This program will benefit new investigators or those with less than three years of professional experience investigating sexual harassment/gender-based discrimination cases. Individuals who have indirect involvement in investigations, such as Title IX Coordinators, Student Affairs leadership, or General Counsel will also benefit from this content.

Enroll in the most practical and focused foundational Title IX investigator workshop in higher education. This training will provide an excellent opportunity for your investigators to come together and learn with, and from, each other.

Day One – Thursday, July 11, 2024
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (All Times Eastern)
Welcome & Introductions
11:00 – 11:15 a.m. ET

Introduction to the Mock Complaint
11:15 – 11:45 a.m. ET
In this opening session, you will be introduced to a mock complaint, and you will share out the first five steps that you feel are necessary to initiate your investigation. You will then discuss your responses and compare them to our expert faculty’s recommendations.

Your Role as an Investigator
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. ET
Before you begin an investigation, it’s critical for you to understand your role as an investigator according to the 2024 Title IX final regulations and how you can work efficiently with the Title IX Coordinator. In this session, you will learn the do’s and don’ts of an investigator, what makes a stellar investigator, and a summary of the basic skills and expectations you must have to be successful in your role. You will also be introduced to the five general phases of completing an investigation.

Long Break
12:45 – 1:15 p.m. ET

Factual Analysis: Introduction to Policy Grids & Activity
1:15 – 2:15 p.m. ET
In this session, our expert faculty will walk you through the fundamentals of a factual analysis. You will learn how to use your own institution’s sexual harassment policy definitions when gathering the necessary facts, both relevant and sufficient. You will see a live demonstration of how to complete a policy grid and practice completing your own.

Short Break
2:15 – 2:30 p.m. ET

Factual Analysis: The Value of Policy Grids & Large Group Discussion
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. ET
After completing your own policy grid, we will analyze and discuss any challenges you experienced. We will ask volunteers to share their policy grids onscreen so that our faculty member can provide feedback. Our expert faculty will then highlight the fundamental value of using policy grids as part of your investigation process—as well as how to utilize them appropriately when preparing for your investigation. After completing Day One, for about an hour, you can evaluate and rework your own policy grids based on the lessons learned from today’s session.

Day One Q&A
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. ET

Day Two – Friday, July 12, 2024
11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (All Times Eastern)
Investigative Knowledge & Skills: Relevancy and Sufficiency
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
As an investigator, it’s critical to know how to diagnose the facts, analyze investigation testimony, and determine if those facts are relevant and sufficient. In this session, you will learn the critical skills necessary to determine relevance.

Activity: Relevance & Sufficiency Exercise
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. ET
Using the mock complaint, you will identify the relevant and irrelevant facts from the case and discuss best practices to help you to sort the facts.

Long Break
12:30 – 1:00 p.m. ET

Investigative Knowledge and Skills: Interviewing Witnesses
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET
Being an effective investigator means knowing how to build and sustain rapport and trust with each witness during your interviews. You’ll learn techniques for how to conduct interviews with different types of witnesses and reflect on how to create a safe and agile interview environment.

Short Break
2:00 – 2:15 p.m. ET

Activity: Mock Witness Interview Analysis
2:15 – 3:00 p.m. ET
In this exercise, you will listen to a recording of a mock witness interview and apply your newfound knowledge of interviewing skills to identify how you might improve the interview process. You will share best practices for soliciting participation from a hostile and/or reluctant witness. Our instructor will also share some expert advice.

Investigative Report & Recap of Five General Phases
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET
In this final session, you will learn about the different sections of a final investigative report that must be included in your document based on the 2024 Title IX Regulations. Our expert faculty will recap the five general phases of an investigation, discuss strategies for identifying and resolving any defects in your interviews, and explain how to check facts for sufficiency.

Conference Wrap-Up and Final Q&A
4:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET

Academic Impressions now offers digital badges on select events! Digital badges are a powerful way to showcase your commitment to professional development and lifelong learning. Learn more about our badges here.