Department of Education files complaint against UVU’s Title IX office
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has filed a complaint against Utah Valley University.
“The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has notified UVU of a complaint against the university. UVU just received notice of the complaint and is reviewing it. UVU is committed to genuine inclusion and providing a safe environment for all. The University takes these matters very seriously and is proactively pursuing the appropriate actions as prescribed by current policies and best practices,” said university spokesperson, Layton Shumway, in an email to the UVU Review.
Over the summer, Laura Carlson became the school’s acting director of the Title IX office as Melissa Frost, who was the first director of UVU’s Title IX office, went on an extended leave.
According to the school’s official website, “Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance.”
The current investigation of the school’s Title IX office follows the national trend of public institutions being under federal investigation by the OCR. UVU now joins other Utah schools under federal investigation such as, University of Utah and Westminster College. In 2016, Brigham Young University went under federal investigation for the way it handled sexual assault cases.
Updates will be added as the story develops.
Kimberly Bojórquez is a Los Angeles native currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in journalism, and a minor in Latin American Studies. From 2017-18 she served as the editor-in-chief of the UVU Review and worked at ABC4’s morning show “Good Things Utah”, Salt Lake City Weekly and the Daily Herald.
She has written stories that relate to national issues, local crime and social justice. In her spare time, she loves to take photos, hike Utah’s national parks and attend live rock concerts.