Published on: June 17, 2026
An ATIXA Testimonial by Sabrina Rodriguez, J.D., M.A.
When I stepped back into Title IX work after law school, I returned to a field that had changed. The regulations had shifted, expectations had evolved, and the realities of post-COVID campus life had reshaped investigations in ways I hadn’t experienced before. I needed to learn investigations from a new angle, so I enrolled in ATIXA’s Title IX Investigation Foundations Level Two certification course.
Returning With a New Lens
Before law school, I had experience conducting investigations. Now, in my role as Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Texas State University, I am reviewing the work of other investigators and helping shape our processes moving forward. That shift alone requires a different level of precision and clarity.
ATIXA’s training met me where I was. It didn’t start from scratch, and it didn’t skip the essentials either. It offered a framework that helped me connect what I already knew with today’s best practices. Much has changed since I first entered the Title IX field, and it has become more structured. There is a stronger emphasis on due process, clearer expectations around hearings, and more defined roles for advisors. Even the way we communicate with students has changed.
Putting Best Practices into Action
Like many institutions, we are balancing staffing and resource constraints. Having a clear sense of ATIXA’s recommended practices allows us to prioritize. As a result of the training, I now have a roadmap of small, meaningful improvements we can roll out over time.
Credibility assessments provide investigators with a clear, structured approach to evaluating evidence and determining which accounts are most reliable. We haven’t formally integrated this practice yet, but my supervisor and I are eager to adopt it. Learning how ATIXA applies it within a clear investigative framework made the process feel approachable and practical.
We also want to improve our evidence management. When dealing with high volumes of information, organization is key. The training provided practical strategies for tracking, evaluating, and presenting evidence clearly. This has already changed how I approach report writing.
Learning From Experts and Each Other
The trainers were incredibly knowledgeable. It was clear they had deep experience in this work, and they were generous with it. They welcomed questions, created space for discussion, and were comfortable pausing to let us think through complex ideas. That helps when you are trying to connect new information to real situations at your institution.
I came in with very specific questions, and they took the time to walk through each one. In some cases, they had seen the issue before and could offer direct guidance. In others, they had not encountered it but were still able to help me think through a response.
Hearing from other participants was incredibly valuable. Although many were from smaller institutions and didn’t face my exact challenges, our conversations broadened my perspective. It reinforced that while our campuses differ, we share many of the same underlying issues.
Keeping Pace With a Changing Landscape
It’s crucial in this field to stay connected to nationwide trends. There’s real value in understanding what other practitioners are seeing and how they’re responding. This training offered a glimpse into the valuable conversations happening on ATIXA’s listserv and in trainings, inspiring me to stay engaged.
I am considering what training to take next. I want to dive deeper into jurisdictional questions and the broader regulatory landscape. Our institution can better define where cases belong within the intersection of Title IX, student conduct, and housing processes, and I plan to seek professional development to help us grow in that area.
Learning It Backward (On Purpose)
When I shared the training materials with my team and we reviewed the slides together, I told them something that really stuck with me. We were shown what a strong model investigation report looks like, and then taught how to reverse-engineer it to understand every component that goes into it. Instead of learning concepts in isolation, we learned how everything connects. Now, we have our roadmap. The next step is applying it thoughtfully within the realities of our institution.
Don’t be afraid to take a foundations training, even if you are an experienced coordinator or investigator. ATIXA meets you where you are and helps you move forward with confidence. Enroll today.