Dear Volunteer community,
As we begin the new academic year, I want to welcome you back and introduce the Office of Title IX. Our university is committed to living, learning, and working in an environment free of sexual misconduct, relationship violence, stalking, and retaliation.
Students, we need your help. Your voice and involvement are necessary to fulfill our commitment. You can get involved by visiting a Red Zone pop-up location—the campaign kicked off last week and will be providing information and consent T-shirts for the next five weeks across campus. You can request or attend a program on consent or healthy relationships. You can be an active bystander and Speak UP!
Faculty and staff, we need your support. You will receive an invitation to complete the 2018–19 Title IX training for mandatory reporters. The training will assist you in recognizing a reportable issue, understanding your obligations, and knowing how to connect faculty, staff, and students with the Office of Title IX. In the past year, 97 percent of reports received started with a student sharing their concern with a faculty or staff member. If you would like to request training for the graduate assistants in your department, please contact the Office of Title IX.
I encourage everyone to review the 2018–19 Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, Stalking, and Retaliation Policy and invite you to attend the annual Title IX Panel at 4 p.m. Thursday, September 13, in Alumni Memorial Building Room 32. Panel members include representatives from the Office of Title IX, the Center for Health Education and Wellness, Student Conduct and Community Standards, the UT Police Department, the Student Counseling Center, and the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee.
The Title IX Panel will address our policy, prevention, rights and responsibilities, reporting options, and campus and community resources.
We are working toward an informed and engaged community.
You are part of the solution.
Our door remains open year round to your ideas, suggestions, questions, and concerns.
I look forward to working with you.
Ashley Blamey
Title IX Coordinator