All Iowa State students and employees are required to participate in online Title IX training made to equip them will the knowledge and skills to prevent sexual assault, harassment and discrimination.

The training is aimed toward educating people on how to best prevent and respond to certain situations of misconduct and to aid individuals who need support.

Iowa State students were alerted Feb. 26 to their required training in an email from the Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Martino Harmon.

Quoted from the email, Harmon expressed his gratitude toward students who complete the training and do their part in keeping Iowa State harassment and discrimination free.

 “At Iowa State University, we value your safety and well-being and take very seriously our commitment to being a place where you can succeed and thrive in a community that is free of discrimination, harassment, and intimidation,” said Harmon. “As part of this commitment to your safety and well-being, all undergraduate students are required to take an online course.” 

The required online training program includes a two part course aimed in helping undergraduate students address the critical issues of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and sexual harassment among students, faculty and staff.

Students have until Monday, Mar. 12 to complete part one of the training. Once the first session is complete there will be a 21 day intersession period, with varying dates for students who complete the course at their own pace, before they are prompted to complete part two. Part two will be available until Monday, Apr. 9.

The training is broken down into modules that can be accessed at any time and completed in multiple sessions. It is estimated that part one will take around one hour to complete, while part two will take 15 to 20 minutes to finish.

Once students have completed part one of the training, they will be prompted to choose whether or not they wish to receive further information on issues relating to the Title IX training. Further contact will come from EVERFI with additional learning opportunities provided via email. 

Undergraduate students are not the only ones required to participate in the training. Anyone employed at Iowa State is required to complete the Harassment and Prevention Discrimination online program that will train them on how best to respond to and report misconduct.

Everyone up to the president of Iowa State completes the Title IX training.

With people like President Wintersteen finding the time to take the training, Title IX Coordinator and Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Margo Foreman said that she is “hard pressed to believe others can’t find time to take it.”

For students who do not complete the required training, there is no immediate penalty. However during the spring 2019 registration period, students who haven’t completed the training by then will have a hold on their registration. There will be multiple reminders given before that occurs. Between now and fall of 2019, no holds will be made.

Title IX training is an annual process required of all staff and students at Iowa State. This year, Iowa State has partnered will EVERFI, a leading education technology company to provide those doing the training with a learning format that is meaningful.

“We believe the learning platforms were much more engaging… more modern and interactive training,” said Foreman.

The decision to use EVERFI as the learning platform was made by all regent universities in Iowa. The goal was to make the Title IX training uniform across the state. 

EVERFI gives Iowa State the ability to view feedback from students and staff who take the training.

“They will develop new training on our behalf,” Foreman said. There is an intention to have the training accessible on Canvas next year.

The Title IX training has taken nine months to coordinate, according to Foreman, and will only continue to build on itself. This training is only one of many steps currently being taken at Iowa State to ensure a safe environment and awareness of issues relating to sexual assault and discrimination.

“Title IX is a layered endeavor. It’s not a stop, you get all you get. It’s a layered learning program,” said Foreman.

Additional steps beyond the Title IX training include efforts by Green Dot, student government and codes of conduct to uphold the responsibility that the Iowa State community holds in ensuring acknowledgement and proper response to these issues.

Foreman said this intentional training is an “earnest acknowledgement of sexual assault, victims and respondents. Everyone needs to know their right. There isn’t a better time.”

The welcome screen of part one of the training recognizes and supports the sensitivity of some people’s experiences with issues like sexual assault. The university is mindful in consistently analyzing the annual training to best figure out if it is the right training.