University of Notre Dame Title IX Lawyer-Advisor

A Title IX investigation at South Bend’s University of Notre Dame unfolds within one of the most distinctive campus environments in American higher education. Notre Dame is not a commuter institution or a loosely connected urban campus. It is a residential, tradition-driven university where academic life, housing, faith, and social relationships are deeply intertwined with a highly engaged and enthusiastic student body who emobdy the “Fightin’ Irish” experience. When allegations involving sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, sexual contact, or disputes about affirmative consent arise, the impact is often immediate and far-reaching. In the worst case scenario for both a complainant and respondent, it can be emotionally, academically and career crippling well after the college years are in the rearview mirror. 

For many students, a Title IX case at Notre Dame affects far more than classroom attendance. Housing placement, residence hall standing, leadership positions, athletic participation, campus employment, and long-standing social relationships may all be implicated. Because Notre Dame functions as a close-knit community rather than a dispersed campus, the personal consequences of a Title IX investigation can feel amplified for both respondents and complainants.

Saland Law represents students and families navigating Title IX matters at Notre Dame with an emphasis on institutional awareness, procedural protection, and long-term impact management. The firm is led by Jeremy Saland, whose criminal defense, trial lawyer, and prosecutorial background informs a disciplined, evidence-based approach to university disciplinary proceedings. Although located in New York City, because Title IX investigations and hearings are routinely online and virtually based, Saland Law represents students nationwide and advises both respondents and complainants involved in Title IX matters at Notre Dame.

Notre Dame by the Numbers and Why They Matter in Title IX Cases

The University of Notre Dame enrolls approximately 13,000 students, including roughly 8,900 undergraduates and more than 4,000 graduate and professional students. Unlike many large universities, Notre Dame requires a significant majority of undergraduates to live on campus for multiple years. More than 80 percent of undergraduate students reside in university housing, most of them within Notre Dame’s renowned residence hall system.

Notre Dame operates more than 30 single-sex residence halls, each with its own leadership structure, traditions, and social identity. These halls are not merely housing assignments. They serve as primary social units where students form friendships, host events, and assume leadership roles. This structure increases the likelihood that parties involved in a Title IX matter will share mutual friends, common spaces, or overlapping hall affiliations.

From a Title IX perspective, this concentration of student life matters. It increases repeated contact between parties, complicates no-contact arrangements, and makes interim housing changes more disruptive than at institutions with a more transient housing model. Understanding these dynamics is critical when developing a Title IX strategy at Notre Dame.

Residence Halls, Social Life, and Title IX Exposure

Many Title IX matters at Notre Dame originate in or near residence halls, dorm-hosted gatherings, or social events that draw students from multiple halls together. Because Notre Dame does not have a traditional Greek system, residence halls often serve as the primary hubs for social interaction, particularly for underclassmen, and both clubs and intermural sports provide further outlets.

This creates unique evidentiary challenges. Witnesses are often peers who know both parties. Social pressure can influence whether students come forward and how they describe events. Investigators may rely heavily on digital evidence, timestamps, and post-incident communications to reconstruct timelines when eyewitness accounts are incomplete or conflicted. This can benefit students and also be the proverbial “smoking gun” influencing an investigation and hearing one way or another.

Interim measures such as no-contact directives or housing changes can be especially consequential. A housing reassignment may separate a student from a hall community that plays a central role in their identity and daily routine. For complainants, remaining in close proximity to a respondent can be distressing. For respondents, sudden relocation can feel punitive even before any finding is made.

Notre Dame’s Mission, Conduct Expectations, and Title IX Reality

Notre Dame’s Catholic mission and emphasis on personal conduct form an important backdrop for Title IX matters. While federal Title IX law governs the process, students often approach relationships and conflicts through norms shaped by Notre Dame’s values and traditions.

This can lead to disconnects. Students may believe that shared expectations, dating norms, or moral understandings will influence how conduct is evaluated. In practice, Title IX determinations rely on policy definitions, documented evidence, and procedural compliance rather than informal expectations. Investigators must apply federal standards even when students frame their experiences through the lens of campus culture.

Effective advocacy ensures that contextual factors are presented clearly without relying on assumptions about shared values or informal understandings that do not carry weight in a Title IX analysis.

Title IX Reporting and Compliance at Notre Dame

Notre Dame is required to track and report incidents involving sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking under the Clery Act and related federal laws. The University publishes annual security and compliance reports reflecting reported incidents occurring on campus, in residence halls, and within areas under University jurisdiction.

In addition, Notre Dame administers a Sexual Conduct and Campus Climate Survey to assess student awareness, experiences, and perceptions related to sexual misconduct and Title IX processes. In the 2024–2025 survey cycle, 4,844 students participated, representing a 37.1% response rate.

​​Earlier survey results show high awareness of consent principles. In the survey, 91% of respondents correctly indicated that intoxication is not an excuse for failing to obtain consent, and nearly all respondents agreed that understanding conduct that causes sexual harm is important.

