On Wednesday, December 13th, 2017, a Women’s Forum and Luncheon, which was sponsored by the President’s Commission on the Status of Women and Student Affairs, was held at Plymouth State University. The forum was held from 11 to 1 pm, and anyone on campus was welcome to attend. The forum started with a presentation on the Title IX 2016-2017 profile, and the event concluded with a round table discussion about possible changes Plymouth State could take moving forward.

The presentation revolved around data retrieved information detailing the impact Title IX has had on the campus. Presented by the Title IX coordinator, Jenette Wiggett, the presentation revealed that 74 incidents were reported to the program during the 2016-17 year. Of those 74 incidents, four went through adjudication. Adjudication is the legal process of resolving a dispute in which all parties are able to present evidence and arguments. Of the four students who went through the adjudication process, one was put on probation, two were suspended, and one was expelled. It was revealed in the presentation that several of the individuals who were not expelled chose not to return to Plymouth State after their sentence was over.

One of the main reasons for the presentation was to showcase how the efforts of the Title IX program on campus has helped the PSU community. Of the 74 incidents, 17 of the incidents were first reported to the University Police. Out of 29 individual cases, UPD was involved in some way in 19. This shows, according to Wiggett, that the UPD’s ongoing training on how to handle those types on investigations, as well as showing that the campus community knows they can rely on the UPD for support.

The presentation also went into detail about how PSU handles cases that do not necessarily need to go through the adjudication process. Administrative resolution is used in most cases. Resolutions such as class reassignments, different housing arrangements, and administrative contact are only some of the ways the university protects impacted parties. Wiggett also stressed that these measures are taken only when the impacted party is in need of them, it is not necessary for impacted parties to consistently ask for measures to be taken.

The event then went into its second phase, where attendees were able to talk about current policies and programs in place. While nothing official was created, the event created an open dialogue where the campus community was able to come together in an effort to make the Plymouth State University community better and safer for its students.

There is a survey in which anyone on campus can participate in. There will be posters placed around campus with a QR code, which anyone can scan and be sent the survey. The survey is a way for more people in the Plymouth community to have a voice in how the university operates its programs. Everyone is encouraged to participate.