Title IX Response and Resources

Wheaton takes sexual assault very seriously and is committed to establishing and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all members of the community by providing resources for prevention, support, education, and a fair grievance process. Please visit the information pages identified on the left side of this page for further details about Emergency Resources, How to Report, the Title IX staff, Policy and more.

Wheaton College does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its regulations, including in admission and employment.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Sex discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and all forms of sex-based harassment (dating violence, domestic violence, hostile environment harassment, quid pro quo harassment, retaliation, sexual assault, and stalking), as defined by Title IX.

Wheaton’s Title IX Policy can be found here. Wheaton’s other nondiscrimination policies can be found here.

Wheaton’s Title IX Coordinator is Caraline Somerville, [email protected], [email protected], 508-286-3261, and located in Knapton 316/317.

For the Fall 2024 semester, Djuna Perkins will be serving as the Interim Title IX Coordinator and can be reached via [email protected] or 508-286-3261. Individuals can meet with the Title IX Coordinator or designee to request supportive measures which may include but are not limited to counseling, extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, modifications of work or class schedules, campus escort services, mutual restrictions on contact between the parties, changes in work or housing locations, leaves of absence, increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus, and other similar measures.

We also have “Deputy Title IX Coordinators” who work with particular populations. If you have a concern, complaint or are seeking supportive measures, you may also contact one of the following offices/individuals:

• Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students: Zachary Irish, Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, 508-286-8218, [email protected]
• Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Staff: Omaira Roy, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, 508-286-3544, [email protected]
• Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Faculty: TBD
• Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics: Lisa Yenush, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/SWA, 508-286-3982, [email protected]

To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, please refer to Wheaton’s Title IX Policy or visit the “How to Report” webpage.

Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to Wheaton’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both.

If you believe that Wheaton College has not followed its policy and processes as described in the Title IX Policy, or if you believe that the policy itself is discriminatory, you can file a grievance with the Office of Civil Rights. The person who can help you do this is Wheaton’s Title IX Coordinator, or you can choose to contact the Office of Civil Rights directly at 800-421-3481 or hhs.gov/ocr .

If you wish to fill out a complaint form online, you may do so at: OCR Complaint Forms – Electronic and PDF Versions