Online VAWA Adjudicator Training Program

In 2013, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 amended the Clery Act, in part, to require that officials involved in the student conduct process receive “annual training on the issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and on how to conduct an investigation and hearing process that protects the safety of victims and promotes accountability.”

The National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals (NACCOP) has developed, in consultation with subject matter experts and student conduct administrators who are recognized as leaders in the field, an online training program specifically designed for institutional officials involved in the adjudication of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking offenses involving students (collectively, “sexual misconduct”).

Institutional officials who may benefit from this training program may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Students, Faculty and Staff/Administrators involved in the adjudication of sexual misconduct; and
• Students, Faculty, Staff/Administrators involved in the consideration of any appeals involving sexual misconduct, as well as senior institutional leaders such as Vice Presidents, President/Chancellor, and/or members of institutional governance boards to whom students may appeal findings and/or sanctions pursuant to institutional, system-wide or state policies.

Program Benefits

This online, self-paced training program provides participants with an affordable, convenient way to meet the VAWA annual training requirement. Each campus will be able to enroll their own learners into a customized training portal in which they can manage enrollments, monitor program completion, and run administrative reports. Learners will be provided with a certificate of completion following successful fulfillment of all program modules and related modules.

The training program is delivered via the dialogEDU learning management system and meets key standards set by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to provide accessibility to people with disabilities.

Learning Outcomes

Although this training will not replace existing institution-specific training regarding the policies and procedures for resolving sexual misconduct complaints, participants that successfully complete the program will be able to:

• Distinguish among the offenses that constitute dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking (DVDVSAS), as these offenses are defined by the Clery Act;
• Understand the institution’s obligations under Title IX to take immediate action to eliminate sexual harassment that creates a hostile environment, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects;
• Recall the prevalence of DVDVSAS offenses among college and university students;
• Explain the role of power and control in DVDVSAS offenses;
• Describe the role of due process/fundamental fairness in institutional disciplinary proceedings involving DVDVSAS;
• Identify key elements of consent and the impact of drugs and alcohol on one’s ability to consent to sexual activity;
• Describe specific strategies an institution can employ to protect the safety of victims participating in investigations/adjudications of DVDVSAS offenses;
• Identify the range of responses victims may experience following victimization and the impact on subsequent participation in institutional disciplinary proceedings;
• Summarize the impact of trauma on the brain, behavior and memory;
• Apply principles of trauma-informed investigations to questioning, deliberation and decision-making processes;
• Articulate how prompt, fair and impartial proceedings can protect victims and promote accountability; and
• Assess whether current institutional disciplinary processes conform to the minimum procedural requirements of the VAWA Amendments to the Clery Act.

Cost

Institutions may purchase the training for up to 20 users for $325.00. If an institution needs to purchase more licenses, they can do so for $5.00 per person for each additional license.

Training Development and Review Team

• Dolores Stafford, Executive Director, National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals
• Michael M. DeBowes, Ph.D., Director of Research & Strategic Initiatives, National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals
• Adrienne Meador Murray, Director, Training & Compliance Activities, National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals
• Beth Devonshire, Esq., Associate Dean of Students, University of Massachusetts Boston
• Kristen A. Kawczynski, Ph.D., Deputy Title IX Coordinator and Director, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, Florida International University
• Kathleen H. Quinn, Dean of Students, Maryville University
• Chris Taylor, Ph.D., Director of Community Standards and Student Conduct, Wright State University

About NACCOP