A Title IX adviser is someone who provides general support to the complainant or respondent during a Title IX investigation.  The Title IX adviser may be copied on correspondence between the Office of Gender Equity and Title IX Administration and the complainant or respondent; however, the Title IX adviser may not act as a proxy for/on behalf of the complainant or respondent.  In addition, the Title IX adviser may attend any interview or meeting connected with the disciplinary process; however, the adviser may not actively participate in interviews – e.g., the adviser may not answer questions posed to a party.

Parties (the complainant and the respondent) may each have a Title IX adviser.

Parties may select advisers of their choosing (excluding confidential resources).  This may include members of the University community as well as external individuals, including attorneys.  If the Title IX Coordinator determines that an adviser has a conflict of interest (for example, is a potential witness in the case), the adviser may not be permitted to continue in their role and the party may select an alternate adviser.  If a party (or adviser) determines that it is appropriate for the party to change advisers midway through an investigation, they may do so.

In order to assist parties in accessing an adviser, the University provides the below list of names and contact information for Princeton University administrators who have been trained to serve as advisers in Title IX matters; however, the University does not assign advisers.  This list of advisers includes residential college staff (deans, directors of studies, and directors of student life), Center directors (Women’s Center, LGBT Center, Carl A. Fields Center), graduate school administrators, and other campus administrators who have volunteered to serve in this capacity and who have experience working with students on non-academic matters.  University administrators who serve in this capacity may be asked to provide support to complainants or to respondents, and they provide the same level of support regardless of the student’s role in the investigation.  If you wish to choose an adviser who has been trained by the University, you should contact them directly regarding their availability.

Princeton University administrators who have been trained to serve as Title IX advisers provide general support to complainants or respondents during Title IX investigations.  They do not serve as advocates for a particular complainant’s or respondent’s position or as adversaries to the other party, they do not advise parties on how to “argue” their cases, and they do not draft documents on the behalf of parties.  Rather, their role is to provide general support to the student throughout the process, which may include assisting the party in obtaining resources and accommodations, providing emotional support, meeting with the party to discuss case materials, reviewing statements drafted by the party whom they are assisting, etc. 

Title IX advisers trained by the University welcome questions about the process and parties’ requests to meet with them, and will do their best to meet as quickly as possible.  They expect complainants or respondents whom they are assisting to read the Sex Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct policy; review all case documents (as it is not the responsibility of the adviser to do so); respond to emails (from the adviser and from the Office of Gender Equity and Title IX Administration) in a timely manner; copy the adviser on their correspondence with the Office of Gender Equity and Title IX Administration; and, if they wish for the adviser to review written statements, provide the adviser with the materials at least 48 hours in advance of any deadlines.