Institutional Integrity

We have extensive experience with Title IX, Clery Act, and other state and federal laws addressing sex- and gender-based harassment and violence. Our Title IX compliance experience includes policy review and revisions, training, program audits and assessments and serving as external investigators in complex matters concerning sexual misconduct.

We understand that the requirements around Title IX compliance for K-12 school districts is distinctive and different than those for institutions of higher education. We recognize and value the unique aspects of each school or campus and provide tailored solutions that ensure that regulatory requirements meet the culture of each school district or institution.

Restoring or enhancing institutional integrity often involves a comprehensive review of the institution’s culture and developing a plan for transformative change. Our team has extensive experience meeting institutions where they are and helping them move forward towards the culture that they desire.

Our team has deep experience building and implementing ethics and compliance programs across a wide range of institutions. We can bring these best practices and a common sense approach to ensure that your ethics and compliance program meets the needs of the institution. Our approach is to tailor programs for each institution, ensuring that the end product is comprehensive, sustainable and effective.

Effective governance is the outcome of a range of institutional policies, processes, and cross-functional interactions. It is the key to ensuring that your institution’s resources and systems operate in a way that meets the applicable laws and regulations.

Our team has experience with policy development and audit including review of governance frameworks, documentation processes and procedures, effective board reporting, director training, and board evaluations, all with an eye to ensuring the necessary conditions for sound governance.

When allegations or suspicions of harassment or corrupt or fraudulent conduct by an employee arise, we are engaged to conduct an internal investigation. Our team of former law enforcement, field investigators, research analysts, computer forensic experts and forensic accountants staff these assignments with the goal of discovering the underlying reasons for the problem so corrective action can be taken.

We offer in-person training, certified virtual training, and certified on-line courses in a wide variety of areas, including Title VI, Title IX and Clery Act, as well as general ethics and compliance training.

Title IX Professional Development Certification Courses

• Title IX Investigator Training Level 1 and 2 and Certification
• Title IX Coordinator Training and Certification
• Title IX Decision-Maker/Appeals Training Level 1 and 2 and Certification
• Title IX Informal Resolution Facilitator Trainings
• Title IX Advisor Training for Higher Education
• Title IX for Athletics
• Interpersonal Violence to include Domestic Violence and Relationship Violence as defined under the new Title IX Regulations
• Campus Security Authority Training pursuant to the Clery Act
  Title IX teams to ensure effective implementation of new Title IX Regulations

Guidepost has a significant practice working with faith-based institutions. Our experts have assisted religious institutions from several faiths, including church organizations, church leadership, K-12 schools, and religious colleges and universities. We understand the challenges that faith-based organizations face in addressing and preventing sexual harassment and abuse and are experts in providing concrete steps that organizations can take to facilitate change.

We conduct sensitive investigations and reviews for faith-based institutions and have helped large and small institutions identify, address, and correct systemic issues related to sexual, gender-based, and racial misconduct within a faith-based context. Accordingly, our process and our efforts are governed by best standards and practices designed to ensure accountability, transparency, and care for the wellbeing of the reporting parties. Key principles of our work include:

• Trauma-informed interviews, as appropriate
• Anonymity and confidentiality for reporting parties and witnesses, where permitted by law
• A dedicated, publicly-advertised, reporting system for individuals to contact Guidepost and provide information
• Independence and transparency
• Restorative justice principles
• Practical recommendations that are trauma-informed

We provide security assessments and security design and implementation for K-12 public and private schools, colleges and universities, religious institutions, not-for-profits, and other institutions across the nation. Our seasoned public safety professionals are dedicated to providing a safe environment for staff, students, faculty and visitors.

We are experienced in both operational and technological security assessments that deliver the appropriate path to enhanced safety and security. Having delivered more than 200 security and technology projects for educational institutions, we are sensitive to the unique needs that come with each engagement, based on regional differences, community environments, financial needs, and sustainability.

In our experience, community engagement can play an important part in identifying and addressing systemic issues that may plague communities regarding sex, race and gender-based harassment and violence. Our deeply experienced team is adept at reviewing and analyzing data and engaging with diverse communities.

We believe that robust, meaningful, and inclusive communication with community members and other stakeholders is essential in addressing, identifying, and preventing sex, race and gender-based violence. Recognizing the sensitive nature of the subject matter, we lend credibility and objectivity as an unbiased and external party.