If you're a student at a college or university in Kansas and you're facing a Title IX hearing, many steps have to be taken prior to the hearing itself. Prior to the hearing, the school prepares an investigation report. Prior to the investigation report being finalized, all necessary documentation, information and evidence would need to be included in that investigation report. It may include text messages, social media posts between the parties, a forensic evaluation, a toxicology evaluation if consent is an issue, a polygraph examination, for example. That investigation report has to be as strong as possible because it's presented to the hearing panel before the hearing even takes place. The hearing panel would have a strong sense of the case before the hearing takes place.
For the hearing itself, at a minimum, opening-closing statements would need to be prepared, questions for all witnesses, be it the accuser, the accuser's witnesses, the accused, the accused witnesses. The hearing panel would have to be considered for any potential conflict or bias. Many steps have to be taken both in advance and at the hearing so that a Title IX hearing is as fair as a process as possible, and that the prospect of a favorable outcome is maximized.
