Title IX & Sexual Misconduct

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX)

Update

On June 17, 2024, a federal court granted an injunction for a Title IX lawsuit filed by multiple states, including Virginia, against the Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights. This injunction places a pause on the new Title IX Regulations released on April 19, 2024. The Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity will use the current Policy on Title IX and Sexual Misconduct until further notice.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual assault. While it is often thought of as a law that only applies to athletics programs, Title IX is much broader than Athletics and applies to many programs at Old Dominion University. Information regarding our updated Title IX policy can be found here.

Educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance are covered by Title IX. In compliance with Title IX, Old Dominion University prohibits discrimination in employment as well as in programs and activities on the basis of sex.

The United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is in charge of enforcing Title IX. Find information regarding OCR.

University Title IX Coordinator

In accordance with Title IX regulations, the University has a designated Title IX Coordinator who is charged with monitoring compliance with these regulations. Questions regarding Title IX, as well as concerns and complaints of non-compliance may be directed to them.

A. Kate Couch, Title IX Coordinator
4111 Monarch Way, Suite 106, Norfolk, VA 23508
Phone: 757-683-3141 Fax: 757-683-5844
Email: TitleIXCoordinator@odu.edu

Complaints under Title IX

Federal and state laws prohibit retaliation against any individual who files a complaint in good faith.

Students

If you are a student and believe you have been subjected to

  1. sexual harassment (including sexual assault, sexual violence or other forms of sexual misconduct); OR
  2. any other form of gender discrimination under Title IX,

you may report such misconduct or file a formal complaint with the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. The complaint procedure and complaint form can be found at odu.edu/equity/complaints.

Employees

Sexual harassment, including sexual assault and violence, is a form of gender discrimination prohibited by Title IX. A University employee who believes s/he has been subjected to discrimination or harassment in the workplace because of your sex may also file a complaint with the Title IX Coordinator. Please note: complaints of workplace sexual harassment that do not rise to the level of a Title IX violation may be subject to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and it's related policies. For more information, or to discuss questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity.

Title IX Contacts

Title IX Responsibility Title IX Area Job Name Phone Email Office
Coordinator Institution-Wide Title IX Coordinator A. Kate Couch 757-683-3141 titleixcoordinator@odu.edu 4111 Monarch Way, Suite 106
Deputy Old Dominion University - Athletes Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director, Senior Woman Administrator Carolyn Cooper Crutchfield 757-683-4265 cacooper@odu.edu 116 Jim Jarrett Athletic Building
Temporary Deputies (April - July 2024) Old Dominion University - Athletes Athletic Administration Aimee Clark and Danielle Cohea 757-683-3569 a4clark@odu.edu and dcohea@odu.edu  Jim Jarrett Athletic Building
Deputy Old Dominion University - All Other Students Associate Vice President for SEES, Dean of Students Dr. Vicki Williams 757-683-3442 vswillia@odu.edu 2008 Webb University Center
Deputy Old Dominion University - Faculty Only Director of Faculty Diversity and Retention  Dr. Shanda Jenkins 757-683-4327 sjenkins@odu.edu  
Deputy Old Dominion University - All Other Employees Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Debbie Howe 757-683-4564 dhowe@odu.edu  1008A Kooh Hall
Deputy Virginia Health Sciences - All Employees Associate Vice President of Human Resources Matthew Schenk 757-446-6043 mschenk@odu.edu Waitzer Hall
Deputy Virginia Health Sciences - All Students Assistant Dean, Student Affairs Melissa Scott 757-446-8927 mjscott@odu.edu  Lewis Hall

To file a complaint, you may contact the Title IX Coordinator, and/or you may also contact:

ODU Police Department
4516 Monarch Way
Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 683-4000

Norfolk Police Department
810 Union Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Non-Emergency (757) 664-4000
Emergency 911

Counseling Services
Webb Center, Ste 1526, Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-4401

Employee Resource Program
Available through Human Resources
Spong Hall
(757)683-3042

Student Health Services
Webb Center, Ste. 1007, Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-3132

