Learning Objectives

• Describe the role of a Title IX Informal Resolution Facilitator as it relates to the formal grievance process.
• Understand informal resolution facilitation procedural requirements under Title IX.
• Identify methods and approaches to facilitating informal resolution.
• Develop a trauma-informed framework for working with parties in Title IX informal resolution.
• Organize a Title IX informal resolution facilitation plan from initial meeting to final outcomes.

Title IX Solutions’ Managing Member, Pat Mathis, reviews the Title IX Regulations, including the three-pronged definition of sexual harassment, a school’s obligation to provide supportive measures, the formal complaint process, investigations, informal resolution options, standards of evidence, and hearings.

Lessons include:

• • • • Introduction to the Title IX Regulations
      • Sexual Harassment and Recipient Response
      • Title IX Grievance Process for Formal Complaints

Session Three: Identifying Informal Resolution Approaches (1 Hour)

TIXS instructors outline various informal resolution options such as restorative justice, mediation, and arbitration. TIXS instructors also discuss the overarching goals of the informal resolution process.

Lessons include:

• • • • An Introduction to Informal Resolution
      • The Informal Resolution Facilitator
      • Mediation
      • Restorative Justice
      • Other Processes Available

Session Four: Evaluating Cases for Informal Resolution Suitability (75 Minutes)

TIXS instructors discuss strategies for evaluating cases and determining the suitability for informal resolution. Instructors share best practices for creating safe, supportive, and informative processes.

Lessons include:

• • • • Guidelines for Evaluating Suitability
      • Notice of Informal Resolution
      • Evaluating Scenario Cases (Higher Education and K-12)

Session Five: Pre-Informal Resolution Meetings (45 Minutes)

TIXS instructors dive into the importance of pre-informal resolution meetings. After explaining the benefits of the meeting, instructors outline a typical pre-informal resolution meeting agenda.

Lessons include:

• • • • Pre-Informal Resolution Meetings
      • Pre-IR Meeting Agenda
      • Pre-IR Meeting Checklist

Session Six: Fostering Participant Trust in the Process (30 Minutes)

TIXS instructors share strategies for building trust with the Parties involved in informal resolution processes. Topics include addressing privacy concerns, managing conflict and emotions, and using active listening skills to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Parties’ needs.

Lessons include:

• • • • Fostering Participant Trust in the Process
      • Addressing Privacy Concerns
      • Managing Conflict, Trauma and Difficult Emotions
      • Sample De-Escalation Techniques

Session Seven: Facilitating Informal Resolution Meetings (1 hour, 30 minutes)

TIXS instructors walk participants through each step of an informal resolution meeting through the use of a case study and role-play. Participants will observe and practice the skills needed to facilitate different approaches to meetings, such as mediation and restorative justice conversations.

Lessons include:

• • • • Informal Resolution Meeting Logistics
      • Stages of the Informal Resolution Meeting

Session Eight: Informal Resolution Agreements and Outcomes (45 Minutes)

TIXS instructors outline potential outcomes of an informal resolution process and present sample informal resolution agreements. TIXS instructors also discuss potential consequences of an unsuccessful informal resolution process.

Lessons include:

• • • • Informal Resolution Agreements and Outcomes

Session Nine: Potential Challenges in Facilitating Informal Resolution Processes (30 Minutes)

Lessons include:

• • • • Potential Challenges in Facilitating Informal Resolution Processes

Meet Your Instructors

PATRICK B. MATHIS, J.D., L.L.M., M.B.A. | Founding Member

With over 30 years of legal experience, Patrick Mathis is a Founding Member of TIXS as well as a shareholder of Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. (MM&R), a law firm based in Southern Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. As a certified Title IX investigator, Patrick has advised clients on a wide variety of legal issues, he has a developed awareness of the broad implications of incidents which may affect victims, alleged assailants, and educational institutions. With that understanding, he can work with colleges, Title IX Coordinators, school counsel, and TIXS investigators to develop a comprehensive understanding and approach to addressing the issues which arise in incidents of alleged sexual assaults to ensure prompt and equitable resolutions. Patrick also coordinates the training of our investigators regarding the legal aspects of Title IX, DOE guidelines, state law issues, and related areas. He is a training instructor for TIXS, specializing in the Title IX Regulations, compliance, and issues related to sexual assault affecting students studying abroad. On June 10, 2021, Mr. Mathis submitted oral public comments to the United States Department of Education at the Office of Civil Rights Public Hearing Regarding Current Title IX Regulations.

