Dartmouth College Title IX Lawyer

Students and faculty at Hanover, New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College enjoy a close-knit, high-achievement environment. That same intensity can make a Title IX allegation feel overwhelming, especially for Ivy League students with so much on the line. Whether you reported sexual assault or you were accused of violating campus policy, the stakes are immediate. Academic standing, housing, athletics, scholarships, research opportunities, immigration status, and future employment can all be affected long before any final decision. Saland Law advises both complainants and respondents in Title IX matters, with thoughtful guidance at every step. Led by criminal lawyer and former prosecutor Jeremy Saland, our firm brings courtroom-tested advocacy and practical campus proceedings experience to  serve students nationwide, including those at Dartmouth College.

What Title IX Covers And Why It Matters At Dartmouth

Title IX is a federal civil rights law codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. It prohibits sex discrimination in education programs or activities that receive federal funding. The Department of Education’s regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 establish how schools must prevent, address, and remedy sex discrimination, including sexual harassment. In the campus context, sexual harassment encompasses quid pro quo by an employee, hostile environment harassment that is severe or pervasive, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. These categories are not academic labels. They guide what Dartmouth must investigate, how the College structures its process, and what remedies or sanctions are available.

Dartmouth’s policies define consent and prohibited conduct under its own code of conduct. Many institutions describe consent as affirmative, voluntary, and informed permission to engage in sexual contact. If a report alleges contact without affirmative consent, the matter can fall under Title IX or a related campus policy. The exact pathway depends on where and when the conduct occurred, who was involved, and whether the conduct is deemed within an education program or activity. Understanding those distinctions early can shape strategy, timelines, and outcomes.

Who We Advise And How We Help

Saland Law advocates for both complainants and respondents. If you are a complainant, we help you make a clear report, request supportive measures, preserve evidence, and maintain control over your participation. If you are a respondent, we protect your rights, organize your evidence, prepare you for interviews and hearings, and challenge allegations that are unsupported by the record. In either posture, we serve as your advisor through every stage of Dartmouth’s process while keeping parallel criminal or civil exposures in view.

Supportive measures are often available whether or not a formal complaint is filed. Examples include academic adjustments, changes to housing or work arrangements, counseling referrals, and mutual no contact orders. These services are meant to be individualized, nonpunitive, and free of charge, and they should not unreasonably burden the other party. If you are not receiving what the regulations envision, we will push to correct that.

Standards Of Evidence, Consent, And Party Rights

Institutions must select a standard of evidence and apply it consistently. Many colleges use preponderance of the evidence, which asks whether a fact is more likely than not. Some choose clear and convincing, which requires a higher degree of certainty. The choice can be outcome determinative in close cases. Knowing the standard in advance informs how we frame testimony, expert input, and corroboration.

Consent analysis often decides cases involving sexual contact. We examine how Dartmouth defines consent, what counts as revocation, and how incapacity is assessed. Intoxication, sleep, coercion, and power dynamics can complicate otherwise straightforward facts. Where a complainant’s account alleges sexual assault or dating violence, we develop a timeline that integrates messages, social media, keycard logs, and witness proximity to contextualize what happened before, during, and after the interaction(s).

Special Considerations On A Small Campus

Dartmouth’s scale influences investigations in meaningful ways. Parties and witnesses may share classes, teams, labs, or housing clusters. Rumors can travel quickly. We prioritize targeted protective steps that limit unnecessary disclosure while still enabling you to participate fully. For student-athletes, we coordinate with athletics compliance to mitigate eligibility disruptions when possible. Graduate and professional students in programs like Tuck, Thayer, and Geisel face research and clinical obligations that deserve careful planning. We ensure supportive measures take those realities into account.

Off-campus conduct, including events at Greek organizations or local venues, may still fall under College policies if it creates effects within the education program or activity. Study away or travel programs add an additional layer. We help gather receipts, itineraries, and communications that establish where the College maintains control and where jurisdiction ends.

How Title IX Interacts With Criminal Law And The Clery Act

A campus process and a criminal investigation can run at the same time. They are separate. The campus standard of proof is not the same as criminal proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Statements made in a campus case can be discoverable in a criminal matter. If there is any risk of criminal exposure, including allegations of sexual assault or intimate partner violence, we coordinate strategy to protect both fronts. 

The Clery Act requires institutions to offer certain notices and resources, and to maintain procedures for timely warnings and emergency notifications. While Clery is not the same as Title IX, the two frameworks often intersect. We make sure you understand what information may be reported in aggregate and what remains confidential, and how that affects safety planning and privacy.

