We know what it’s like to do the work.
Even though many of us are lawyers, we are not a law firm. We’ve been where you’ve been and we understand the challenges that come with the job. Given our experienced and engaged training team, you’ll feel so prepped and ready for the work that you may want to run through our Title IX flower field—bug, allergy and burden free.
TRAINING OFFERINGS
Title IX Regulations whiplash? We have you covered. Choose your training category and follow the link for scheduling.
Title IX Coordinator Training
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From One Title IX Coordinator to Another: A Practical Approach to Navigating Beyond Compliance
The Title IX Coordinator Training is designed to assist attendees with meeting the compliance obligations of the Title IX regulation mandates and equips Title IX practitioners with the knowledge and skills to go beyond compliance and work toward best practices. Though the training a higher education emphasis, K-12 practitioners will find it relevant and applicable to their work.
Advanced Title IX Coordinator Training
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A Practical and Experiential Approach to Navigating Complex Challenges
The Advanced Title IX Coordinator Training is geared towards individuals with at least two years of Title IX experience or who have attended our basic Title IX Coordinator training. This interactive training will focus on experiential learning. Participants will navigate complex issues through scenario-based activities and hands on discussion to problem-solve common complexities Title IX Coordinators encounter.
Title IX Intake & Notice Writing
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Training for Title IX Initial Intake & Notice of Allegation(s) Writing
The interactive Intake and Notice Writing Training provides best practices for conducting an initial intake meeting with a complainant and writing and preparing a Notice of Allegation(s).
Our practitioners will lead a conversation on facilitating a successful initial intake process from outreach to meeting, providing an overview of compliance needs, current best practices, and how to utilize trauma-informed approaches. Through interactive discussion, hands-on activities, and reflective discussion, participants will explore methods to establish rapport, develop questions, and navigate complex emotional responses.
Conducting Investigations for Allegations of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment
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This training seeks to equip higher education professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate complex allegations of discrimination and harassment in the workplace while upholding institutional policies, federal law, and ensuring fair, equitable outcomes.
This training will delve into the process of breaking down the elements of various allegations and will assist attendees in better understanding how to assess if a claim is sufficient to initiate an investigation. Participants are guided through the intake process, exploring the critical questions to ask and options to provide as well as various interactive scenarios, which will illustrate how to apply these concepts in real-life situations. Attendees will also learn how to differentiate between harassment, free speech, and bias incidents while understanding the role of comparator information in discrimination cases.
Title IX Investigator Training
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Conducting Fair, Equitable, and Trauma-Informed Investigations
The Investigator Training provides a detailed overview of best practices for investigating and adjudicating reports of sexual harassment and sexual and interpersonal violence. Our facilitators utilize their first-hand knowledge to guide participants in discussion.
This interactive training addresses the practical application of trauma-informed principles when conducting fair, neutral, and thorough investigations. Participants learn tools and strategies to assist in effectively and efficiently executing the responsibilities required of an Investigator. Participants also learn how to develop and use checklists and templates, as well as best practices for communication and record keeping. Though the training a higher education emphasis, K-12 practitioners will find it relevant and applicable to their work.
Intermediate Investigator Training
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Nuances of Conducting Effective Investigations
The Intermediate Investigator Training is for investigators who have at least two years of experience or who have attended our Title IX Investigator Training and are looking to further develop their skills. This training will provide an in-depth look into the nuances of the investigative process. Participants will discuss strategies for conducting investigations and building a report for the decision-maker that is reliable, unbiased, and thorough.
Advanced Investigator Training
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A Practical and Experiential Approach to Navigating Complex Investigations
The Advanced Investigator Training is for Investigators who have at least three years of experience or who have attended our Intermediate Title IX Investigator Training and want to expand their knowledge base.
In addition to best practices and legal requirements, this training will provide attendees with a hands-on and practical training that allows experienced investigators to sharpen their skills. Our practitioners will use their experience in real, complex cases to lead participants through challenging scenarios. As a group, participants will discuss how to confidently manage investigative hurdles and practice skills that are relevant to the intricacies of the job.
Investigation Report-Writing
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The Investigation Report Writing Workshop is a hands-on, comprehensive course. Participants will develop and refine skills for writing investigation reports pursuant with federal law and in accordance with best practices. Our practitioners will discuss the elements and structure of investigation reports and will discuss report writing mechanics, structure of a report, organization of the evidence, and writing for clarity, accuracy, and neutrality in a concise manner.
