Office for Civil Rights to visit campus, meet with students

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is reviewing UW–Madison’s compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination by educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance.

As part of the review, OCR representatives will visit campus April 12-14 to conduct focus groups and host office hours. These opportunities are for OCR to learn more about students’ knowledge of and experience with the university’s policies, procedures and resources related to sexual violence and harassment, and to understand the campus climate regarding these issues.

Students are encouraged to attend one or more focus groups at the following times and locations: 

Date	Location	Time	Student Populations	Address
4/12	Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC) Room 1268	12-1 p.m. – Focus Group 1-2 p.m. – Office Hour	Medical Professional Students/Eagle Heights Residents	Health Sciences Learning Center 750 Highland Ave. Madison, WI 53705 View a Map
4/12	Union South (Check TITU)	3-4 p.m. – Focus Group	Undergraduate Students	Union South 1308 W. Dayton St. Madison, WI 53715
4/12	Pyle Center Room 305	5:30-6:30 p.m. – Focus Group	Greek Org Students	Pyle Center 702 Langdon St. Madison, WI 53706
4/12	Pyle Center*** Room 305	7-8 p.m. – Focus Group	Sexual Violence Survivors ONLY	Pyle Center 702 Langdon St. Madison, WI 53706
4/13	Humanities Building Classroom 2221	12:15-1:15 p.m. – Focus Group	Grad & Professional Students	Humanities Building 455 N. Park St. Madison, WI 53706
4/13	Red Gym – (Check TITU)	5-6 p.m. – Focus Group	LGBTQ+ students	Armory & Gymnasium (Red Gym) 716 Langdon St. Madison, WI 53706
4/13	Red Gym – (Check TITU)	6-7 p.m. – Office Hour 7:30-8:30 p.m. – Focus Group	ISS/Multicultural Students	Armory & Gymnasium (Red Gym) 716 Langdon St. Madison, WI 53706
4/14	Graaskamp Conference Room (in McBurney DRC)	12-1 p.m. – Focus Group 1-2 p.m. – Office Hour	Undergraduate students	Graaskamp Conference Room McBurney Disability Resource Center 702 W. Johnson St. #2104 Madison, WI 53706
4/14	Bennet Hall AB (Camp Randall)	7:30-8:30 p.m. Focus Group	Varsity Athletes	Enter through door closest to lot 17: McClain Athletic Facility 1436 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711

*** This session is restricted to Sexual Assault Survivors ONLY

OCR and UW–Madison want students to feel comfortable and to speak freely during the focus groups. University administrators will not attend and the door to the room will be closed. OCR representatives will take notes to capture the discussion, but will not identify students by name in their notes. At the beginning of each focus group, OCR representatives will discuss confidentiality issues in greater detail.

The focus groups will discuss sensitive issues, and we urge attendees to respect the privacy of others. However, neither OCR nor UW–Madison can preclude attendees from speaking about the focus groups or what they heard from others.

Students may also speak privately with an OCR representative during the “office hour” times listed above. Confidentiality will be assured to the greatest extent possible. Please note, however, that OCR may share general insights with UW–Madison based upon student input, but will not disclose any student’s identity without that student’s consent. Individuals who speak with OCR staff are not required to share their name with OCR if they do not wish to do so.

If you would like to speak with OCR outside of the times listed above, please contact:

Denise Diaz, attorney, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, at (312) 7310-1573. If you would like to request disability-related accommodations for the focus groups or office hours (e.g., ASL interpretation, real-time captioning, Braille material, etc.), please contact Valyncia Raphael at vraphael@studentlife.wisc.edu.

For more information about how to report a sexual assault to UW–Madison or resources available to survivors, please review UW-Madison’s Sexual Misconduct Information website or the UHS confidential resources website.