Published by Fractional Coordinator, Inc. | November 2025

Background

In 2024, a mid-sized public university contacted Fractional Coordinator, Inc. for interim support following a high-profile Title IX complaint involving faculty and multiple student complainants. The university faced escalating community concern, procedural inconsistencies in prior investigations, and increased scrutiny from both media and state oversight bodies.

The Title IX office had recently undergone staff turnover, leaving gaps in case management, documentation, and compliance reporting. The institution sought a temporary yet comprehensive solution that would stabilize its Title IX operations, restore stakeholder confidence, and ensure full alignment with federal and state regulatory expectations.

Scope of Engagement

Fractional Coordinator, Inc. deployed a fractional Title IX coordination team led by a senior investigator with experience in higher education civil rights compliance. The engagement included:

• Conducting a full case audit of open and recently closed Title IX investigations for procedural integrity and compliance.

• Providing interim Title IX coordination services, including intake, supportive measures, and jurisdictional assessments.

• Delivering trauma-informed investigation training for university staff, investigators, and decision-makers.

• Developing a corrective action plan that addressed systemic process failures and communication gaps.

• Recommending updates to the university’s Title IX policy to align with upcoming 2025 federal regulations and relevant state mandates.

Challenges Identified

The assessment revealed several key issues:

• Inconsistent intake documentation, leading to questions about fairness and transparency.

• Lack of a centralized case management system, making it difficult to track timelines or ensure parity in supportive measures.

• Fragmented communication between the Title IX office, legal counsel, and human resources.

• Outdated policy language that no longer reflected evolving federal definitions of sexual harassment or digital misconduct.

Solutions Implemented

Fractional Coordinator’s team executed a three-phase response:

1. Stabilization: Implemented a standardized intake and triage process, ensuring consistent documentation and communication with all parties.

2. Compliance Alignment: Revised procedures to meet current and forthcoming federal guidance, emphasizing equitable resolution and procedural fairness.

3. Capacity Building: Trained university personnel on trauma-informed interviewing, evidence analysis, and confidentiality obligations under FERPA and Title IX.

Additionally, the team developed a Title IX Dashboard, an internal compliance tracking tool to monitor investigation timelines, supportive measures, and case outcomes—ensuring transparency and accountability.

Outcomes

Within six months, the university achieved:

• A 43% reduction in average case resolution time.

• Full compliance with state reporting and federal documentation standards.

• A measurable increase in stakeholder trust, reflected in student and employee climate survey data.

• Reinstatement of confidence by the university’s board and state oversight agency.

The institution subsequently retained Fractional Coordinator, Inc. as an ongoing compliance partner, integrating our Equity Investigations and Policy Development services into its broader governance structure.

Key Takeaway

This case underscores the evolving complexity of Title IX compliance in the 2025 regulatory environment. Success requires more than procedural knowledge—it demands a systems-level approach that integrates policy, technology, and human-centered practice.

Fractional Coordinator, Inc. continues to help institutions of all sizes strengthen their Title IX frameworks with transparency, precision, and care.