Participants will then apply their knowledge in a hands-on experience reviewing evidence from a mock hearing and creating a report with the guidance of an expert. Though the training a higher education emphasis, K-12 practitioners will find it relevant and applicable to their work.
From Policy to Practice: Implementing the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA)
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Compliance Standards & Preventing Hazing Harm
In-Person or Live/Virtual Training
This comprehensive training provides participants information to understand the compliance obligations of the 2024 Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) Amendments to the Clery Act. Learning how to use practical strategies and employ best practices of SCHA will help you fully support your campus community in providing meaningful prevention of hazing harm. Participants will receive a model policy, hazing reporting decision tree, and clarity of the overlap and interaction with other federal and state laws. The facilitators will include guidance on how to meet and exceed compliance requirements.
Duration: 8 hours including lunch break
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR OPEN & CUSTOM TRAININGS
Decision Makers
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onducting Fair, Equitable, and Compliant Title IX Hearings
The Decision-Maker Training covers the skills essential to conducting an efficient, respectful, fair, impartial, and compliant Title IX hearing. It is ideal for any stakeholder needing to work through the intricacies of setting up and running a smooth hearing. This training includes a step-by-step overview of the hearing process. Participants will then utilize a mock investigation report to practice skills required from the beginning to the end of the hearing process.
This training is practical and experiential in nature and provides a deep dive into the role of the decision-maker. Participants build skills on making relevancy determinations, asking questions, and writing the decision/outcome letter.
Advanced Decision-Maker Training
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A Practical and Experiential Approach to Navigating Complex Hearings
The Advanced Decision-Maker Training is for practitioners who have at least three years of experience or who have attended our basic Decision Maker Training. This two-day, 6-hour training is designed for more advanced practitioners, and is based largely in experiential learning. In the session we move past basic information about hearings to practice a complex Title IX case from start to finish. This highly interactive training will have participants take on the role of a Hearing Officer or Panelist and be immersed in a practice case study to walk through preparing for the hearing, the hearing process, and the determination. This training is designed to develop and practice skills, guided by an experienced Hearing Officer.
Title IX Advisor
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Understanding the Role of the Title IX Advisor
The Title IX Advisor Training provides those serving as advisors in the Title IX process with an overview of their role from investigation to the hearing. Title IX involves particular procedural steps that are not always easy to understand, but are essential to know in order to effectively serve as an advisor.
Participants will be provided with an overview of the process and their specific role, along with tips, skills, and techniques for completing the responsibilities of an Advisor.
After the Title IX Hearing: Appeals
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This two-hour training is geared toward those serving in roles involving appeal processes for employees and students.
This training will cover:
- Grounds for appeals and how to interpret the language of your policy.
- Appeals as set forth in the Title IX Regulations and appeals of matters outside the scope of the Regulations, and key differences to note.
- Best practices in handling appeals.
- Recent legal challenges to appeals, and lessons learned.
- Writing appeals decisions/outcome letters.
Pregnancy or Related Conditions Under Title IX
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Alternative or Informal Resolutions
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Facilitating the Alternative or Informal Resolution Process
The Alternative Resolution Training covers the requirements under the May 2020 Title IX Regulations for informal resolution, and includes strategies that can be used in other conduct and resolution processes.
Our practitioners will introduce alternative resolutions and other dispute resolution options, and will facilitate discussions on impartiality, avoiding bias, identifying conflicts of interest, and community engagement. Participants will gain insight into how to conduct different processes within the scope of Title IX and beyond, including implementation, process development, and documentation.
Title VI Fundamentals
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Title VI Fundamentals: Recognizing and Addressing Harassment and Discrimination in Higher Education
The Title VI Fundamentals Training will provide attendees with critical information related to best practices for responding to Title VI complaints.
The training will first review of recent Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Resolutions and provide an overview of the latest guidance and fact sheets from OCR. The training will also provide a review of Title VI with a focus on best practices for coordinating response and resolutions, developing policies, setting up a Title VI Office and conducting investigations.
Intermediate Title VI Training
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Intermediate Title VI: Conflict Management and Compliance
The Intermediate Title VI Training is interactive workshop for developing the skills and knowledge needed to better address Title VI concerns on campus.
