To put it succinctly: Your involvement in a Title IX investigation probably won't help — but there are steps you can take to protect yourself throughout your Title IX experience.

If you're a college professor and you're involved in a Title IX investigation, you may wonder what could happen to your chances of tenure.

The good news is that there's hope. Involvement in a Title IX investigation does not mean that you are necessarily responsible for any untoward actions. If you can emerge on the other side of your Title IX investigation without specific sanctions and disciplinary actions against your name, you could still be headed for tenure.

Here's what you need to do to make that happen.

Navigating a Title IX Investigation as a Professor on the Track to Tenure

1. Contact a Title IX defense lawyer once you realize that an investigation may be in your future, whether you've already received a notice or you suspect an allegation may be forthcoming. You'll need someone well-versed in Title IX specifically, not just the most local attorney you can find.
2. Except for your lawyer, your immediate family, and perhaps a trusted mental health professional, do not talk about your allegations or the investigation with anyone. You may feel tempted to clear your name among your colleagues or try to make sure that your institution knows your side of the story. Do not act on these urges unless your defense attorney specifically advises you to do so (and helps you form your statements strategically).
3. Stay off social media. There's nothing quite so damning as an ill-timed, ill-worded tweet, and restraining yourself from commenting or responding to people arguing about your responsibility online may be more complicated than you think. More than that: Even posting completely unrelated content can make you seem like you're not taking your allegations seriously — or, even worse, you could accidentally post something that interferes with your defense strategy. Better to delete those social media apps from your phone until your Title IX investigation is complete.

Following these general strategies and working with a defense attorney are the best things you can do to make sure that your Title IX investigation does not interfere with your long-term career plans. To that end, it's essential to get started as soon as you can!

Require Support As You Deal With the Fallout of a Title IX Investigation?

Your school has a vested interest in handling a Title IX investigation as efficiently and decisively as possible, but this does not mean your rights and interests will be prioritized through the process. If you and your future are caught up in that process, it may not result in fair or favorable treatment for you (at all).  In fact, without professional help, you can expect the school to not do what is right from the standpoint of the accused.

Whether you're struggling to handle a Title IX investigation as strategically as possible right now, or you need help with reputation management after the fact, National Title IX Defense Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's Title IX Defense Team are ready to assist. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 for more information, or contact us online.