CEDAR CITY — Attorney Ann Marie Allen has been appointed as Southern Utah University’s Director of Ethics and Compliance, handling Title IX and related matters, a position she has filled since the beginning of March.
The office of Title IX Compliance seeks to educate regarding, and enforce, standards relating to equality, nondiscrimination and safety. Allen hopes to empower SUU as a whole by educating the students, faculty and staff about important legal and ethical principles, as well as clarifying reporting procedures and pathways open to individuals needing help.
“I want everyone to know they have a place to turn to for support,” she said.
Having recently served for three years on the SUU board of trustees, Allen brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and commitment to this position.
“A significant goal I have is to ensure every person – faculty, staff and student – has a knowledge of rights and obligations relative to all civil rights and laws,” Allen said.
Allen looks forward to developing a unique role in her directorship, with a fundamental focus on personal rights coupled with personal responsibilities.
“More than understanding,” she said, “is realizing the personal duties each individual has in relation to these laws and policies.”
Title IX education amendments refer to U.S. law prohibiting sexual discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial aid.
The U.S. Department of Education states that Title IX protections encompass recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment. Areas of concern include among others:
- Gender discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual assault and sexual violence
- Domestic violence
- Stalking
- Dating violence
- Pregnancy and parenting
Reporting procedures can be found at SUU’s Title IX website, along with more information about Title IX and other applicable laws and policies at the university level.
About Ann Marie Allen
Allen obtained a juris doctorate at Brigham Young University, where she taught law and ethics as an adjunct professor; she taught similar courses as an adjunct faculty member at Utah Valley State College, now UVU. She and her family have been involved with SUU since moving to Cedar City 15 years ago.
With over 15 years of legal experience, Allen has worked as a private lawyer, served as a deputy county attorney, a commissioner, a legislative appointee and legal counselor for countless businesses and organizations.
Charged with managing campus policies relating to at least 12 different laws, acts, and guidelines, Allen’s work will be steep and demanding. But her past performance in various positions and focused work ethic shows only a bright future for SUU’s new Director of Ethics and Compliance.
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