Sonoran University takes the health and wellness of our students very seriously. To that end, and in compliance with the Clery Act, Title IX, and the Violence Against Women Act, Student Affairs maintains regular efforts to examine Sonoran University’s policies, protocol, and programming as it relates to reducing sexual assault, harassment, dating abuse, and stalking, as well as substance abuse education.

Title IX prohibits:

• discrimination based on sex or gender stereotyping if it interferes with a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from school programs or activities. It prohibits discrimination based on sex or gender regardless of the student’s sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and no matter where it occurs or whether the perpetrator is a student, an employee, or a third party.
• excluding students from an education program or academic activity based on pregnancy or related conditions.

Harassment Prohibitions – Sexual, Domestic or Dating Violence, and Stalking

Conduct constituting sexual harassment, as defined herein, toward another person of the same or opposite sex is prohibited by this policy. The University explicitly prohibits harassment of any kind, whether sexually based or not, including offenses of dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. It is a violation of policy for any student to engage in any act or behavior constituting harassment toward any student, employee, vendor, customer, consultant, or any other individual or group of individuals with whom the institution interacts or does business.

Domestic Violence is defined as a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner, a cohabitating partner, or another person with whom the victim shares a child.

Stalking is defined as repeated behavior that causes other persons significant mental suffering or distress, or to reasonably fear:

• for their own safety or the safety of a family member, pet, or current or former household member, or romantic or sexual partner
• their property will be damaged

Stalking behavior includes:

• repeatedly following or spying on another person
• monitoring someone’s Internet or wireless activity
• making verbal, written, or other express or implied threats
• communicating, more than once, through email or electronic communication directed at a specific person without authorization or a legitimate purpose

Title IX Contacts

While compliance with the law is everyone’s responsibility at Sonoran University, listed below are the staff members who have primary responsibility for Title IX compliance:

Title IX Coordinator
Director of Human Resources
e.warner@sonoran.edu
480.222.9292

Title IX Deputy Coordinator
Dean of Students
480.222.9345

Title IX Training

Under the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX Regulation 34 CFR §106.45(b)(10)(i)(D),  Title IX personnel are required to complete specific training to ensure they are equipped to handle complaints fairly and lawfully. Below are the training materials utilized at Sonoran University:

Title IX Fundamentals for Higher Education (2020 Regulations)
Role(s): Title IX Coordinator, Duty Coordinator, Investigator

Title IX Fundamentals for Higher Education is an online learning experience that introduces participants to Title IX compliance work, including roles and responsibilities, common team structures, and required processes. The course provides participants the opportunity to examine the history and purpose of Title IX, related federal guidance and regulations, and key court decisions that shape current Title IX compliance practices. Additionally, the course reviews the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’ role in overseeing Title IX compliance for colleges, universities, and other institutions. Lastly, the course will do a deep dive on the forms of harassment and discrimination covered by Title IX along with relevant definitions.

Title IX Decision-Maker Training and Appeal Officer Training
Role(s): Decision-maker

To serve in this important role, decision-makers are trained in all aspects of the Title IX process. Training covers federal requirements for Title IX Decision-makers including:

• Introduction to Title IX law and regulations
• Title IX parties and administrators
• Overview of Title IX grievance process
• Title IX Coordinator, Investigator, and Decision-maker roles
• Legal obligations of the education institution and its employees
• Title IX jurisdiction and dismissal of complaints
• Types of Title IX claims and consent
• Burden of proof
• Investigation report and information-sharing with the parties
• Types of evidence
• Avoiding decision-making pitfalls
• Evaluating evidence and reaching a conclusion
• Appeal
• Retaliation

Training Materials:*

• Title IX Fundamentals for Higher Education Training Materials – ATIXA 2023
• Title IX Investigations – NCR 2025
• Title IX Decision Maker Course – 2020 Title IX Solutions †

*All training materials are provided by the Title IX training organizations. 

†These materials are the exclusive property of Title IX Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved, ©2025. The publishing of these materials on this website is authorized by Title IX Solutions, LLC solely for use by this institution in compliance with Regulation 34 CFR §106.45(b)(10)(i)(D). No other use or dissemination by this institution or any third party is authorized without the prior written consent of Title IX Solutions, LLC.