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Education and Training

Educational Training, Awareness, and Prevention Programs

The University strives to ensure that programming is developed to be culturally relevant; trauma informed; sustainable; responsive to community needs; informed by research or assessed for value, effectiveness, and outcome; and considerate of environmental risk and protective factors as they occur on the individual, relationship, institutional, community, and societal levels.

When learning of conduct or behavior that may not meet the standards defined in the Policy, community members and the University are expected to take an active role in upholding this policy and promoting the dignity of all individuals.

The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (OCR) offers a variety of training, awareness, and prevention programs focused on discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.

Reference our definitions page to understand the specific instances and meanings of important words used throughout OCR policies and procedures.

Training Opportunities

The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance offers a variety of informational sessions, trainings, and workshops related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct policy at NU. They are designed to inform students, staff, faculty, and visitors about their rights and responsibilities as members of the Northwestern community and to equip community members with the tools to create an equitable and accessible living, learning, and working environment for all.

Request a training

For training around digital accessibility, visit our Accessibility and Accommodations website.

Introduction to OCR (~30 minutes)

In-person or Zoom visit with a staff member from the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. Invite us to your staff meetings, classrooms, or student organization meetings for a brief overview of our processes and function on campus. Appropriate for those on campus looking to familiarize themselves with resources. This session is not intended to be a comprehensive training on Responsible Employee reporting obligations.

Policy is Prevention: Putting Policy Into Practice For Responsible Employees (60 – 90 minutes)

Join the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance for an interactive workshop for Responsible Employees covering reporting obligations, OCR processes, and practice scenarios. This training does not replace or exempt faculty or staff from annual online trainings.

  • 60 minutes: Learn the basics of OCR + how to be a responsible employee using practice scenarios
  • 90 minutes: Learn the basics of OCR, how to be a responsible employee using practice scenarios and education on the entire OCR process from report to investigation.

Policy is Prevention For Non-Responsible Employees (60 – 90 minutes)

Join the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance for an interactive workshop covering University policy, how to make a report with OCR and the investigative process.

This training does not replace or exempt faculty or staff from annual online trainings. This training is for students or Confidential Resources on campus that do not have an obligation to report to OCR but want to learn more about OCR and University policy.

CSA and Responsible Employee Reporting (60 minutes)

This interactive 60-minute in-person workshop will cover: reporting obligations for both the Clery Act and Responsible Employees, on campus reporting and confidential support options, what happens after a report is made, and trauma responsive scenario practice. Available for undergraduate and graduate student employees who are Responsible Employees and CSAs.

Additional Training and Workshop Resources

Interested in trainings on other topics? Many campus partners provide complementary programming.

Students

Faculty

The Searle Center for Teaching and Learning

Staff

Investigator, Title IX Coordinator, Hearing Officer, and Appeals Officer Training

In compliance with Department of Education requirements, employees at Northwestern who serve as Title IX Coordinators, Investigators, Hearing Officers, or Appeals Officers have completed one or more of the following trainings, utilizing the training materials listed below.

Trainings and Materials