Title IX Webinar

Course Description

Join Bruce MacAllister, University of Oregon Ombudsperson and Partner of Business Excellence Solutions and Monique McKay, Virginia Tech, Graduate Student Ombudsperson and Co-founder of the Master Mediator Institute, for a practical, engaging discussion about Title IX and the role of the ombuds in higher education when working with visitors of alleged sexual harassment or sexual assault. How can an ombuds protect the integrity of the ombuds program and adherence to the standards of the International Ombudsman Association and provide neutral, independent support of those involved? What are common practice challenges? What are the typical questions that the ombuds should be prepared to address when working with their institution to scope the ombuds role in these cases? This interactive webinar will provide participants with a solid grounding in the current state of Title IX relative to ombuds and provide a safe venue for dialogue about support for and challenges to the ombuds when addressing these issues.

Learning Goals

1. Understand the fundamentals of Title IX and related civil rights protections affecting the ombuds practicing in the higher education context.
2. Understand the complexities of Title IX and become familiar with the most recent guidance on Title IX specific to ombuds.
3. Apply the learning in a hands-on scenario-driven approach to learn about typical challenges faced by in this area.

Bios and Photos

Bruce MacAllister has served as the University of Oregon Ombudsperson since establishing the program for the University in 2014.  He is also the senior partner of Business Excellence Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in organizational excellence, communication training, and consulting support to organizations wishing to implement ombuds programs.  In this role, Bruce has worked with five organizations to help design and implement their new ombuds programs.  Bruce has worked as an ombuds since 1996 when he established the ombuds program for Los Alamos National Laboratory. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Ombudsman Association, where he serves as the Board liaison to the IOA’s Title IX working group.  He also leads an initiative for the IOA to collect Title IX-related materials for a soon-to-be-public IOA Title IX resource library.  In addition to his experience as an ombudsperson, Bruce has been an employee relations director, labor-negotiator, Community College Vice President, and an attorney practicing employment law for many years. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry, and a Juris Doctorate (law).

Monique McKay is the Virginia Tech Graduate Student Ombudsperson. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Master Mediator Institute, an internationally recognized educational institute focused on furthering interdisciplinary understandings about the brain, human behavior, conflict resolution, and facilitated decision making. Monique has extensive mediation experience in complex litigated cases. She has expertise in Indigenous legal and governance issues and restorative justice and worked with Indigenous and Canadian governments and organizations on justice initiatives, education issues, self-government models and policy development related to self-government.
Monique has conducted presentations and trainings on basic and advanced mediation, conflict resolution and Indigenous governance in the US, Canada and Europe. She was an adjunct professor at William & Mary Law School where she taught mediation, mediation advocacy and was the Faculty Advisor for the ADR team. Monique has an LL.M. (Masters in Law) in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University, an LL.B (Bachelor of Laws Degree), a B.A and a Diploma in Journalism from The University of Western Ontario.