The Title IX Office collaborates with students and other University offices, such as the Safe Office, the Office of the Dean of Students, and Office of Wellbeing, to offer awareness campaigns and prevention programs that seek to promote positive and healthy behaviors. We strive to foster healthy, mutually respectful relationships, encourage safe bystander intervention, and seek to change behavior and social norms in healthy and safe directions.

Culture of Respect Framework

As part of Wake Forest’s ongoing commitment to addressing sexual harassment and misconduct on campus (including workplace harassment) — through the Division of Campus Life — Wake Forest is a member of the NASPA Culture of Respect Collective (CORE). The CORE initiative is a strategic planning process grounded in a comprehensive, evidenced based, ongoing self-assessment.

A key component to the CORE’s success is its emphasis on cross-campus collaboration. Building off of the work initiated by the Sexual Misconduct Prevention, Policy, and Resource Team, the CORE Campus Leadership Team (CLT) — comprised of Wake Forest faculty, staff, and students — spearheads Wake Forest’s participation in this initiative. Currently, there are over 50 members on the CLT who actively contribute to creating and implementing a strategic plan for preventing sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct on the Wake Forest campus.


Title IX Office’s Sexual Misconduct Prevention Programs

New Employee Training

Preventing Harassment & Sexual Violence: All new employees, including temporary, part-time employees, are required to complete an online program within 60 days of their respective hire dates. The course takes about one hour to complete, and discusses avoiding sexual harassment, avoiding abusive behavior, protecting students, crimes and conduct violations, and employee roles and responsibilities. There is an advanced section of this course for supervisors.

Ongoing Employee Educational Programs

Wake Forest offers an online course that builds upon the knowledge gained through the new employee course and includes a more in-depth review of inappropriate workplace behavior through the use of examples as applied under University policies. There is also a supervisor version of this course.

  • How We Can Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
    Wake Forest offers an in-person, interactive workshop conducted by the Title IX Office. Employees learn what behaviors constitute sexual misconduct and create a hostile environment; gain an understanding of how to become an effective bystander; and become familiar with the avenues available to report sexual harassment as well as to receive support. As with the Title IX Office online trainings, quizzes as well as pre and post session assessments are utilized to monitor effectiveness. This workshop is available by request and is also offered annually through the Professional Development Center.
  • Stop, Drop and Roll: A Framework for Responding to Disclosures: In partnership with the Safe Office, Stop, Drop and Roll is an in-person, interactive workshop that provides faculty, staff and student employees with information and skills to effectively respond to disclosures of sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct with care and confidence while also fulfilling mandated reporting requirements. Attendees engage in role play and active listening activities. This workshop is available by request and is also offered annually through the Professional Development Center.
  • Sexual Assault Prevention for Athletic Staff: Under the NCAA rules, all athletes, coaches and athletics administrators are required to complete an annual sexual misconduct prevention training. To meet this requirement (and in addition to the in-person training), the Title IX Office administers an online program entitled Sexual Assault Prevention for Athletic Staff. This online course covers issues related to sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment, hazing, and bullying. The course reinforces the Athletic Department’s commitment to combatting sexual misconduct and utilizes sports-related case studies.

Student Educational Programs

  • New Undergraduate Students: All incoming undergraduate students are required to successfully complete a two-part online course administered by the Title IX Office. Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduate Students provides an initial baseline understanding of relationship violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking. The course includes a review of University policies and case studies while emphasizing University resources and reporting options. Students must also complete a pre and post session assessment. Students complete Part 1 prior to the start of the Fall semester. Part 2 of the course is completed 30 to 45 days following completion of Part 1.
  • New Graduate & Professional School Students: All incoming graduate students and professional school students are required to successfully complete a two-part online course administered by the Title IX Office. This course provides an initial baseline understanding of relationship violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking. The course includes a review of University policies, effective bystander intervention and case studies while emphasizing University resources and reporting options. Students must also complete a pre and post assessment. Students complete Part 1 prior to the start of the Fall semester. Part 2 of the course is completed 30 to 45 days following completion of Part 1.
  • Returning Students: The Title IX Office offers an online course that takes approximately 30 minutes and provides a review of what behaviors constitute sexual misconduct and ways in which to effectively intervene as a bystander. Ongoing Sexual Assault Prevention also engages students with recognizing their core values and builds upon those values to identify successful relationships. Students complete a pre-course assessment as well as a post-course assessment that provide benchmarks to gauge learning outcomes. This course is also delivered in two parts, with Part 2 to be completed 30 to 45 days after completion of Part 1.
  • Sexual Assault Prevention for Student Athletes: Per NCAA requirements, student athletes are required to annually complete a continuing education online course administered by the Title IX Office. The course builds off of the knowledge gained through other online modules and reviews University policies, resources and reporting options through sports-related case studies.
  • Preventing Sexual Misconduct – An Overview of Title IX: Throughout the year, the Title IX Office conducts in-person orientation sessions for students, faculty and staff. Building from knowledge gained through the Title IX Office’s online courses, this overview provides attendees with an opportunity to interact with additional case studies that stress reporting options and support avenues, including interim measures and other accommodations, as well as an opportunity to ask questions about policies and processes.
  • Protection of Minors Training: The Title IX Office offers an online and in-person protection of minors training that prepares staff, faculty, volunteers, and campus affiliates to engage in healthy, safe relationships with minors, to identify and act in situations where they suspect child abuse or neglect, and to create a safe environment for minors on campus.

WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS BY REQUEST

The Title IX Office is available to provide workshops and programs upon request. Please contact Aishah Casseus, Director of the Title IX Office and Section 504 Coordinator by phone at 336.758.7258 or by email at casseua@wfu.edu.

How to Develop Accessible and Inclusive Events

When your group or organization is planning logistics, marketing, and other related planning details, it is important to keep accessibility and inclusiveness in mind. Please refer to this guide by the LAC-DS to ensure there are no barriers that would prevent individuals from being welcomed to and participating fully in your event.