This hands-on training will guide participants through practical scenarios related to Title VI. Participants will learn about the concepts of free speech and hostile environments. They will be provided ways to navigate and address the many complexities of these issues while providing for free speech without infringing on civil rights. The facilitators will utilize scenarios to walk attendees through responding to the tumultuous current events impacting today’s higher education professionals, including those related to student/faculty expression and protest.
Title VI Investigator Training
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The last year has brought increasing numbers of complaints of harassment on the basis of race, religion, national origin, and shared ancestry. There is new guidance from the Department of Education and from the EEOC on how to identify and address a hostile environment on campus. In this advanced investigator training, we will use real, campus-based examples to review how to investigate claims of hostile environment harassment and discrimination.
Topics will include determining the scope and breadth of an investigation, weighing evidence, common errors when applying hostile environment definitions, and the differences between investigating what occurred versus investigating the impact. We will also discuss academic freedom and First Amendment considerations, and how those may or may not impact findings.
After the Title IX Hearing: Sanctioning
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Sanctioning
The agenda includes:
The goals of sanctions and discipline.
Determining the proper sanction.
Factors to consider when determining sanctions.
Understanding aggravating circumstances.
Communicating findings and sanction decisions.
Contact Elizabeth Brady to learn more
Custom Trainings
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Custom Trainings
We work with each campus to create a customized training solution specific to your needs. Contact us to begin the discussion.
Sample Agenda
See What Our Clients Have to Say…
Our partnership has not only improved the experiences for students... but is has also enhanced our community’s confidence in our process.
We have been beyond pleased with our partnership with Grand River Solutions. Having easy access to a talented pool of trainers, investigators, hearing officers, and conduct consultants through Grand River has been wonderful. I believe our partnership has not only improved the experiences for students who are involved in sexual misconduct, but it has also enhanced our staffs' capacities to respond effectively and our community’s confidence in our process.
Dr. Lisa Landreman, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Willamette University
Grand River team is a helpful mix of professional and approachable, delivering expertise, a breadth of services, and continually adding value.
Our partnership with Grand River Solutions provides our member colleges and universities with expert Title IX, Clery Act, and diversity, equity, and inclusion support services at the touch of a button. We are thrilled to continue to work with the Grand River team, who is a helpful mix of professional and approachable, delivering expertise, and a breadth of services.
Brent Wilder, President, Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges & Universities
The training materials prepared were relevant; they incorporated feedback about our campus culture and climate, while offering practical skills for our decision makers, advisors and investigators.
Grand River Solutions provided our Title IX grievance pool with a great refresher training on the fundamentals of the Title IX adjudication process. The training materials prepared were relevant; they incorporated feedback about our campus culture and climate, while offering practical skills for our decision makers, advisors and investigators. The Grand River Solutions team exceeded our expectations during the mock hearing. Drawing on the challenges seen in the past year they provided our decision makers and advisors with expert guidance on managing the various aspect of the Title IX hearing.
Nicole L. Johnson, Title IX & Compliance Director| Title IX & Compliance Office, Spelman College
Their programs are engaging, thoughtful, and community-focused.
My colleagues and I really appreciate the training and support provided by Chantelle Cleary and the whole Grand River Solutions team. Their approach weaves together legal expertise, practitioner experience, and common sense — plus a profound commitment to fairness and care for others. Their programs are engaging, thoughtful, and community-focused, and we look forward to working with and learning from them.
Michael Dunn, Assistant Vice President of Equity and Inclusions; Title IX Coordinator, St. Mary's College of Maryland
The training provided was thorough, thoughtful, and engaging, and it laid the groundwork for a successful year.
The team at Grand River Solutions was wonderful to work with, providing prompt response and a tailored approach to training that fully considered our unique situation. The training provided was thorough, thoughtful, and engaging, and it laid the groundwork for a successful year. I am grateful for their support, and look forward to continued partnership with Grand River Solutions..
Michael Patterson, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
GRS transformed the way we plan for and respond to Title IX, harassment, discrimination, and other related incidents.
Rosalia Messina, EdD, MPA, Executive Vice President, University of Western States
MEET SOME OF OUR FACILITATORS
Jody Shipper
Jody Shipper has conducted and overseen thousands of investigations, and lectures extensively at universities and conferences throughout the United States on Title IX and equity laws, institutional responsibilities, and the implementation of best practices. She has been working in the field of higher education, Title IX, Clery/VAWA, and employment law and has conducted workplace and academic investigations for more than twenty years.
