)

 

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast (Third Floor Foyer)

 

9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Sandpiper I/II)

From Evidence Through Appeals: Workshop Through the Tough Stuff

Presenters: Jody Shipper and  Dr. Cherie Scricca

Join your facilitators for a practical Title IX workshop to learn how to wrangle with ‘tough stuff’: get it right on credibility, reliability, weighing evidence, sanctioning, and appeals.   

 

This workshop will focus on the following:   

1. Credibility, Reliability, Weighing Evidence, Authenticating Evidence  

One witness has two different versions of where they were the night of the event.  One party has some emails that seem suspect.  The other party offers emails contradicting key statements, but also has a recollection that you might rely on in order to untangle the facts. What do you do now? Learn more about weighing evidence, assessing credibility and reliability, and authenticating evidence. 

 

2. Sanctioning   

Have you ever struggled with understanding and applying sanctions? In this segment your facilitators will review the 5 key sanctioning methodologies and provide an overview for selecting the right one for your campus. The focus of this session will include discussion on benchmarking sanction decisions and fostering consistency--increasingly salient in regulatory compliance. A review of case studies and their unique case factors will highlight the elements in determining sanctions and considerations for weighing aggravating circumstances. This section will close with practical application of communicating findings and sanctions with tips for calibrating decisions and ensuring your team members have similar approaches.   

 

3. Fix it Now or Get Sued Later: Appeals   

 

This one process step provides a vital element in the overall equitable landscape of Title IX compliance. Learn promising practices in handling appeals, updates from recent legal challenges, and lessons learned. This session will provide you with tips on interpreting the language of your policy, writing decisions, and crafting outcome letters. Either fix errors or face the consequences!

 

 

Please note that session titles and descriptions are being finalized; schedule is subject to change.