As 2025 comes to a close, one word rises above everything we saw this year: partnership. Your commitment to navigating complex, sensitive Title IX work—often under tight timelines and difficult circumstances—continues to inspire us.
In this roundup, we share the casework trends we saw across campuses, the updated federal definitions you may need to incorporate, the latest discussions about possible shifts at OCR, and the offerings we’re developing for 2026 based on what you told us you needed most.
Insights From This Year’s Title IX Work
Across campuses, we saw a continued rise in the complexity of Title IX cases. Many involved overlapping allegations, multiple parties, or high-profile individuals—often alongside pressure to move investigations and hearings forward quickly. Together, these dynamics made it especially important to begin each case with clarity around jurisdiction, timelines, notices, and next steps.
We also saw how valuable early consultation can be. We offer free consults at the outset of a case, and these brief conversations—reviewing a notice, clarifying jurisdiction, or mapping the process—often prevent issues that are much harder to correct later on.
Expanded Support for Title IX Professionals in 2025
The All Access Training Package was created in direct response to institutions asking for a more flexible, accessible way to train their full teams. This on-demand model allows campuses to provide as much training as needed throughout the year. It also removes the logistical challenges of getting large groups together.
Institutions have found that this approach:
- Eases scheduling challenges
- Creates consistent understanding across departments
- Offers a practical, lower-stress way to meet annual training needs
For campuses anticipating broad training needs in 2026, this model offers a scalable, cost-effective option.
If you’d like more information, please reach out at training@titleixsolutions.com.
New Offerings for 2026
This year, we worked alongside many coordinators and investigators who were either new to their roles or taking on increasingly complex cases. Even with strong training, applying the process to real situations can feel challenging without a clear frame of reference. To help bridge that transition from learning to implementation, we developed two mentorship options that will formally launch in 2026.
Coordinator Mentorship
Coordinators work closely with an experienced Title IX professional throughout a full grievance process. This includes help drafting notices, talking through strategy, and meeting regularly to stay aligned and confident at each step.
Investigator Shadowing
A campus investigator partners with a professional investigator on a live case. Through observing interviews, reviewing draft reports, and debriefing decisions, investigators gain practical insight into sequencing, evidence evaluation, and why investigative approaches matter.
Together, these options offer guided, practical support for professionals navigating new or increasingly complex responsibilities.
If you’d like to learn more about either offering, feel free to reach out at training@titleixsolutions.com.
“Our focus remains steady: offering practical partnership that helps you navigate Title IX with clarity and confidence.“
Key Federal Updates in 2025
Federal agencies introduced revised definitions for sexual assault offenses this year, and these updates may affect how institutions classify, evaluate, and respond to certain conduct.
The first key revision is that “fondling” has been replaced with “criminal sexual contact,” and the scope of prohibited behavior under this definition has expanded. This change is not simply a terminology update; it broadens the range of conduct that may fall within institutional evaluation and, in some cases, Title IX jurisdiction.
The second significant revision is the new definition of “rape.” The updated language replaces “carnal knowledge of a person” with clearer, more specific terminology and explicitly states that physical resistance is not required to establish non-consent.
Together, these changes may influence the questions investigators ask. They may also affect the analytical lens used by decision-makers and appellate officers. Institutions should ensure that internal policies, training materials, and communications reflect the updated terminology.
Department of Education & OCR: What to Know for 2026
Recent discussions among federal leaders have raised questions about whether the Department of Education could undergo structural changes that would shift the responsibilities of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). While the situation remains fluid, here is what matters now:
- Title IX obligations for institutions remain the same.
- Federal restructuring could continue, but its practical impact on Title IX oversight is not yet clear.
- Schools will continue to be responsible for prompt response and equitable processes.
- If enforcement becomes more distributed, external parties may play a larger role in assessing process fairness and defensibility. These parties may include courts, attorneys, or independent reviewers.
For a deeper look, you can read our full article on potential Department of Education shifts.
Looking Forward
As we move into 2026, our focus remains steady: offering practical partnership that helps you navigate Title IX with clarity and confidence. Whether that means a quick consult, training support, sharing content and insights through our articles and webinars, or walking alongside you during a complex case, we’re here to support the work you do.
Thank you for everything you do to support your communities. We look forward to continuing this work together in the year ahead.
If you’d like to explore more insights or training options, here are a few places to start:
→ IX Institute on-demand training