The Implications of Implementation Burdens for Title IX Officers and Students
Part IV: Burnout and Turnover Among Title IX Officers
By: Elizabeth Bell, University of Texas at Austin; Daniel L. Fay, Florida State University; Emily Boykin, Florida State University; and Jaeyeong Nam, Florida State University
In the previous three newsletters, the authors reported about the recent challenges associated with the field moving towards a quasi-legal system. Yet, something we did not expand upon is how Title IX officers are coping with the complex policy environment, which many administrators shared contributes to burnout and emotional burdens with their jobs.
Compliance Costs and Burden Higher Among Senior Officials. Generally, Title IX officials who have been in their current role for more than three years experience higher rates of emotional burden. For example, 47% of officials with this level of experience agree the rules and obligations of being a Title IX official cause them stress and tension relative to 35% for newer appointed colleagues. Similarly, over half (52%) of respondents with 3+ years of experience in their current position also report that it takes a lot of effort to comply with Title IX policies compared to 35% of other respondents.
Burden, Burnout, and High Turnover? When asked about the professionalization of Title IX officials, interview respondents often expressed concern over the fast turnover rates among officials and associated this phenomenon with feelings of burnout and burden. According to Title IX survey participants, it may come as no surprise that over 50% of officers reported having worked in their current Title IX placement for less than two years. Moreover, 62% of respondents with three-plus years of experience reported feeling burnt out from their work compared to 45% of those with less than one year of experience. Further, 76% of these senior administrators feel emotionally drained at the end of the workday compared to 50% of those only a few months into their employment.
Where Does the Field Go From Here? Together, this four-part research series has explored the current policy environment of Title IX and the challenges administrators face. Given the challenges the quasi-legal system presents for Title IX administration compliance, which has the potential to affect feelings of burnout and burden for clients, it is perhaps more important than ever for the field to understand how Title IX coordinators cope with their jobs to uplift experiences for survivors and provide equitable avenues for sexual misconduct transparency, prevention, and compliance.
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