Chantelle Cleary Botticelli
Chantelle Cleary Botticelli is a nationally recognized subject-matter expert in Title IX and related fields. She has more than 10 years of experience in the investigation and adjudication of sexual and interpersonal violence. She lectures extensively at universities and conferences throughout the U.S. on Title IX, VAWA, harassment, and implementation of best and emerging practices.
Martha Compton
Martha Compton has over 20 years of experience in higher education, specifically investigating and resolving student conduct, sexual misconduct, and interpersonal violence matters. Martha is a nationally recognized expert in student conduct and has held leadership positions within the Association for Student Conduct Administration, including President. Martha has trained thousands of individuals across the country on program and policy development as well as conducting investigations, hearings, and informal resolutions.
Darci Heroy
Darci is an experienced hearing officer, investigator, and senior administrator who has performed and overseen hundreds of complex hearings and investigations. Darci has delivered hundreds of hours of live training, presentations, as well as developmental and executive coaching. As a consultant, Darci draws on her former experience serving as the Assistant Vice President, Title IX Coordinator, and Chief Civil Rights Officer for the University of Oregon .
Pari Le Golchehreh
Pari Le Golchehreh has extensive experience in Title IX and Equity work on college campuses. Pari served as the Equity and Title IX Office’s Lead Investigator at California Institute of Technology where she developed a deep expertise in leading investigations, trained campus community members, and facilitated mediated conversations and remedy-based resolutions. Pari is a certified mediator, and is skilled in aiding parties to resolve disputes in a trauma informed and collaborative manner.
Kateeka J. Harris
Kateeka has nearly two decades of experience in higher education including Title IX compliance, student conduct, multicultural program administration, and undergraduate admissions. Kateeka is a nationally recognized expert in Student Conduct and Title IX Administration and was the President of the Association for Student Conduct Administration.
Andrea Stagg
Andrea Stagg has extensive experience consulting, writing and training on Title IX , Equity and safety. Andrea was Deputy General Counsel and Director of Government Relations & Compliance at Barnard College and was counsel to three colleges within the SUNY system. She has worked with federal and state legislators to develop state laws and follow best practices in campus safety and sexual harassment prevention.
Adam Wolkoff
Dr. Adam J. Wolkoff provides investigative and adjudicative services and compliance advice to our clients. Adam previously served as Assistant Director of the Student Conduct Institute and Special Assistant Counsel to the State University of New York’s Office of General Counsel. Adam developed a first-of-its-kind casebook of student conduct and Title IX decisions and was co-editor of the Joint Guidance on Federal Title IX Regulations in 2020.
Kelly Whitney
Kelly Whitney, a Title IX, Civil Rights Investigator & Trainer at Grand River Solutions, is a seasoned investigator with over three decades of experience. As a self-starter who ran her own investigations firm for 20 years, she worked both sides of the issues, before becoming a neutral, independent investigator. Kelly is licensed with the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services in California and has worked at the highest levels in criminal investigations, with more than 100 homicide and sexual assault cases throughout the Bay Area. She has also served as a mitigation specialist on capital murder cases. Her keen eye for detail has been strengthened over her many years of conducting and documenting investigations.
Ann James
Dr. Ann James has wide ranging experience and expertise. She has more than two decades of experience in crisis management, leading institutional efforts in Title IX and gender equity compliance, student conduct, and facilitating institutional leadership transitions within higher education. Ann is a skilled trainer, fusing her professional experience with compliance and best practice to provide practical examples and engaging content.
Emma Hempel
Emma Hempel has served as a Title IX Coordinator at both public and private institutions across the country. She has developed a wide array of trainings and seminars on topics including Title IX, sexual violence prevention, bystander intervention, and LGBTQ+ support. Emma specializes in the intersection of sexual violence and the LGBTQ+ community.
Kevin Lineberger
Kevin focuses on many aspects of Title IX and the Clery Act, including serving as investigator, hearing advisor, hearing panelist, and as a hearing coordinator. Working with the consulting team, Kevin researches developments in state and federal law relating to Title IX, the Clery Act, and equity issues and assists in the production of Clery Annual Security Reports for clients across the country.