Officials launched an office last month to protect students against discrimination at the University.
University spokesperson Julia Garbitt said the University created the Office of Access and Opportunity with the launch of the University’s updated anti-discrimination policy on May 21 to implement and manage the updated policy. She said the office, housed within the Office for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement, will work with other offices to respond to allegations of discrimination, harassment and related retaliation by providing support to impacted parties, conducting investigations, resolving situations, using corrective measures and preventing future incidents.
Garbitt said the University’s voluntary resolution agreement with OCR committed GW to centralize its intake, review and referral process of all potential discrimination, harassment and related retaliation reports, which prompted the creation of the office. She said the office’s responsibility includes oversight for the implementation and management of the anti-discrimination policies.
GW entered a voluntary resolution agreement with OCR in January following investigations into a pair of Title VI complaints alleging anti-Palestinian discrimination and antisemitism at the University. With the agreement, the University committed to evaluating its policies to ensure they meet standards and procedures regarding demonstration and discrimination, while expanding the maintenance of complaint records relating to national origin.
Ashley Fountaine, the executive director of ethics and compliance within the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Risk, is serving as interim director of the office while the University undergoes a recruitment process this summer for a full-time director, Garbitt said.
“OAO will be focused on further communicating the mission of the unit and educating on related policies and processes this summer and into the fall semester,” Garbitt said in an email.
The University unveiled the finalized anti-discrimination policies and a new policy review process on May 21 following months of development and no prior permanent process for reviewing and implementing policies. Garbitt said the policy revisions and new policy procedures were informed by community feedback.
Faculty senators last month said the permanent policy review process violates shared governance principles, arguing it lacks substantial faculty input.
Faculty Senator Guillermo Orti, a biology professor who chaired the 2024-25 Professional Ethics & Academic Freedom committee who oversaw policies, said last month at a Faculty Senate meeting the committee is “not ready” to endorse the policy review process, as they remain unconvinced officials’ consultation with the community aligns with shared governance principles.