International, Graduate, And Professional Student Concerns

International students face consequences that transcend campus discipline. A suspension can affect visa status. Travel for hearings can conflict with entry requirements. We work with immigration counsel when needed to minimize collateral harm. Graduate students and postdocs often juggle teaching roles, clinical placements, or sponsored research. We address how interim measures interact with grant obligations, lab access, authorship, and advisor relationships. In each scenario, anti-retaliation protections apply. If you experience intimidation or pressure related to your participation, we document it and seek remedies.

Sanctions And Long-Term Consequences

Sanctions have practical effects beyond the headline label. A disciplinary suspension may delay graduation, void tuition for a term, or trigger loss of housing and meal plans. An expulsion can carry transcript notations that complicate transfer or graduate applications. For complainants, remedies are intended to restore access, but poorly tailored measures can still disrupt research or athletics. We engage early with decision-makers to propose solutions that are both compliant and realistic, such as tailored course substitutions, lab reassignments, and scheduled access to facilities to avoid contact.

Evidence Preservation And Practical First Steps

Capturing details quickly can change outcomes. Save texts, DMs, photos, ride share logs, class emails, and calendar entries. Consider writing a private timeline while events are fresh, noting times, locations, and witnesses, but only do so after speaking with your advisor or attorney. Preserve clothing or bedding if a forensic exam is contemplated. If you are a complainant, a medical exam may document injuries or collect evidence, even if you have not decided whether to pursue a formal complaint. If you are a respondent, do not contact the other party. Do not delete posts or messages. Maintain silence about the facts on group chats and social channels. We help you organize what matters and discard what does not.

Informal Resolution And When It Makes Sense

Not every case requires a full hearing. Informal resolution can include educational interventions, agreed boundaries, or tailored remedies that resolve a specific conflict. It is never appropriate for allegations involving an employee and a student in certain roles, and participation must be voluntary. We evaluate whether the record supports a negotiated path that protects your academic trajectory while addressing safety and access concerns. If an agreement is reached, it should be precise, enforceable, and realistic for both sides.

Why Choose Saland Law For A Dartmouth Title IX Matter

Jeremy Saland is a criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor who has led complex investigations, examined witnesses under pressure, and tried cases before judges and juries. That experience translates to the strategy you need on campus. In fact, it has successfully done so for many an advisee in the Title IX setting. The label may be administrative, but Title IX disputes are fact intensive and adversarial. We prepare you as if your future depends on it, because it does. Attorney-advisor Jeremy Saland advises both complainants and respondents, which gives us perspective on how each side builds a record. We know what evidence persuades, what inconsistencies matter, and how to present a narrative that aligns with policy definitions.

Although headquartered in New York City, we assist clients nationwide. Many steps occur by phone or video, and we travel when in-person advocacy is needed. You will work directly with counsel who understands Dartmouth’s academic rhythms, athletics schedules, and research demands. We communicate in plain English, set expectations, and move quickly when deadlines are tight.

Immediate Guidance If You Are Involved In A Dartmouth Title IX Case

If you are a complainant, consider immediate safety, medical needs, and supportive measures. Identify a trusted advisor and avoid discussing details on social media. If you have already reported to the college, keep copies of all communications and deadlines. If you are a respondent, assert your right to an advisor before any substantive interview. Read the notice of allegations carefully and note every date or policy reference. Begin gathering messages, course materials, and witness names that establish your whereabouts and interactions.

When we step in, we will map the process that applies to your case, identify decision points and deadlines, and build a plan that protects your interests. We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Your goals matter. Some clients prioritize safety and privacy. Others seek a decisive hearing to clear their name. Many want a pragmatic resolution that keeps education on track. We shape the strategy to fit those aims.

Speak With A Dartmouth Title IX Advisor

If you are navigating a Dartmouth College Title IX matter as a complainant or a respondent, you do not have to do it alone. Saland Law will meet you where you are, evaluate your options under Title IX and Dartmouth policy, and build a step-by-step plan to protect your education and your future. From supportive measures to hearings and appeals, we bring focused advocacy and steady guidance when the stakes are highest.

Call or message Saland Law to arrange a confidential consultation with a Title IX attorney led by former prosecutor Jeremy Saland. We advise clients nationwide and are ready to move quickly to secure evidence, meet deadlines, and position your case for the best possible outcome.