Office of Title IX & Equal Opportunity
Notice of Non-Discrimination
In accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) is committed to ensuring a campus community free from unlawful discrimination. Accordingly, WesternU prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race (inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, religion, creed (including religious observances, practices, dress, head scarves, beards, and grooming standards associated with one’s religious beliefs or practices), medical condition (as defined by statute), genetic information, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), veteran status or any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation or ordinance (Protected Characteristics), and their implementing regulations, in any of its education programs and activities, in employment and application for employment, in admission and application for admission, and in all other University programs and activities, in compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations, 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Executive Order 11246 of 1965, as amended by Executive Order 11357 of 1967; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act; the California Education Code and other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination. The University seeks to comply with all statutes prohibiting discrimination in education, even when such laws and regulations may conflict with each other.
Welcome to the Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) website on Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation and Title IX and its policy and procedures.
In this site you will find information related to WesternU’s programs and services to ensure members of the WesternU community, its students, faculty, and staff, have equitable access to WesternU’s educational and employment programs and activities, without being discriminated based on a person’s sex.
WesternU’s policy and procedures on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct describe the University’s obligations and responsibilities under Title IX of the Education Code as amended in 1972, and under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. It also includes information on how to report complaints and the grievance processes utilized by WesternU.
Training materials are also included on this website. Additionally, there are some video training materials to help illustrate and convey some of the prohibited conduct described in the policy. Additionally, there are also training information on other elements of the policy, such as affirmative consent and bystander intervention.
WesternU also partners with organizations in the community and other outside providers. These are confidential resources that assist with services such as counseling, coaching, emergency shelter, crisis intervention, support groups, law enforcement navigation, hospital advocacy, evidence preservation, and forensic medical examinations.
1. Addressing complaints from faculty, staff and students on discrimination, harassment, interpersonal violence, and retaliation.
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – protects employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on the following protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex (pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity), and national origin.
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 – prohibits sex or gender discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance: dating/domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and stalking.
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 – protects from age discrimination.
- California Fair Employment and Housing Act – protects from marital status discrimination.
- Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act – protects from military status discrimination.
- Retaliation based on participating in a protected activity (Title IX or Human Resource investigation).
2. Addressing complaints from prospective employees (applicants). WesternU is an equal opportunity employer.
- All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Education & Training
- Requires that all staff, faculty, and supervisors complete a mandatory on-line harassment, discrimination, and retaliation training every two years.
- On alternating years, all staff, faculty, and supervisors are required to complete an on-line course on Title IX.
- Incoming students must complete an on-line course on Title IX in order to complete their registration and admission process.
- Supervisors and management staff identified as a “responsible employee” must complete an on-line course annually on the responsibilities of responsible employees.
To better serve the WesternU community, on-site/in-person training is available for all departments, programs and student groups. Please contact us if you have any questions about training and let us know how we can be of assistance.
These are the policies and procedures of WesternU on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct:
Policies and Procedures:
Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment, Interpersonal Violence, and Other Sexual Misconduct Policy And Equal Opportunity Civil Rights Policy (Effective August 1, 2024)
Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment, Interpersonal Violence, and Other Sexual Misconduct (SIM) Policy (Prior to August 1, 2024)
Related Policy:
To report complaints of Title IX and/or Discrimination, Harassment, Interpersonal Violence, & Retaliation, please use the appropriate forms below:
Discrimination, Harassment, Interpersonal Violence, & Retaliation Complaint Form
Advisors:
If an advisor will be present for the meetings or any proceedings, please complete the Advisor Request form and submit it two (2) working days before the meeting to the Title IX Coordinator. The Advisor Guide will assist the Advisor in understanding their role in this process.
Advisor Request Title IX Process
Advisor Guide to the Title IX Process
After completing the form, please sign it and send it to:
Associate Vice President of Equal Opportunity & Title IX Coordinator
Western University of Health Sciences
359 E. Second Street
Pomona, CA 91766
Email: OTIXEO@westernu.edu
These are resources available for those unsure about whether to report formally or who are interested in seeking counseling in addition to (or without) making a formal report. While discussing allegations with a confidential resource may not result in an identifying report to the Title IX Coordinator, they may have reporting (or other) obligations under the law.
On Campus
Optum Employee Assistance Program
(services are available for students and employees)
(800) 234-5465
Optum website (access code: westernu)
Services: Counseling, Financial and legal advice, life balance support
For a complete summary of available confidential resources, please visit our websites:
WesternU Employees: Human Resources Benefits Office
WesternU Students: Student Services Counseling
WesternU Incident Reporting Form
Do not use this to report events presenting an immediate safety or security threat. If this is an emergency, please contact WesternU’s Campus Security at 909-706-3000 (or 3000 from a campus phone) or dial 911 for local law enforcement.
OTIXEO Team
Cristina Alvarez
Associate Vice President of Equal Opportunity & Title IX Coordinator
Sara Aguirre
Senior Deputy Civil Rights Officer
Inga Rodriguez
Case Communications and Support Coordinator
Deputy Title IX Coordinators – California
Georgette Carrasco
Dr. Beverly Guidry
Deputy Title IX Coordinators – Oregon
Rick Leeper
