Title IX, protected speech, religious accommodations, and more

Washington State University has new resources and updated policies as a result of regulatory changes addressing the needs of the community.

Compliance and Civil Rights (CCR), the Office of the Provost, Center for Community Standards, and Human Resource Services updated university grievance processes to respond to concerns of sex discrimination and sex-based harassment, as required by Title IX's implementing regulations. Per federal mandate, these changes go into effect Aug. 1, 2024, and all WSU employees will be assigned a new federally required training in Percipio, WSU's online training platform. The training will help employees understand their reporting requirements and information they are required to share with students who disclose pregnancy or related conditions.

And, building on the work of Student Affairs and the Office of the Provost, CCR published a central website resource for students, staff, and faculty regarding their protected speech rights. The website shares WSU's commitment to 1^st amendment principles and academic freedom and provides guidance to students, faculty, and staff on speech protections and limitations in academic and work environments.

The Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS), CCR, and the Office of the Provost have also partnered to streamline the student religious accommodation process, to better support faculty and students. Visit the ODOS website for information about the student religious accommodations process.

Finally, based on community needs throughout the past year, CCR has published an online resource for conflict resolution. Faculty and staff are encouraged to direct students to these resources to encourage healthy and civil debate and identify conflict resolution strategies.