New Assistant VP Serves as Title IX Coordinator

James Dockery has joined UT Dallas as assistant vice president for the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, which helps lead the University’s commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.

The office works to ensure that the University complies with policies and laws to protect students, faculty and staff from discrimination. It also conducts investigations of allegations of discrimination.

As part of his role, Dockery serves as the University’s Title IX coordinator. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects students, employees, applicants and others from all forms of sex discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity. Dockery is the primary contact person for reports of discrimination under Title IX, which includes sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment and stalking.

The recent appointments of Dockery and Brandy Davis, who joined UT Dallas as director of Title IX initiatives, reflect the University’s commitment to a proactive approach in addressing discrimination, said Dr. George Fair, vice president for Diversity and Community Engagement, who oversees the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance.

“Title IX is an important area for all universities,” said Fair, a professor and dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. “At UT Dallas, we are committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment so that members of the University community may excel in their academic and professional careers.”

In recent years, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has emphasized the responsibility of universities, colleges and schools nationwide to address sexual violence and other forms of sex discrimination under Title IX.

“There is no place at the University for sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation,” said Dockery, an attorney. “We want to ensure that we are a community that values the individual, and that includes zero tolerance for discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity.”

The University has implemented training for students, faculty and staff, including Comet Voice, a bystander intervention initiative designed to help students recognize and intervene in potentially harmful situations. Dockery said that in many cases, friends or colleagues can stop or help someone avoid problematic behavior.

“We really want our environment to be safe. We want an environment that’s free from sexual assault,” Dockery said. “The University is taking all the steps that it can to address these issues.”

As Title IX director, Davis will investigate reports of discrimination based on gender. Davis also will work on prevention efforts by training students, faculty and staff on Title IX compliance.

“I look forward to working with students, faculty and staff to build awareness about Title IX,” Davis said. “I’m excited to be at UT Dallas and to be part of this effort to provide a safe campus for everyone.”

The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance was created in the spring after the Office of Audit and Compliance were split into separate offices — Internal Audit and the Office of Institutional Compliance. Dockery’s role overseeing compliance includes ensuring that the University follows practices that promote compliance with applicable laws, regulations, agreements and procedures.

Before joining UT Dallas, Dockery served as interim director of Human Resources at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where he served as that university’s Title IX coordinator. He also served as associate vice chancellor for human resources and equal employment opportunity for North Carolina Central University.