Baruch College Title IX Lawyer

As lawyer-advisors, Saland Law advises Baruch College students, faculty, and staff in Title IX matters with a careful, strategic, and practical approach. Led by Jeremy Saland, a criminal defense attorney, former prosecutor, and experienced Title IX advisor, the firm advises both respondents and complainants through every phase of a campus case. Although headquartered in New York City, Saland Law handles Title IX cases nationwide, and brings a deep understanding of the policies that govern colleges and universities across the country.

Baruch College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation. Located in Midtown Manhattan, Baruch serves over 19,000 students from more than 150 countries, reflecting New York City’s global character. The college is widely recognized for its Zicklin School of Business, Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, and Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. It has earned a reputation as a pipeline for careers in finance, accounting, public policy, and technology.

Many Baruch students balance rigorous academics with internships at Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The college is also home to student athletes, leaders of professional societies, and international students pursuing degrees under F and J visas. This ambitious and diverse community creates a unique context for Title IX matters. Cases often involve students navigating commuter schedules, off-campus housing, and demanding extracurricular or work commitments.

Because Baruch belongs to the CUNY system, its Title IX office follows not only federal law but also New York State mandates and CUNY-specific guidelines. Understanding these overlapping frameworks is critical to protecting rights in an investigation or hearing. Saland Law tailors its strategies to Baruch’s policies, the state’s affirmative consent law, and the federal Title IX regulations that govern every college receiving federal funds.

New York State’s “Enough is Enough” Law

In addition to federal Title IX requirements, New York’s “Enough is Enough” law (Education Law Article 129-B) requires all colleges, including Baruch, to adopt uniform definitions and protections. This law established a statewide standard of affirmative consent, requiring that sexual activity be based on a clear, knowing, and voluntary agreement among participants.

The law also provides:

• A Students’ Bill of Rights guaranteeing fair treatment for both complainants and respondents.
  
• Amnesty from discipline for students who report sexual assault but may have violated other policies (such as underage drinking).
  
• Prevention programs, including bystander intervention training and consent education.

For respondents, it ensures due process rights remain central to any investigation or hearing. For complainants, the law creates added protections when reporting sexual assault or dating violence.  Saland Law helps both parties use these provisions to their advantage.

CUNY’s Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Policy

CUNY has adopted a system-wide Policy on Sexual Misconduct that all campuses, including Baruch, must follow. This policy integrates Title IX, the Clery Act, the Violence Against Women Act amendments, and New York’s “Enough is Enough” law. Key features include:

• Affirmative Consent: Defined as a clear, knowing, and voluntary agreement, which cannot be inferred from silence or lack of resistance. Consent cannot be given if a person is asleep, unconscious, or incapacitated due to drugs or alcohol.
  
• Jurisdiction: CUNY policies cover conduct on campus, at CUNY-sponsored events, and in off-campus situations that have a substantial impact on the educational environment.
  
• Interim Measures: Baruch can issue no contact orders, adjust class schedules, relocate housing, or provide academic accommodations while the case proceeds.
  
• Investigation Procedures: Both parties receive equal access to evidence and the right to present witnesses and information.
  
• Hearing Procedures: Hearings allow for questioning through an advisor, and both parties are given written notice of outcomes.
  
• Appeals: Available on grounds of procedural error, new evidence, or conflicts of interest or bias.

Saland Law is deeply familiar with CUNY’s policies and uses that knowledge to guide clients at Baruch. The firm ensures that procedural safeguards are followed, deadlines are met, and the student’s educational opportunities are preserved.

What Conduct Title IX Covers at a College

Every campus policy uses its own definitions, but all must align with Title IX and related laws. Typically covered conduct includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, and intimate partner or dating violence. Many policies also address gender based harassment, hostile environment claims, and retaliation. In essence, Title IX applies when the alleged behavior occurs in a program or activity of the school, or has sufficient nexus to the educational environment.

Sexual Assault and Sexual Contact

Allegations of sexual assault often hinge on whether sexual contact occurred without consent, whether a complainant was incapacitated, or whether force or coercion played a role. Facts about alcohol or drug use, the timing of messages, and the nature of any prior relationship can shape how an investigator or hearing officer assesses credibility and capacity. Saland Law helps clients marshal text messages, social media records, location data, witness information, and expert input when appropriate in order to present a coherent account of what happened and when.

Dating Violence and Stalking

Dating violence covers a spectrum of behavior in a romantic or intimate context, and it is not limited to physical injury. Repeated unwanted contact, monitoring through technology, or threats can fall under stalking or harassment. These allegations often involve digital evidence and patterns over time. A focused defense or presentation for the complainant must address context, chronology, and corroboration.

Affirmative Consent

Affirmative consent on New York campuses is commonly framed as a knowing, voluntary, and mutual agreement among participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent is an active process, not a passive one. Prior consent does not carry over, silence is not consent, and consent cannot be given when a person is incapacitated due to sleep, intoxication, or other factors that impair judgment. These principles are essential to understanding both the allegations and the defenses in a Baruch College case.

The Baruch College Process in Practical Steps

Each case is unique, but most campus matters follow a predictable path. Knowing the steps helps you anticipate decisions and deadlines.