These data points highlight two important realities. First, Notre Dame students are generally aware of consent concepts and Title IX expectations. Second, awareness does not eliminate disputes. Many cases arise precisely because parties interpret shared interactions differently, particularly when alcohol, mixed signals, or evolving relationships are involved.

The Federal Title IX Framework as Applied at Notre Dame

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. At the university level, sex discrimination includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. The statute is codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1681, with implementing regulations located at 34 C.F.R. Part 106.

These regulations require Notre Dame to respond to reports, offer supportive measures, conduct investigations, and, in certain cases, hold hearings. They also impose obligations related to notice, neutrality, relevance, appeal rights, and protections against retaliation. Notre Dame’s policies are designed to comply with these requirements while reflecting the University’s structure and mission.

In addition, definitions drawn from the Violence Against Women Act and the Clery Act influence how Notre Dame categorizes conduct and reports campus safety data. Understanding these overlapping legal frameworks is essential to evaluating whether a Title IX process was conducted properly.

Early Assessments and Case Trajectory

When Notre Dame receives a report, the University conducts an initial assessment to determine how the matter will proceed. This decision shapes the entire case. It may determine whether the matter proceeds under a Title IX Sexual Harassment framework, a broader sexual misconduct policy, or another disciplinary pathway.

This classification affects whether a hearing will occur, how questioning is conducted, and what standards apply. Students often underestimate how much this early decision matters. Strategic engagement at this stage can influence procedural protections and preserve options later in the process.

Evidence Development in a Notre Dame Investigation

Notre Dame Title IX investigations are record-driven. Investigators collect interviews, text messages, social media communications, photos, timestamps, witness statements, and contextual data such as residence hall access and event timing.

Because Notre Dame’s campus is geographically compact and socially interconnected, location and timing evidence can be particularly influential. Alcohol-related cases often hinge on detailed timelines and post-event communications rather than on the presence of alcohol alone.

Early interviews are critical. Statements made before a student understands the scope of the process can become central evidence. Later clarifications may be viewed as inconsistencies rather than explanations. Preparation is therefore focused on accuracy, completeness, and alignment with available documentation.

Affirmative Consent and Capacity at Notre Dame

Affirmative consent disputes at Notre Dame often reflect differing expectations shaped by campus culture and social norms. Title IX evaluations, however, focus on whether consent was clearly communicated, voluntary, and ongoing throughout sexual contact.

Silence, assumption, or familiarity rarely substitute for affirmative consent in a Title IX analysis. When alcohol is involved, capacity becomes a central issue. Capacity assessments are fact-specific and consider behavior, coherence, communication, and decision-making rather than intoxication alone.

A careful legal approach ensures that consent and capacity issues are evaluated within their full factual context rather than reduced to oversimplified narratives.

Respondent Defense in a Close-Knit Community

Respondents at Notre Dame face unique challenges because of the campus’s interconnected nature. Attempts to resolve matters informally or explain one’s side to peers can create additional allegations or be interpreted as retaliation.

Effective defense involves identifying the precise allegations, evaluating the evidence, managing communication risks, and preparing strategically for interviews and hearings. Saland Law works with respondents to protect procedural rights while minimizing academic and reputational harm.

Complainant Advocacy Within Notre Dame’s Structure

For complainants, reporting sexual misconduct at Notre Dame can be particularly challenging due to concerns about privacy and ongoing contact within a close campus environment. Supportive measures are often essential to maintaining access to education and campus life.

Effective advocacy focuses on clear presentation of facts, preservation of evidence, and thoughtful requests for supportive measures that address safety without unnecessary disruption. Preparation also helps complainants navigate interviews and potential hearings with confidence.

Informal Resolution Considerations

Notre Dame may offer informal resolution options in certain cases. Informal resolution can involve agreements that carry long-term implications. Students should understand what rights they may be waiving, how agreements are documented, and what happens if terms are violated.

Legal guidance helps ensure that informal resolution aligns with the student’s goals rather than creating unintended consequences.

Indiana Criminal Law and Title IX

Title IX proceedings are administrative, but some allegations may implicate Indiana criminal law. Notre Dame may proceed with its internal process regardless of law enforcement involvement. Statements made in one forum can affect the other, making coordinated planning essential.

The Role of Experienced Title IX Advisors

Title IX cases at Notre Dame are shaped by preparation, institutional knowledge, and procedural awareness. An advisor helps students and families understand the process, anticipate next steps, and avoid common pitfalls.

Saland Law’s approach emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and protection of long-term interests, drawing on Jeremy Saland’s criminal defense and prosecutorial experience.

Speak With a University of Notre Dame Title IX Lawyer-Advisor

Whether you are a respondent facing allegations involving sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, sexual contact, or disputes about affirmative consent, or you are a complainant seeking safety and accountability, early legal guidance can make a meaningful difference.

Saland Law represents students nationwide and assists with University of Notre Dame Title IX matters at every stage, from initial assessment through investigation, hearings, and appeals. When there is no substitute for experience, knowledge and advocacy, contact Saland Law to schedule a confidential consultation and learn how experienced Title IX advisor can help protect your education, reputation, and future.