Our Trained Staff

Officials with Authority and Mandatory Reporters

The new 2020 Title IX regulations clarify what triggers Arizona Western College’s (AWC) response obligation. A response obligation means that the AWC must institute corrective measures, which can include initiating an investigation or offering supporting measures, for example.

The triggering event under the new 2020 Title IX regulations centers on when AWC receives actual knowledge of allegations of sexual harassment/ discrimination. Actual knowledge means that the AWC Title IX Coordinator(s) or an Official with Authority has received notice of sexual harassment/discrimination or notice of allegations of sexual harassment/discrimination.

A list of Title IX Coordinators can be found by clicking the button on the right-hand side of the Title IX and Preventing Sexual Harassment website marked Important Contacts. Notice of sexual harassment/discrimination or allegations of sexual harassment/discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator conveys actual knowledge to the institution.

Officials with Authority

The new 2020 Title IX Regulations allow post-secondary institutions, such as the AWC, to decide which of its employees are Officials with Authority. An Official with Authority (OWA) means an employee of the AWC explicitly vested with the responsibility to implement corrective measures for sexual harassment on behalf of the AWC. Notice to any official with authority conveys actual knowledge to the institution.

Officials with Authority are required to report any witnessed sexual harassment, any incidents reported to him/her of sexual harassment or sexual harassment allegations from a complainant (i.e., a person alleged to be the victim) or a third party (e.g., the complainant’s parent, friend, or peer); or any written or verbal complaint about sexual harassment or sexual harassment allegations to the Title IX Coordinator.

AWC has designated the following employees as Officials with Authority to implement corrective measures for sexual harassment/discrimination.

• Title IX Coordinator(s)
• Chief Human Resources Officer
• College Associate Dean (s)
• College Dean (s)
• College Associate Vice President (s)
• College Vice President (s)
• College President
• Law Enforcement
• Athletic Directors
• Directors (in any administrative area of a college or the district)

Trained Advisors

Notice results whenever any of the AWC’s Title IX Coordinators, or any official with authority:

• witnesses sexual harassment;
• hears about sexual harassment or sexual harassment allegations from a complainant (i.e., a person alleged to be the victim) or a third party (e.g., the complainant’s parent, friend, or peer);
• receives a written or verbal complaint about sexual harassment or sexual harassment allegations;
• or by any other means.

Mandatory Reporters

The new 2020 Title IX Regulations allow post-secondary institutions, such as the AWC, to designate mandated (mandatory) reporters who are expected to report actual or suspected sexual harassment/discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator. Mandatory Reporter will, within twenty- four (24) hours, pass reports to the Title IX Coordinator (and/or police, if desired by the Complainant), who will act on the report.

Arizona Western College has also classified all employees as mandatory reporters of any knowledge they have that a member of the college community is experiencing harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation. Mandatory reporters are expected to report actual or suspected discrimination or harassment to the Title IX coordinator or to any other official with authority.

Mandatory Reporter under this policy does not diminish or affect the requirement under Arizona state law requiring the report of child abuse, elder abuse, and/or abuse of individuals with disabilities to appropriate officials.