CRTC Training Overview

Western requires all faculty and staff, including temporary employees and student employees to complete online prevention training. The training satisfies University and Washington State training requirements for faculty, staff, and student employees related to harassment and discrimination prevention, sexual violence primary prevention and awareness, and hazing and bullying prevention. Completion of these underlying training requirements is required for all Western faculty, staff, and student employees. (For additional information related to employee prevention training requirements, see POL-U1600.02; POL-U1600.04; POL-U7100.04; and Section 28B.10.907 RCW).

Employees will first be assigned to required hazing prevention training, delivered through Canvas. Additional required training topics, including related to sexual harassment prevention and harassment and discrimination prevention, will be available at a later date. CRTC will communicate with faculty, staff and student employees when these specific training topics are available (also through Canvas).

Western is sensitive to community members who have a personal history with sexual violence, discrimination, or bullying/hazing. Any employee that feels that they may not be able to complete the training content due to their own personal experiences with these topics may contact CRTC staff at (360) 650-3307 or crtc@wwu.edu to learn about other options for completing the training requirements. Employees will not be asked to provide details of their personal experience and their request will be kept confidential exclusively in CRTC.

New and existing employees will be assigned by CRTC to the ongoing required training, and can access the required training on their Canvas dashboard. Employees should complete the required training within seven weeks of being assigned, and are strongly encouraged to complete the required training as soon as possible, in recognition of the importance to the University community. Employees will receive periodic reminder emails until the required training is completed. CRTC will keep leadership informed of employees' progress toward completing the required training, and ask for their assistance in ensuring that all employees are successfully completing the training requirements in a timely manner.

With the beginning of the academic year, CRTC has provided various in-person training sessions with specific departments. Employees who have recently completed equivalent training may contact crtc@wwu.edu to request to be marked complete for applicable required training delivered online through Canvas.

Hazing prevention training must be completed annually by all employees, including student employees. This is in accordance with University Policy and Washington state law (specifically the passage of “Sam’s Law”). Employees and student employees will be re-assigned annually to applicable training at the beginning of each academic year, and will be notified via email with information on how to access the training. 

In accordance with University Policy, all employees must be trained annually on the University's obligations to address discrimination based on sex in its programs and activities, the scope of conduct that constitutes discrimination based on sex, all applicable employee reporting obligations, guidance on how to prevent or respond to discrimination based on sex. 

In accordance with University Policy, all employees must be trained annually on the University's obligations to address discrimination based on a protected class in its programs and activities, the scope of conduct that constitutes discrimination based on a protected class, all applicable employee reporting obligations, and guidance on how to prevent or respond to discrimination based on a protected class.

CRTC is responsible for developing and delivering required prevention training on annual basis, for employees and student employees, as required by relevant University Policies and state and federal requirements, and ensuring that leadership is kept informed of employees’ progress toward completing required training. 

Employees are responsible for completing required training in a timely manner, following their assignment. 

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that employees complete required training in a timely manner, and working with the employee to address any concerns related to their ability to complete the training. 

Leadership is responsible for ensuring that completion of required training is prioritized within their department, division, or unit, and for appropriate follow-up communications with supervisors and department managers regarding employee progress toward completion of training in a timely manner. 

Supervisors may request that employees confirm their completion of the training (for example, a screenshot demonstrating course completion). CRTC will periodically update relevant leadership of faculty, staff, and student employees related to their progress toward completing the required online training. Employees should complete required training within seven weeks of their assignment. Supervisors are responsible for working with employees to ensure that required training is completed in a timely manner. If, for example, the employee is currently on leave or not currently on contract, supervisors should plan to communicate with the employee upon their return regarding the importance of completing the required training.

If the employee or student employee no longer works at Western, please work with HR or the Work Study Center as appropriate to ensure the individual's employment information is updated in Banner.

CRTC works with supervisors to address concerns on a case-by-case basis. Please contact CRTC staff at crtc@wwu.edu or (360) 650-3307 to consult regarding your specific situation. Employees are encouraged to work with their individual supervisors and if department supervisors have remaining concerns please reach out to crtc@wwu.edu and we can consult on how to meet these compliance requirements within your departments.

Employees and student employees should complete required training during work time. Employees who have concerns about their ability to complete the required training during work hours should work with their supervisor to make a plan for completing it over time. If you have extenuating circumstances, please contact CRTC staff at crtc@wwu.edu or (360) 650-3307 to consult regarding your specific situation.

In response to the accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) needs identified from the Fall and Winter quarter 2022-23 listening sessions, the Spring 2022 climate survey, and the DEI and antiracism training for all students and employees required by Senate Bill #5227, the President’s cabinet in Spring 2023 initiated a requirement for all new employees to complete a series of required DEI training modules. In academic year 2024-25, all employees and student employees were assigned to required DEI training. Introductory DEI training is part of a broader program of training and development on these topics relevant to Western and required by state law. DEI training is not required annually, but employees may be assigned to further courses on similar topics on a rotating 2-year cycle to be compliant with state law. 

The initial DEI courses were included as part of an ongoing broader effort to create a comprehensive training/professional development program that centers our diverse identities, cultivate positive relationships, and create a more just, equitable, and inclusive community. We will use the collective knowledge and expertise present at Western to develop further opportunities that will be added.  

The Office of Equity will communicate with employees regarding required DEI training, as well as the availability of additional DEI training that is optional and encouraged. 

All individuals involved in recruitment, screening, selection, promotion, disciplinary, and related processes - including but not limited to - hiring managers/authorities, supervisors, and individuals serving on Western hiring committees must annually complete CRTC's required online Civil Rights Training for Hiring and Employment Decisions. For search committee members, this training must be completed prior to review of any applications (this includes review of any potential Dual Career Assistance applicants). The online training can be accessed through the  Western Training Portal. Search chairs are responsible for ensuring that this training requirement is communicated to all committee members and that the required training is completed in a timely manner. The training is primarily a “read through” training, so CRTC recommends asking committee members to complete the training individually by a certain date and then re-convening the committee afterwards to discuss any questions they may have or anything that would be helpful to review as a committee. Search chairs are also encouraged to share with the committee CRTC’s Toolkit for Inclusive Searches, which contains important resources and information for search committees. Questions may be directed to CRTC.

The online training explores what equal employment opportunity compliance requirements mean in practice as we conduct searches and with respect to the individuals we employ. It is the policy of the University not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability,  or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. The University bases all employment decisions only on valid job requirements.  This includes all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment. Furthermore, the University will provide qualified applicants and employees who request an accommodation due to a disability with reasonable accommodations, as required by law.

Please review the below links for information about trainings provided by other University offices, which you may also be required to complete.

Questions regarding these trainings should be directed to the relevant office that provides the training.

FERPA Training

Information Security Training

Web Accessibility Training

University Ethics Training/Guidance 

Social Media Training

Western Training Portal