In so many ways, the lives of students have gone digital. While some of these changes can be positive – we also know that technology amplifies familiar challenges and harms experienced by students. Today, understanding how to protect ourselves and others when exposed to unhealthy or unsafe situations online is critical. Luckily, we needn’t be tech experts to act.

When we start treating digital safety like we treat our physical safety, good things happen. From this perspective, we will explore how anyone can quickly and effectively navigate, anticipate and respond to tech-facilitated challenges in the digital age. These include familiar challenges like Nonconsensual Tracking, Unauthorized Account Access and Online Harassment – as well as emerging issues including AI-Generated Images, Sextortion, Facial Recognition Stalking, Catfishing 2.0, Stalkerware and more. We will also break down how colleges and universities can adapt their policies and regulations to encompass and address these emerging issues, ensuring students feel seen, safe and are held accountable in the digital age.

This session is designed to provide an in-depth exploration of the intersection between risk management practices and the evolving landscape of Title IX regulations, framed through the lens of significant legal cases. Using Title IX legal cases that encompass a broad spectrum of issues, Frank Cella and Patrick Mathis will highlight the critical lessons learned and the legal precedents set, which are essential for understanding the current and future landscape of Title IX compliance. Their discussion will not only summarize these pivotal cases but also draw out the specific risk management and prevention issues related to each case topic. This approach will help identify common pitfalls and effective strategies that institutions can adopt to mitigate risks and enhance their Title IX compliance efforts. By the end of this session, participants will have a thorough understanding of how to manage and mitigate risks associated with Title IX regulations, grounded in real-world legal scenarios. This knowledge will be crucial for higher education professionals tasked with ensuring their institutions adhere to federal requirements while fostering safe and equitable learning environments.