Victim Advocate
(757) 683-4110

Women and Gender Equity Center
1101 Monarch Hall
Norfolk, VA 23529

(757) 683-4109
Email: womenctr@odu.edu

YWCA Sexual and Domestic Violence Services/ Family Justice Center
500 E. Plume St. #700, Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 625-4248
24 Hour Crisis Hotline (757) 251-0144

Campus Resources

Counseling Services
Webb Center, Ste 1526, Norfolk, Va. 23529
(757) 683-4401

Respondent Advocate
Community Wellbeing and Support Clinic
4701 Powhatan Ave, Ste. G2
(757) 683-4630

Victim Advocate
(757) 683-4110

Women and Gender Equity Center
Webb Center, Ste. 1000, Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-4109
Email: womenctr@odu.edu

Community Resources

24 Hour Crisis Hotline
(757) 251-0144

YWCA Sexual & Domestic Violence Service/YWCA Family Justice Center
500 E. Plume St #700, Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 625-4248

Title IX Responsibility Title IX Area Job Name Phone Email Office
Coordinator Institution-Wide Title IX Coordinator A. Kate Couch 757-683-3141 titleixcoordinator@odu.edu 4111 Monarch Way, Suite 106
Deputy Old Dominion University - Athletes Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director, Senior Woman Administrator Carolyn Cooper Crutchfield 757-683-4265 cacooper@odu.edu 116 Jim Jarrett Athletic Building
Temporary Deputies (April - July 2024) Old Dominion University - Athletes Athletic Administration Aimee Clark and Danielle Cohea 757-683-3569 a4clark@odu.edu and dcohea@odu.edu  Jim Jarrett Athletic Building
Deputy Old Dominion University - All Other Students Associate Vice President for SEES, Dean of Students Dr. Vicki Williams 757-683-3442 vswillia@odu.edu 2008 Webb University Center
Deputy Old Dominion University - Faculty Only Director of Faculty Diversity and Retention  Dr. Shanda Jenkins 757-683-4327 sjenkins@odu.edu  
Deputy Old Dominion University - All Other Employees Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Debbie Howe 757-683-4564 dhowe@odu.edu  1008A Kooh Hall
Deputy Virginia Health Sciences - All Employees Associate Vice President of Human Resources Matthew Schenk 757-446-6043 mschenk@odu.edu Waitzer Hall
Deputy Virginia Health Sciences - All Students Assistant Dean, Student Affairs Melissa Scott 757-446-8927 mjscott@odu.edu  Lewis Hall

To file a complaint, you may contact the Title IX Coordinator, and/or you may also contact:

ODU Police Department
4516 Monarch Way
Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 683-4000

Norfolk Police Department
810 Union Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Non-Emergency (757) 664-4000
Emergency 911

Counseling Services
Webb Center, Ste 1526, Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-4401

Employee Resource Program
Available through Human Resources
Spong Hall
(757)683-3042

Student Health Services
Webb Center, Ste. 1007, Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-3132

Victim Advocate
(757) 683-4110

Women and Gender Equity Center
1101 Monarch Hall
Norfolk, VA 23529

(757) 683-4109
Email: womenctr@odu.edu

YWCA Sexual and Domestic Violence Services/ Family Justice Center
500 E. Plume St. #700, Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 625-4248
24 Hour Crisis Hotline (757) 251-0144

Campus Resources

Counseling Services
Webb Center, Ste 1526, Norfolk, Va. 23529
(757) 683-4401

Respondent Advocate
Community Wellbeing and Support Clinic
4701 Powhatan Ave, Ste. G2
(757) 683-4630

Victim Advocate
(757) 683-4110

Women and Gender Equity Center
Webb Center, Ste. 1000, Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-4109
Email: womenctr@odu.edu

Community Resources

24 Hour Crisis Hotline
(757) 251-0144

YWCA Sexual & Domestic Violence Service/YWCA Family Justice Center
500 E. Plume St #700, Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 625-4248

Title IX Training

Title IX personnel are required to complete annual training. Below are links to the specific trainings received:

Additional training materials are available upon request for inspection by members of the public. Contact titleixcoordinator@odu.edu.

Find Resources

When a Title IX complaint is filed, the parties involved have certain rights and the opportunity to seek resources.