by Rebecca Kielbasa
Tiffin University cares about the well-being and rights of all our students. It can be easy to get confused about what campus has to offer, so we sat down and talked about resources with Kelsey Kuzma, our campus Deputy Title IX Coordinator & VAWA Investigator to sort out the need-to-know basics of Title IX, Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and other victim advocacy and resources available on campus.
Title IX
Tiffin University is committed to providing a campus community in which education, working and living reflect a safe environment free from gender-based discrimination and/or sexual harassment/misconduct.
In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and other federal, state and local civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities which receive federal financial assistance, Tiffin University has developed the policies and procedures which prohibit discrimination, sexual harassment/misconduct and retaliation on the basis of sex.
- Reporting – Any member of the University community (faculty, staff, students, visitors and third party vendors) who believes that he or she has been a victim of gender-based discrimination and/or sexual harassment/sexual misconduct by any member of the University community may file a complaint with Kelsey Kuzma to kuzmak@tiffin.edu.
FERPA
FERPA was designed to protect the student’s rights with regard to educational records maintained by the institution. A student has the following rights:
- The right to inspect and review educational records maintained by the institution that pertain to the student;
- The right to challenge the content of records on the grounds that they are inaccurate, misleading or a violation of privacy or other rights; and
- The right to control disclosures from the educational records with certain exceptions.
For more information on FERPA visit the Department of Education FERPA Guidelines or you may reach out to Tangi Ritchie, Director of Financial Aid at ritchiet@tiffin.edu.
Resources
TU provides several resources for students through the Student Resource Center including:
- Connecting students to resources related to food, counseling, transportation, healthcare and more;
- Resource workshops and collaborations with community partners and organizations to make resources more available and accessible;
- Advocacy services;
- Cultivating a safe environment on campus and within programming that empowers LGBTQIA* students to develop their authentic identity.
- Connecting students with counseling services for stress, depression, anxiety, mental illness, etc.;
- Providing connections for wellness services needed to achieve health and fitness goals;
- Providing accommodation and support services for students who have health impairment, physical limitations and learning disabilities;
- A comfortable space where students can seek information and obtain confidential referrals.
The Student Resource Center is located in the Office for Equity, Access & Opportunity; Friedley Hall. You may contact the office at resourcecenter@tiffin.edu.
Advocacy
Juli Huston, Victims Advocate, is the designated coordinator of support services for all members of the campus community who have experienced dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.The University Victims Advocate representative will contact the victim in writing and schedule a Resources, Rights and Options meeting. Juli can be reached at hustonjr@tiffin.edu.
Find TU’s policies & procedures on Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination here.