Intake and Supportive Measures

A report can come from the complainant, a witness, a responsible employee, or campus safety. The Title IX office assesses immediate safety needs and offers supportive measures such as no contact orders, academic adjustments, housing changes, or mutual restrictions on proximity. These measures are available to both parties and are not disciplinary by themselves. Saland Law advises clients on requesting or tailoring supportive measures to avoid unintended academic harm.

Notice and the Formal Complaint

A formal complaint generally triggers the full Title IX process. The parties receive written notice of the allegations, the identities involved, the conduct alleged, and the sections of policy at issue. The notice also outlines the presumption that the respondent is not responsible until a determination is made, and it warns against retaliation. Early decisions about statements, witnesses, and evidence preservation often shape the trajectory of the case. The firm helps clients prepare a timeline, secure data from apps and carriers when possible, and avoid missteps in communications with peers or faculty.

Investigation and Evidence Review

An investigator gathers interviews and materials from both sides. Parties have the opportunity to present evidence and identify witnesses. At the appropriate time, the investigator provides access to directly related evidence for review and response. This is a critical stage. Saland Law scrutinizes the reliability of statements, identifies inconsistencies, and ensures that exculpatory or corroborative details are not overlooked. Where expert input can clarify intoxication, consent dynamics, or digital metadata, the firm helps clients incorporate that into their submissions should they desire to do so.

Hearing and Determination

Colleges commonly convene a hearing before a decision maker or panel. The parties may have an advisor present. Questions are posed in a structured format that protects relevance and decorum. Credibility assessments are based on consistency, detail, corroboration, and demeanor, not on stereotypes or impermissible considerations. The decision maker issues a written determination that explains the findings, the policy provisions applied, and any sanctions. Saland Law prepares clients for the hearing with mock sessions that cover difficult questions, evidentiary themes, and methods to remain composed.

Sanctions and Remedies

If responsibility is found, sanctions can include disciplinary probation, educational requirements, suspension, or expulsion for students. Remedies for a complainant may include further supportive measures or adjustments designed to restore equal access to education. Faculty or staff findings can implicate job status and licensure concerns. The firm works to contextualize mitigating factors, academic history, and rehabilitative steps when sanctions are under consideration.

Appeals

Both parties typically have a right to appeal on specified grounds such as procedural error that affected the outcome, new evidence that was not reasonably available at the time, or a conflict of interest or bias by the Title IX personnel. Appeals are time sensitive and require targeted writing. Saland Law distills the strongest issues into a focused argument that fits the policy criteria and the record developed below.

Interplay With the Criminal Justice System

Some Title IX allegations also involve potential violations of New York Penal Law, such as offenses related to sexual assault or stalking. Campus and criminal processes are separate. Statements made in a school investigation can be requested by law enforcement or prosecutors. Strategic coordination is essential. As a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor, Jeremy Saland understands how police reports are built, how complaining witnesses are prepared for grand jury or trial, and how defense attorneys challenge credibility and proof. The firm advises clients on how to safeguard constitutional rights while complying with campus obligations. Equally important, Jeremy can and does represent Title IX clients in these parallel criminal court and Article 8 family court order of protection proceedings while best ensuring responses and actions in one does not compromise or complicate the other(s).

Why Saland Law

When a Title IX allegation emerges at Baruch College, it affects academics, housing, athletics, scholarships, immigration status for some international students, and reputation both on and off campus. The stakes are high, and the timeline often moves quickly. Saland Law pairs courtroom discipline with campus nuance. Jeremy Saland has conducted and scrutinized investigations, assessed evidence under compressed deadlines, and prepared clients to present their accounts with clarity and credibility. The firm’s experience includes advising complainants seeking supportive measures and protective actions, as well as defending respondents facing allegations that can lead to suspension or expulsion. This balanced perspective helps anticipate the other side’s strategy and identify what truly matters to decision makers.

How We Approach Respondent Defense

For respondents, the focus is on building a record that addresses the policy elements of consent, capacity, and credibility. Saland Law tests assumptions, highlights inconsistencies, and develops corroboration beyond your own testimony. The firm addresses social dynamics such as peer pressure, group messaging, and weekend gatherings that can complicate the timeline.

How We Approach Complainant Representation

For complainants, the priority is safety, academic continuity, and a process that is fair and respectful. Saland Law helps secure supportive measures, communicates with the Title IX office about any ongoing harassment or retaliation, and prepares clients for interviews and hearings that are often emotionally taxing. The firm ensures that the record includes the details decision makers need to understand the full context and the impact on access to education.

Take Action Now

Title IX matters can move quickly. Deadlines arrive before you feel ready, and early choices often define the record that a decision maker will see. Whether you are a Baruch College student seeking supportive measures after sexual assault, a respondent confronting an allegation related to sexual contact and affirmative consent, or a faculty member facing a complaint that affects your career, Saland Law is ready to help. The firm brings prosecutorial insight, campus process fluency, and a steady hand when the pressure is highest. Reach out to discuss your situation, understand your options, and start building a plan that protects your education and your future.