Title IX

On July 2, 2024, in State of Kansas v. U.S. Department of Education, the US District Court for the District of Kansas issued an injunction preventing the implementation of the 2024 Title IX Regulations in four states: Alaska, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming. The Court stopped short of issuing a nationwide injunction; however, in its Order, the Court also granted a preliminary injunction to the “schools attended by the members of Young America’s Foundation or Female Athletes United, as well as the schools attended by the children of the members of Moms for Liberty” and directed the organizations to file a notice by July 15, 2024, identifying each school attended by a member or child of a member. On July 15, 2024, the member organizations filed the required notices. The comprehensive list of the colleges and universities identified in the notices and in which the 2024 Title IX Regulations are therefore enjoined from taking effect includes Waubonsee Community College This means that unless the preliminary injunction is lifted or expires by August 1st, on August 1st Waubonsee is required to utilize the current policy under the 2020 regulations rather than implement the 2024 Title IX regulations.  

This ruling will have profound impacts on implementation and training. The situation is changing daily and our ATIXA Consultant is monitoring the lawsuit to see whether the temporary injunction expires, and whether the Department of Education and/or court will provide additional guidance.  In the interim, we will proceed with creating the revised Title IX administrative regulation reflecting the 2024 regulatory changes and move forward with implementation, if required, on August 1, 2024, or anytime thereafter. In addition, we are developing training plans to begin in August to ensure we are making good faith efforts to train accordingly given the shifting landscape and directives.  

If you are a Survivor, Witness, Bystander, or Third-Party to sexual misconduct:

• You have the right to report or not report the incident to the college, to law enforcement, or both.
• You have the right to privacy in reporting. Reporting the incident to the college’s confidential advisor (Mutual Ground) and/or a college counselor is recommended for survivors who wish to maintain the highest level of confidentiality allowable by law. Title IX and law enforcement officials have additional legal reporting obligations and cannot guarantee full confidentiality.
• You have the right to request and receive assistance from college employees in notifying law enforcement.
• You have the right to request and receive assistance from Waubonsee in accessing campus and local health and mental health services, counseling and advocacy services.*
• You have the right to request interim protective measures and accommodations from the college.*
• You have the right to file a complaint and seek resolution if you believe that the college has violated any of its policies.

Assistance may include, but is not limited to:

• Providing on-campus counseling and direct support with referrals.
• Adjusting class schedules or on-campus work schedules.
• Ensuring security before and/or after a class session.
• Providing information regarding “no contact orders” and orders of protection.
• Working with other institutions if an employee or student from another institution is involved.
• Providing information regarding financial aid or other support as needed.

Sexual Assault Emergency Action Steps:

• Get to a safe place as soon as possible and call 911 for immediate help.
• Call Mutual Ground’s Sexual Assault Hotline at (630) 897-8383 and request support from a trained advocate.
• Seek immediate medical attention, preferably at a hospital emergency room accompanied by a Mutual Ground advocate and/or a trusted friend. Medical personnel are trained to perform an optional "rape kit" exam, where they are able to gather evidence for your case. Partial physical evidence can be collected up to 7 days after the incident.
• If you do not want to report to the police now, it is still important to have a medical exam to make sure things are okay. They can test you for injuries, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), each step only with your consent, at no cost to you.
• For optimal evidence recovery, it’s best not to shower, change clothes, or clean up in any way before going to the hospital but you should still seek services even if you have showered.

Contact Information:

• View the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Guide (pdf)

Pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the U.S. Department of Education’s implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106, the College’s Title IX Coordinator has primary responsibility for coordinating the College’s efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in all the operations of Waubonsee Community College, as well as retaliation for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX.

Sexual misconduct against students, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, and sexual exploitation, can be a form of sex discrimination under Title IX. The Title IX Coordinator oversees the college’s response to reports and complaints that involve possible sex discrimination to monitor outcomes, identify and address any patterns, and assess effects on the campus climate, so the college can address issues that affect the wider school community.

A student should contact the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator(s) in order to:

• seek information or training about students’ rights and courses of action available to resolve reports or complaints that involve potential sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct;
• file a complaint or make a report of sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct;
• notify the college of an incident or policy or procedure that may raise potential Title IX concerns;
• get information about available resources (including confidential resources) and support services relating to sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct; and
• ask questions about the college’s policies and procedures related to sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct.

Waubonsee’s Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Coordinators are:

Michele Needham
Title IX Coordinator
Executive Director of Human Resources
(630) 466-2367
mneedham@waubonsee.edu

Jami Hinshaw
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Dean For Student Engagement
(630) 466-5748
jhinshaw@waubonsee.edu

Julie Olczyk
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Employee Relations Manager
(630) 466-2771
jolczyk@waubonsee.edu

Dr. Scott Peska
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Assistant Provost of Student Services
(630) 466-2363
speska@waubonsee.edu

Carolina Gutierrez
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Student Conduct and Education Coordinator
(630) 466-2588
cgutierrez@waubonsee.edu

In the event that the incident, policy, or procedure about which the student seeks to file a report or complaint creates the appearance of a conflict of interest with one of the members of the Title IX compliance team, students may contact the coordinator or deputy coordinator.

