Southern Utah University President Scott L Wyatt and Southwest Technical College President Brennan Wood have further strengthened the relationship between the two institutions by agreeing to share resources in the enforcement of Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sexual discrimination on college campuses.
Presidents Wyatt and Wood signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in October to solidify the relationship.
“This MOU between SUU and Southwest Tech is exciting because it will allow both institutions to better meet the needs of students and employees under Title IX,” said Lucia Maloy, SUU Title IX coordinator. “By collaborating, each institution can make better use of community resources and utilize the strengths of the other institution. The intent of Title IX is to protect equal access to educational programs and activities for all students and employees in higher education, and I think this MOU is a great step in that direction.”
“SUU and STECH continue to find ways to collaborate in order to benefit both campuses,” stated Tessa Douglas, director of Dual Enrollment and Title IX Coordinator at Southwest Tech. “This MOU was prompted by major changes to federal Title IX regulations, which required substantial updates and quick turn-around in terms of training and human resources at all colleges and universities. As Lucia Maloy and I began discussing ways to meet these requirements, we realized having trained investigators and hearing officers from another campus could be really helpful. Our campuses are fairly close to each other, our Title IX personnel were trained together, and we have a great working relationship through the dual enrollment partnership. This MOU is just one more way we can support each other to the benefit of students, faculty, and staff.”
SUU and Southwest Tech have a long-standing partnership in the Cedar City community. The Dual Enrollment Program, one of the first programs of its kind, allows students from both institutions to be enrolled at both, giving them more customizable options to earn a post-secondary education. SUU and Southwest Tech faculty have worked together to create pathways for students of both institutions to build their education based on both academic and skill-based learning, tuition needs and timing. This program led the way for many other initiatives that serve students, faculty and staff of both institutions as well as the Cedar City community, including a second HOPE Pantry location on the Southwest Tech campus and community education classes.