After working as a civil rights attorney for 16 years鈥攊ncluding as a U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney representing the federal government in dozens of cases around the country鈥擵alerie Simons transitioned to CU Boulder, where she has led Title IX compliance since 2014.
Now, as associate vice chancellor and Title IX coordinator for the听Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance听(OIEC), she has the opportunity to share her hard-won knowledge with the entire state as the chair of the听Colorado Sexual Misconduct Advisory Committee.
Simons is among 11 individuals serving on the state committee, which will issue recommendations on new processes designed to align with Title IX rule changes expected this year.
- Angie Paccione, executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, announced听committee members听on Dec. 20, 2019, in accordance with Senate Bill 19-007.
- The bill directs the CDHE to establish a committee comprising Title IX coordinators at higher education institutions, care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent survivors and those accused of sexual misconduct.
- Since December, committee members have met four times. Each will serve a four-year term and may be reappointed. The committee will publish a report of their recommendations by January 2021.
- Learn more about Title IX and Sexual Misconduct
- Learn more about Valerie Simons
In December, Angie Paccione, executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, lauded the 鈥渨ealth of experience and expertise鈥� brought by Simons and others.听Simons said she hoped the experience would enable her 鈥渢o contribute to a statewide effort dedicated to fostering safe learning environments free of sex-based discrimination, violence and harassment and ensuring equitable processes and procedures.鈥�
Enacted in 1972, Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational settings that receive federal funds. This year, the U.S. Department of Education is expected to announce rule changes to the pioneering law regarding the adjudication of sexual misconduct cases on college campuses and in K-12 schools. The new regulations would impact the entire CU system of four campuses and its systemwide Sexual Misconduct Policy, Simons said.
Once issued, system administration officials, in collaboration with campus Title IX officers, will review the new regulations to determine what changes might be necessary to CU鈥檚 policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
鈥淩egardless of what happens,鈥� Simons said, 鈥渢he university remains committed to ensuring a safe, nondiscriminatory environment and fair processes for all parties.鈥�
As CU Boulder鈥檚 chief Title IX executive, Simons leads a team of investigators, educators, and support service experts with decades of experience who work to ensure the university is in compliance with federal rules and university policy on protected-class discrimination and harassment and sexual misconduct, intimate partner abuse and stalking.
OIEC and partner offices, as demonstrated in OIEC鈥檚 most recent听annual report,听have implemented a series of innovative programs to enhance and expand the university鈥檚 response to sexual misconduct (including harassment and assault) and protected-class harassment and discrimination, and to educate students, faculty and staff.
At CU Boulder, protected classes include race, color, national origin, pregnancy, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran (military service) status, political affiliation and political philosophy.
Other achievements include the implementation of a tailored campus climate and sexual misconduct survey that provides the campus with a wealth of data to inform areas of success and improvement of the campus and to ensure an inclusive campus environment.
The office became the first university in the country to implement mandatory听Bystander Intervention听training for all incoming first-year and transfer students, and each year, Simons鈥� staff members conduct hundreds of trainings for thousands of students, faculty and staff.
Her team鈥檚 creative force led to the creation of the听Don鈥檛 Ignore It听campaign, which includes a public awareness campaign and a website that provides information about options for reporting concerns on campus, support resources on and off campus, and skills for helping others and addressing concerns.听听
OIEC also works closely with CU Athletics on gameday videos encouraging good fan behavior and other educational initiatives and awareness campaigns, and provides workshops and presentations to fraternities, sororities and other student groups and campus organizations.
鈥淓ducation is a key component of what we do every day,鈥� Simons said of her team鈥檚 work. 鈥淭he more we know about Title IX and the power behind the law, the more we are able to create a safe academic environment for everyone who studies and works on our campus.鈥澨�
