Episode 51: The Importance of Visibility of the Title IX Coordinator with Betsy Smith
Release Date: 01/26/2023
Episode 73: ICS Updates and the First 70+ Days
The Law & Education
A lot of ground is covered during this informational episode of The Law and Education Podcast to bring listeners up to speed with the changes to Title IX, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and federal funding under the current administration. It is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and our conversation touches on the role of Title IX in relation to this. Next, we discuss the recent announcements from the Department of Education and the process that lawmakers are required to follow in order to make changes to the 2020 Title IX regulations. We unpack how the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)...
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Episode 72: The Initial Days under the Trump Administration: Presidential Directives, Agency Policies, and Legal Challenges with Steven Richard
The Law & Education
Impulsive action is oftentimes the wrong action. This episode is a reminder to remain calm amidst the uncertainty many schools are facing under the new administration. Joining us is Steven Richard, a Trial and Appellate Attorney, admitted in Federal and State Courts in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. His practice areas include business litigation, education law, employment law, and representing management in governmental law. In our conversation with Steven, he shares his insights on how to navigate the ever-changing landscape we find ourselves in today and unpacks some of the...
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Episode 71: New Law! Stop Campus Hazing Act Requirements with Lindsay Hatzis
The Law & Education
In late 2024, the Stop Campus Hazing Act was signed into law, amending the Clery Act – a consumer protection law designed to enhance transparency around campus crime policies and statistics. Beginning in 2025, institutions receiving federal student aid must comply with these new requirements. But what does this really mean for colleges and universities? Who is responsible for compliance, and what are the risks of falling short? Joining us today to answer these questions is Lindsay Hatzis, a Title IX Equity and Clery Specialist at ICS. In this episode, we start with a look at the Clery...
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Episode 70: The First 30 Days: Stay Updated Without the Overload
The Law & Education
The transition to the new administration this past month has brought a host of rapid changes in education-related law and compliance. A lot of developments have happened that may impact the Title IX and equity space. It’s more important than ever before to stay informed but not overwhelmed, and this episode aims to share key insights to help you do exactly that. Join us as we discuss the critical role of an informed community, what the upcoming changes might mean for practitioners, and more. You’ll receive practical resources to help you understand what the new Executive Orders may mean,...
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Episode 69: Title IX Coordinators as Leaders: Shelli Warren on What it Takes to Be Great
The Law & Education
If you’re getting paid to ensure the outcomes of a group of people, you’re now a leader. At ICS, we are often training Title IX coordinators on the fact that they are leaders of a Title IX Team. Shelli Warren is a Women’s Team and Leadership Advisor providing high-touch team and leadership coaching for established small business owners. She joins us in conversation to unpack what it truly takes to be a good leader and how to identify the potential for leadership in others. We discuss strategy, networking, the role of branding in every industry, and much more. Whether you’re a Title IX...
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Episode 68: Celeste Bradley Discusses ICS Services and Title VI
The Law & Education
Many institutions are well acquainted with Title IX compliance but are less informed about adhering to other civil rights laws, like Title VI. Today, we are talking with Celeste Bradley, Chief Services Officer at Institutional Compliance Solutions (ICS), about the complexities of Title VI compliance and how to address discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. We discuss the contours of Title VI compliance, who it protects, its similarities to Title IX compliance, and important trends to be aware of regarding Title VI. Celeste breaks down key takeaways for schools to ensure they...
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Episode 67: Restorative Justice, ADR, and Title IX with Dr. Kaaren Williamsen
The Law & Education
Leadership is at the heart of every Title IX coordinator's role, making it essential to have a clear vision. This episode, the first in a series on leadership, revisits a past conversation with Dr. Kaaren Williamsen, Director of the Prevention Education, Assistance & Resources (PEAR) unit within the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office at the University of Michigan. In this insightful discussion, Kaaren offers valuable guidance for Title IX coordinators as they lead efforts on campuses and in districts. She also shares strategies for incorporating restorative justice practices into...
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Episode 66: Major Update: 2024 Title IX Regulations Vacated
The Law & Education
As always, things are constantly changing in the Title IX world. We already have an update with respect to the 2024 Title IX regulations. Join us as we uncover the details of this regulation and the significant implications it will have this year. You’ll also receive some important advice on how to proceed as a Title IX practitioner. Tune in to clear up any confusion and receive the necessary resources to move forward with this huge change in mind. Thanks for tuning in! Key Points From This Episode: This episode’s topic: the latest updates to Title IX regulations. What the January...
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Episode 65: 2025 Is Here: Reflections, Announcements, and What's Next for ICS!
The Law & Education
We are off to the races with The Law and Education Podcast for 2025 – we hope you are well-rested, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle everything this year throws at you! Today is all about reflecting on where we’ve been, making some major announcements, and outlining our path forward for 2025. We learn about Celeste Bradly and Betsy Smith’s new job titles as Chief Solutions Officer and Chief Innovation Officer respectively, what Courtney deems as vital in life and how she’s carried these philosophies into ICS, and why leadership is our focus for the first month of the year. We also...
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Episode 64: Preparing for Post-Election Shifts in Title IX
The Law & Education
Join Courtney Bullard for a quick informational episode about what to expect post-election in the Title IX space. We take a look at what we know about President-Elect Trump and his plans for Title IX, a reminder to register for Title IX training sessions, details on the upcoming complimentary webinar in January 2025, and more about the Title IX, Mental Health and School Safety Symposium to be held in Nashville on April 3-4th, 2025. Continue the good work you’re doing on the ground, thanks for listening! Key Points From This Episode: Today’s topic of conversation: post-election...
info_outlineToday on The Law and Education Podcast, we sit down with the Director of Title IX Services at ICS, Betsy Smith to talk about why visibility for the Title IX Coordinator is so essential. Betsy brings a unique skill set to the ICS team, having served as an assistant district attorney and student affairs professional. Recently, she worked for five years as the Director of Student Conduct and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at a large state institution where she oversaw more than 2,000 Title IX and other campus investigations a year. The content of this episode comes from a recent ICS Community Partner meeting, where Betsy presented some of the work she is doing to ensure that the campus and the community at large are up to date about what her office does to encourage reporting, educate about Title IX, and the resources that her office provides. Betsy brings a wealth of passion and innovation to this conversation and some valuable on-the-ground experience too. Tune in to learn about the relationship between visibility, reporting, and prevention, as well as how to leverage social media, the importance of practicing your “elevator speech,” and more!
Key Points From This Episode:
- What it means to be a Community Partner at ICS and what’s new in 2023.
- Why it’s important for the Title IX Coordinator to be visible, starting with increased reporting.
- The correlation between reporting, data, understanding, and prevention.
- How to increase visibility by acting like a business.
- Why Betsy recommends leveraging social media to encourage reporting.
- The importance of having a Title IX “elevator speech” and leading with support.
- Tips for making yourself known to the community as a Title IX Coordinator.
- What Betsy calls Team 9 and the branding component of making that team visible.
- The value of presenting as vulnerable and approachable on social media.
- How you can access the free ICS website checklist resource.
- Using the concept of a billboard to help you think about visibility and presence on campus.
- How to ensure that your personality shines through in the data to drive prevention.
- Advice for developing the infrastructure to be able to handle increased reporting.
- The role that directed training and education play in fueling prevention.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Title IX at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM)
USM Title IX Office on Twitter
USM Title IX Office on Instagram
Higher Ed Virtual Certified IX Training