LIVE HEARINGS and Cross Examinations: How Texas Universities Will Adjust To New Title IX Regs
A new set of regulations from the U.S. Department of Education will change how colleges and universities handle sexual misconduct. For some Texas schools, the changes will be harder to adjust to than others. The federal regulations, released May 6, are the result of about three years of efforts by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to rescind Obama-era practices and implement new standards for addressing sexual misconduct on college campuses under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination.
Changes include the requirement for live hearings and cross examinations. Both the complainant and the accused will be allowed to bring advisers, such as attorneys, into the campus investigation process. For those without advisers, universities will be required to provide one.
DeVos said the regulations require schools to “act in meaningful ways to support survivors of sexual misconduct, without sacrificing important safeguards to ensure a fair and transparent process.” “Too many students have lost access to their education because their school inadequately responded when a student filed a complaint of sexual harassment or sexual assault.”
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