Please note that Title IX Coordinators have limited confidentiality and are legally mandated to report in many instances. Please see Confidential Advisors if confidentiality is desired.

Inquiries or complaints that involve potential violations of Title IX may also be referred to the Educational Opportunities Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights:

Office for Civil Rights, Chicago Office
U.S. Department of Education
Citigroup Center 
500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475 
Chicago, IL 60661-4544
Telephone: (312) 730-1560 
Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov

Mutual Ground of Aurora has partnered with Waubonsee to provide confidential advisors for emergency and ongoing support to student survivors of sexual violence. Mutual Ground confidential advisors are extensively trained on issues related to sexual violence. Contact information for connecting with a confidential advisor at Mutual Ground is below:

Sexual Assault Hotline: (630) 897-8383
Domestic Violence Hotline: (630) 897-0080

Waubonsee Counselors are also available to assist students confidentially and connect them with Mutual Ground if appropriate and desired by the student.

All communications between a student survivor of sexual violence and a “confidential advisor” or Waubonsee Counselor are kept confidential unless the survivor consents to the disclosure of the communication in writing or the failure to disclose would violate state or federal law. Confidential communications may be shared if failure to disclose would result in a clear, imminent risk of serious physical injury or death of the survivor or another person.

• Board Policy (Policy number 3.170.01) (pdf)
• Board Policy (Full Policy) (pdf)
• Board Procedures (pdf)

The federal Violence Against Women Act (2013) and State of Illinois Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act (2015) requires Waubonsee Community College (WCC) to provide information and training to students and employees annually on preventing and responding to sexual assaults, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

The online training program for all students, "TBD" is available through mywcc and lasts approximately 30 minutes in length. There are versions of the program for new and continuing students. Upon logging in, you will be directed to the appropriate training program. The program can be completed on any tablet, phone, or computer. If you are unable to complete the training, please contact the Student Engagement Office at (630) 466-6686.

The online training program for employees is sent out from Employee Development. If you are unable to complete the training please contact the Human Resources at (630) 466-2718.

• Training for Waubonsee Community College Title IX Personnel

​​​​​​All year long, bulletin boards around campus include the “No to Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct” poster that features a QR code linking directly to this Title IX page for helpful resources and contact information. Each Spring, the Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Team develops an event or activity seeking to draw students in to learn more about preventing sexual misconduct.

As part of Waubonsee’s commitment to maintaining a safe community free of any sexual misconduct the College has established a campus-wide task force to continually review and address Waubonsee’s sexual violence awareness, prevention, and response initiatives.

The membership of this task force consists of:

• Executive Director of Human Resources (Title IX Coordinator)
• Vice President of Student Development (Deputy Coordinator)
• Dean for Counseling, Career and Student Support
• Dean for Online Learning and the CTLT
• Dean for Student Engagement
• Campus Police Chief
• Employee Relations Manager
• Student Life Manager
• Admissions Manager
• Accommodations Coordinator
• Mutual Ground Representative
• Kane County States Attorney Office Representative
• Marketing Manager
• Faculty Representative
• Counseling Faculty Representative (2)
• Student Senate Representative
• Women4Women Student Club Representative

Additional resources are available in Personal Counseling.

College Resources

WCC Campus Police

(630) 466-2552

Michele Needham
Title IX Coordinator
Executive Director of Human Resources
(630) 466-2367
mneedham@waubonsee.edu

Jami Hinshaw
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Dean for Student Engagement
(630) 466-5748
jhinshaw@waubonsee.edu

Julie Olczyk
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Employee Relations Manager
(630) 466-2771
jolczyk@waubonsee.edu

Scott Peska, Ed.D.
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Assistant Provost of Student Services
(630) 466-2363
speska@waubonsee.edu

Counseling, Advising Transfer Center*
(630) 466-2361
www.waubonsee.edu/counseling

Waubonsee 24/7 Talk Line
(630) 264-0394

Community Resources

Police: Dial 911 from any location.

Mutual Ground/Confidential Advisors

Hotline
(630) 897-0080

www.mutualground.org

The Crisis Line of the Fox Valley
(630) 906-0516

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
www.thehotline.org

Kane County Child Advocacy Center (630) 208-5160
https://sao.kanecountyil.gov/Pages/CrimesAgainstChildren.aspx

DCFS: 1-800-252-2873

National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-4673 www.rainn.org/get-help

Survivors of Incest Anonymous
877-742-9761 www.siawso.org

*Visit www.waubonsee.edu/counseling (personal counseling) for additional student and community resources.

• Personal Counseling
• Resource Guide for Students, Staff and Community Members (pdf)