TAWNY ALONZO, M.S. | Director of Training

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Tawny has blended careers in higher education and law enforcement to address issues of sexual misconduct on college campuses. Tawny took an interest as a police officer in working with victims of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. She immersed herself in trainings on trauma-informed interviewing, violence against women and children, as well as community approaches to prevention. This passion led to a jump into higher education and the world of Title IX. She previously served as a Title IX Investigator at Texas Woman’s University, Director of Violence Prevention at Southern Methodist University, and Title IX Program Manager at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Her areas of expertise include conducting compliant investigations, creating dynamic student and employee trainings, and building holistic campus violence prevention programs.

C.J. LARKIN, J.D., M.A | Independent Decision-Maker & Informal Resolution Facilitator

C.J. Larkin has over 30 years of experience as an attorney, mediator, arbitrator, meeting facilitator, trainer, and educator. She provides mediation, arbitration, meeting facilitation, and training services, and has provided 40-hour mediator training to attorneys, managers, and government officials nationally and internationally. C.J. is a mediator/arbitrator on the panel of USA&M St. Louis and a partner in Dispute Resolution Professionals in Denver. She has also taught negotiation, mediation, and arbitration, and has supervised law students providing mediation services for over 20 years.

JAMES W. REEVES, J.D., L.L.M | Independent Decision-Maker & Informal Resolution Facilitator

Jim Reeves has been a mediator for over 30 years. He provides mediation, facilitation, and conflict management services to individuals, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations in business and legal disputes, general tort liability, medical malpractice, products liability, condemnation, family business issues, partnership disputes, and general business and commercial disputes. Jim also has expertise convening multi-party processes to resolve legal, organizational, community, and public policy disputes, and has worked as a facilitator in restorative justice processes including victim-offender dialogues and restorative justice circles. Prior to focusing his practice in dispute resolution, Jim was a litigation attorney for 20 years. He has also held executive management positions in corporate and small business environments. He is a Lecturer in Law at Washington University in St. Louis where he teaches several ADR courses, including Negotiation, Mediation Theory & Practice, and Multi-Party and Public Policy Dispute Resolution. He was also an adjunct professor of law at St. Louis University where he taught Civil Practice and Negotiation. He is licensed to practice law in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado.

KIM L. KIRN, J.D. | Independent Decision-Maker & Informal Resolution Facilitator

Kim Kirn is a full-time mediator and arbitrator with hundreds of completed cases relating to sexual harassment and employment, education including special education, American with Disabilities Act (ADA), housing, affirmative action and tenure. Kim frequently acts as a fact finder for the Illinois State Universities Civil Service System. Her work with the Civil Service System requires that she act as a mediator to see if resolution is possible before beginning the hearing. This unique experience in conducting mediation-arbitrations, sometimes referred to as Med-Arb can be cost effective and attractive to the parties looking to resolve disputes in one day or less. She mediates disputes through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE); and the Illinois State Board of Education as well as United States Arbitration & Mediation (USA&M); the Greater Gateway Association of Realtors (GGAR); and the Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois. She arbitrates cases through the American Arbitration Association (AAA); USA&M and the Financial Industries Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

ADRIENNE MATHIS | Executive Director

Adrienne spearheads Title IX Solutions’ daily operations and consulting services. She works one-on-one with Title IX Coordinators at client universities to interpret federal and state sexual harassment statutes and advise universities on best practices for implementing the Regulations. She also works closely with Title IX Solutions professional investigators, hearing officers, informal resolution facilitators, and advisors to facilitate the provision of Title IX services to client universities. A Title IX policy expert, Adrienne also drafts sexual misconduct policies for colleges and creates guidebooks and templates for Title IX administrators. Adrienne is a training instructor for TIXS, specializing in the implementation of Title IX, investigation planning, and strategies for responding to incidents of sexual assault of U.S. students abroad.

JESSICA GROLEAU, Ph.D. | Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Groleau earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and joined the Center for Student Health and Well-Being at Davidson College in 2019. She has conducted research on the impact of trauma in college students, with an emphasis on positive psychology and post-traumatic growth. Her clinical interests include young adult development, working with survivors of sexual abuse and intimate partner violence, LGBTQ issues, relationship concerns, and anxiety.