Stetson Law and Grand River Solutions to Present Free Speech & Title VI Training Symposium in Las Vegas This October
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grand River Solutions, a national leader in Title IX, equity, and civil rights compliance services, has partnered with Stetson University College of Law’s Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy to present the Free Speech & Title VI Training Symposium, a two-day professional development event taking place October 27–28, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The symposium brings together nationally recognized subject matter experts and working practitioners to examine two of the most consequential legal and policy issues facing colleges and universities today: free speech and Title VI compliance. Designed for campus and compliance leadership — including Title VI and Title IX Coordinators, legal counsel, student affairs and student conduct leaders, civil rights professionals, investigators, and decision-makers — the program combines legal foundations with practical application through expert-led presentations, interactive discussion, and realistic case studies.
“There are so many issues for which campuses seek further guidance in this area; perhaps the most prominent and vexing is when does free expression cross the line into creating a hostile environment?” said Peter Lake, Director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law.
Day one focuses on First Amendment fundamentals: the constitutional principles shaping institutional decisions on protests, invited speakers, social media, and campus expression, and how those principles intersect with civil rights obligations. Day two turns to Title VI in practice, addressing complaint assessment, investigations, policy implementation, and risk mitigation for institutions navigating discrimination, harassment, and campus climate concerns tied to race, color, national origin, and shared ancestry.
“We have assembled a cadre of prominent subject matter experts to provide our attendees with essential training on these important topics. And, we placed the training in a city that is both enjoyable and accessible to attendees from all parts of the country — Las Vegas,” said Jody Shipper, J.D., Co-Founder and Managing Director of Grand River Solutions.
The symposium’s facilitators include Michelle Deutchman, JD, Executive Director of the National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement at the University of California; Neal Hutchens, PhD, JD, of the University of Kentucky’s Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation; Jody Shipper, JD; Pari Le Golchehreh, of Grand River Solutions Investigation Hearing, & Appeal Services team; Omar E. Torres, EdD, Grand River Solutions Coordinator & Director Services Team and Hazing & Student Conduct Services; and David Krieger, Title VI Coordinator and Director of Programs at New York University.
Registration is $749, with a discounted rate of $449 available for Grand River Solutions Training Membership members. Registration closes October 16, though the session is expected to fill sooner given limited space. A discounted room block is available at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Convention Center in Las Vegas through October 6.
Additional details, including the full agenda and registration, are available at grandriversolutions.com/free-speech-title-vi-symposium. CLE approval is pending.
Ahead of the symposium, Lake and Shipper will host a free 45-minute overview webinar, Title VI and Protected Speech: A Conversation with Peter Lake and Jody Shipper on September 10, 2026, at 10am PT | 1pm ET. Register here.
Our founders built Grand River Solutions by bringing together a full-time team of practitioners with deep expertise who partner with institutions—not just as consultants, but as trusted collaborators. Through innovative training, consulting, delegated services, investigations, hearings, and technology solutions like Case Tracker software, we work alongside every client with respect for their mission, values, resources, and campus culture, helping them build sustainable systems that strengthen equity and compliance for the long term.
For Immediate Release
August 12, 2026
Grand River Solutions
Press Contact: Diana Kunce | dkunce@grandriversolutions.com
