Title IX

Education & prevention

Education and training are important tools for preventing and responding to sex- and gender-based violence and harassment.

Prevention education strategies are meant to create and support positive, respectful, and equitable work and learning environments and endeavor to stop sex- and gender-based violence and harassment before they happen. Each year violence prevention research provides more insights into how communities can prevent violence and harassment from happening in the first place.

At the University of Washington, we remain committed to fostering environments where you feel valued and supported and have the opportunity to learn and grow. As a member of the UW community, you also have an important role to play in ensuring a respectful environment for your community members.

Husky Prevention & Response

Husky Prevention & Response is a foundational, online course tailored to an employee’s or student’s role. The course provides content on recognizing sex- and gender-based violence and harassment and includes strategies for intervening or interrupting concerning behaviors. The course also introduces support resources, responding with care, options for reporting or submitting formal complaints, and the UW policies that pertain to our commitments and expectations.

The online courses were developed by a working committee of students, faculty, and staff with representation from all three UW campuses and UW Medicine.

Employee course access

The employee course will be available in early October 2021.

Student course access

The student course will be available in mid-October 2021.

How were these online courses developed?

In August 2019, the University of Washington’s Title IX Steering Committee charged a working committee to develop University-wide courses on the prevention of and response to sex- and gender-based misconduct. This course was developed by and for students, staff, faculty, and other academic personnel at UW. It went through extensive review with stakeholders across all UW locations.

To learn more about the 2019 UW committee charge and a previous committee report that informed this project, please review:

Who was on the committee that developed the courses?

Title IX Training & Education Working Committee members:

  • Co-Chair: Kiana Swearingen, Office of the Title IX Coordinator, UW Tri-Campus
  • Co-Chair: Elizabeth Wilmerding, Violence Prevention & Advocacy Program, UW Bothell
  • Erin O’Connell, Athletics, UW Seattle (Title IX Steering Committee Liaison)
  • Deanna Blanchfield, Human Resources, UW Tacoma
  • Erin Casey, Professor, UW Tacoma
  • Michelle Cabrera, Associate Professor, UW School of Medicine
  • Lisa Hanna, Campus Operations/Human Resources, UW Tri-Campus
  • Lauren Lichty, Associate Professor, UW Bothell
  • Jon Payne, Human Resources, UW Medicine
  • Jessica Rashid, Student Life, UW Seattle
  • Jaye Sablan, Core Programs, UW Seattle Graduate School
  • Paige Sechrest, SafeCampus, UW Tri-Campus (and graduate student representative)

Technical and project support:

  • Joel Tobin, Compliance Services
  • Jonathan Beck, Ph.D. Candidate, 2021 (student employee)
  • Sarah Park, BA, 2020 (student employee)

Who else was involved?

The following groups and UW units offered support during this project:

  • The Title IX Steering Committee provided guidance and support for this endeavor
  • Groups of key stakeholders (students, staff, and faculty) conducted curriculum reviews at key stages throughout this project
  • Over 1,300 individual UW community members provided information about their priorities, needs, values, and dreams for a course like this
  • UW-IT, HR Benefits, Analytics & Information Services (HRIS), and the Integrated Service Center (ISC) provided technical support
  • The Office of Educational Assessment provided nuanced and critical analysis of data from the 2019 UW Climate Survey
  • The Office of the Title IX Coordinator offered ongoing leadership and expertise

Are additional online courses or in-person trainings in development?

Husky Prevention & Response is a foundational “Level 1” online course. “Level 2” in-person education will continue to be encouraged and developed for all members of the UW community.

Review the Additional UW training and education page to learn more about additional learning opportunities related to sex- and gender-based violence and harassment. Additional and required education on equity, inclusion, and diversity will follow as the University develops and expands its education and training opportunities on these and related topics.

How often is the course updated?

During the first academic year of the project, 2021-2022, the course will be reviewed and updated quarterly. In future academic years, the course will be updated in January and July.

If you have suggested edits or updates, please email tixcourse@uw.edu.

How do I submit questions about the course?

Please submit any feedback or questions about the course to tixcourse@uw.edu.