Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX

Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX

The University of Southern California (USC) is committed to providing a safe and equitable learning, living, and working environment for all members of the University community. USC currently has multiple streams of support and resources related to access, equity, accommodations, needs, and concerns within various departments such as the Title IX Office, the Office of Student Affairs, and Keck Medicine of USC. To provide a consistent and coordinated approach and best utilization of University resources to the benefit of our entire community, the Office of Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX is being established, and the current equal opportunity, equity, and TIX investigation resources will be re-aligned under a unified vision to enhance prevention and response. The newly created office is committed to advancing equal opportunities in all University programs in accordance with applicable laws and University policy. The Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX will report to the Senior Vice President for Human Resources, with a dotted line report to the President of the University. This office will provide strategic, operational, and collaborative oversight of the University’s current policies, procedures, and practices in support of this objective.

Summary Statement

The VP will provide leadership to ensure the University continues to offer full educational access, equity, and accommodations. This role will be responsible for ensuring the University’s monitoring and compliance with laws, policies, and procedures relating to discrimination based on age, race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, protected veteran status and other protected classifications. The VP will have sufficient independence, autonomy and authority to effectively implement and monitor compliance federal and state civil rights law.

Specifically, the VP will have primary responsibility for the University’s Title IX Program, Affirmative Action Plan, and Equal Opportunity Report, as well as related programs and commitments required by federal and state laws, executive orders, and University policies. Particular duties include but are not limited to enforcing the University’s Policies; ensuring compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to equal rights and nondiscrimination laws. Additionally, this role will be responsible for ensuring equal employment/admissions opportunities for all faculty, staff and applicants; implementing discrimination/harassment and retaliation awareness training and other training for faculty, staff, and students on equal opportunity/affirmative action issues; overseeing investigation and resolution of complaints of discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation; and preparing relevant institutional reports. The VP will lead and supervise a team of professional staff and work collaboratively with University faculty, staff, and students. The VP will manage the budget and administrative operations of the office and will oversee the functioning of the University’s Title IX, Equal Employment and all Civil Rights policies and practices, and identify institutional partners for seamless and user-friendly implementation.

Description of Key Duties

• Support the mission of the University by overseeing institutional compliance with equal opportunity laws and practices and by working to strengthen a culture of accountability and responsibility that supports a safe and non-discriminatory living, learning, and working environment

• Monitor the implementation of state and federal civil rights laws at the University

• Disseminate information about laws, policies, procedures, and employee reporting responsibilities regarding equal opportunity, disability, harassment, discrimination and retaliation

• Develop and monitor the University’s Affirmative Action Plan

• Oversee the investigation and resolution of reports alleging discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, including oversight of effective data management and record keeping practices to allow for tracking of patterns and trends based on centrally-maintained data

• Understand and maintain an up-to-date understanding of current laws and legal guidance related to Title VII, Title IX, relevant provisions of the Clery Act, as amended by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to civil rights and/or persons with disabilities for the purposes of continuous improvement and sustainability

• Understand and maintain an up-to-date understanding of Nondiscrimination Laws and legal guidance related thereto for the purposes of continuous improvement and sustainability

• Coordinate, develop and oversee a comprehensive training, education and awareness program for all faculty, staff and students in partnership with the appropriate campus partners

• Continuously review, analyze and identify patterns of discrimination and/or harassment and develop measures to address concerns

• Supervise the University’s Title IX, Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights practices, identify institutional partners for seamless and user-friendly implementation, and monitor the implementation of their respective responsibilities

• Support, work with and assist with all other aspects of the University’s civil rights compliance efforts

• Coordinate with other offices on campus for education, training, regular dissemination of information on topics related to job duties

• Provide periodic reports to the University’s Board of Trustees

• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree in a related field, or Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school with extensive experience of at least 10 years in Title IX, ADA, Title VII, equity, equal opportunity, and all forms of civil rights programming, including education, prevention, training, policy and practice development and administration, investigations and resolutions related to discrimination and harassment. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15 years or more of related experience as listed above
• Experience in a higher education, judicial, corporate or regulatory compliance setting
• Experience facilitating & evaluating professional development focused on civil rights
• Knowledge of assessment practices involving evaluation of outcomes-based measures and campus climate surveys

Characteristics

• Deep knowledge of and ability to interpret Nondiscrimination Laws and legal guidance related to Title VII, Title IX, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to civil rights and disabilities

• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, planning, and management skills along with previous experience supervising cross divisional teams

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively and interact effectively with faculty, staff, students, and community and government agencies

• Demonstrated understanding of University of Southern California’s mission and vision

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills

• Strong presentation and facilitation skills with an emphasis on education and training for a variety of constituencies

• A compassionate nature, a talent for listening, and a history of working with confidential and sensitive information

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to problem solve, prioritize, analyze, summarize, and effectively present data

• Demonstrated experience with and commitment to working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, in support of an inclusive and welcoming environment

• Knowledge of best practices in higher education compliance with Nondiscrimination Laws.

• Ability to act independently, take initiative, and exercise sound judgment.

• The courage and integrity to pursue action consistent with the goals of civil rights laws and University policy, even in the face of vocal or powerful opposition.

Minimum Education: Master’s degree Minimum Experience: 10 years; Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience Minimum Field of Expertise: Extensive experience with Title IX, equity, equal opportunity, and all forms of civil rights programming (e.g., education, policy and practice development and administration, investigations and resolutions). Demonstrated leadership, organizational, planning, and management skills along with previous experience supervising cross divisional teams. Working knowledge of best practices for higher education compliance with nondiscrimination laws. Demonstrated understanding of the university’s mission and vision. Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively and interact effectively with faculty, staff, students, and community and government agencies. Exemplary oral and written communication skills, with proven listening, presentation, and facilitation skills with an emphasis on education and training for a variety of constituencies. Demonstrated experience working with confidential and sensitive information. Demonstrated experience with and commitment to working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, in support of an inclusive and welcoming environment. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to problem solve, prioritize, analyze, summarize, and effectively present data.