Important Title IX Update:

As you may have heard, on January 9, 2025, a federal court vacated the new 2024 Title IX Regulations, which were adopted and implemented by American Jewish University through the Policy and Procedures on Prohibition of Sex Discrimination (“Policy and Procedures”). As a result, these Policy and Procedures are being revised to ensure compliance with the 2020 Title IX Final Rule and California state law.

In the interim, sex-based harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and retaliation and all other forms of Prohibited Conduct will continue to be prohibited as defined by 2020 Title IX Final Rule and other relevant local, state, and federal laws. Students and employees should continue to report any incidents of Prohibited Conduct to the Title IX Coordinator at titleix [at] aju.edu (titleix[at]aju[dot]edu). If you have any questions about the revisions to Policy and Procedures, please contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Notice of Non-Discrimination: 

American Jewish University (“AJU” or “University”) does not discriminate in admissions (including application for admission), employment (including application for employment), or in any of its educational programs or activities on the basis of actual or perceived race (including ancestry, ethnicity, and ethnic characteristics), color, sex (including sex characteristics and sex stereotypes), religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin (including language and citizenship), age (40 years and over in the employment context), parental, marital, or familial status, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions),  physical or mental disability, military or veteran status (service in United Stated armed forces only), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, status as a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence, or stalking, and any other status protected from discrimination under  federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance,  as required by: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act; and other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation.  

AJU prohibits unlawful harassment of students, employees and external parties on the basis of any protected characteristic as identified above. 

AJU also prohibits retaliation against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by University policy or law, or because the individual makes a good faith report or complaint, testifies, assists, participates, or refuses to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under the University’s Policies and Procedures on Prohibition of Sex Discrimination and/or Prohibition of Unlawful Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation.  

These Policies, Procedures, and a Fact Sheet summarizing these documents are available below: 

Reporting Prohibited Conduct:  

AJU has designated the Director of Equity, Compliance, and Title IX (“Director/Title IX Coordinator”) to coordinate the University’s compliance with federal and state civil rights laws including Title IX and those other laws and regulations referenced above. The Director of Equity, Compliance, and Title IX serves as the Title IX Coordinator for the University.  

Meng “May” Zhang 
Director of Equity, Compliance, and Title IX and Title IX Coordinator 
15600 Mulholland Drive 
Los Angeles, CA 90077 
Phone: 310-440-1571 
Email: titleix [at] aju.edu (titleix[at]aju[dot]edu)  

To report prohibited conduct to the University, please contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator. The Director/Title IX Coordinator could also be reached in person at:  

Room 257, Familian Campus 
Staff Office, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies*
Administrative Building, Brandeis-Bardin Campus* 

* The Director/Title IX Coordinator is physically present at these locations on designated dates throughout the year. Please contact her for a list of those dates. 

Individuals could also use the online reporting form to make a report. Anonymous reports could be made using this form.  

A fillable PDF version of the form is also available here. Completed forms should be emailed to the Director/Title IX Coordinator at the email address listed above. 

Please direct all inquiries about Title IX and AJU’s prohibitions against sex discrimination, and unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation to the Director/Title IX Coordinator. 

Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities: 

AJU complies with all federal and state laws that protect individuals with physical or mental disabilities from discrimination based on their actual or perceived disability status. As such, reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities when such modifications and services are necessary to access the University’s programs and services.  

Please see AJU’s Policy on Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities for more information. This Policy includes AJU’s policy on service and emotional support animals. The policy can be found: Policy on Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities  

Accommodation requests and disability-related questions should be directed to the responsible individual or office identified in the policy. 

Students may wish to access AJU’s Disability Services webpage for more information. 

Resources:

  • Confidential Resources and Support

    National Sexual Assault Online Hotline
    (800) 656.4673

    National Domestic Violence Hotline
    (800) 799.SAFE

    UCLA Medical Center Rape Treatment Center
    1250 16th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404
    424 259.7208

    JFS Hope
    Jewish Family Services Domestic Violence Services
    (818) 505.0900 / (323) 681.2626

    Strength United
    CSUN Community Agency
    24 hour support, referral, and crisis response line
    (818) 886-0453 / (661) 253-0258

    Los Angeles LGBT Center 
    Stop Violence Program: 323-860-5806 
    Legal Advocacy Project for Survivors (LAPS): 323-993-7649 

    Coalition for Family Harmony 
    24-Hour Bilingual Hotline: 800-300-2181 (Se habla Español) 

    Interface Children and Family Services 
    24-Hour Hotline: 800-636-6738  
    Mental Health Intake Line: 805-485-6114, Option 2 

    Ventura County Family Justice Center 
    Phone: 805-652-7655    
    Text: 805-947-7981  

    TimelyCare 
    Free, online mental health and wellness resources for Students enrolled in degree programs at Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership. Students can access TimelyCare by logging into the link above and/or by downloading the mobile app. More information is available here.  

    Employee Assistance Program 
    Free mental health and legal/financial resources including crisis counseling sessions and legal consultations for AJU employees, provided by Mutual of Omaha.  Phone: 800-316-2796  

    Confidential Employees at AJU

    Patricia Fenton 
    Email: pfenton [at] aju.edu (pfenton[at]aju[dot]edu) 
    Phone: 310-440-1518 
    Available to: AJU Community Members at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies 

    Sherry Heyerly 
    Email: sherry.heyerly [at] aju.edu (sherry[dot]heyerly[at]aju[dot]edu) 
    Phone: 310-440-1535 
    Available to: AJU Community Members at the Familian Campus (Includes Maas Center and Masor School) 

    Rusty Madison-Meyer 
    Email: rmeyer [at] aju.edu (rmeyer[at]aju[dot]edu)   
    Phone: 310-440-1287 
    Available to: AJU Community Members at the Brandeis Bardin Campus (Does Not Include Participants and Seasonal Staff of Camp Alonim) 

    Camp Alonim Health Center** 
    Phone: 805-582-4454 
    Available to: Participants and Seasonal Staff of Camp Alonim 
    ** The Camp Alonim Health Center is operated seasonally when Camp Alonim is in session, typically during the months of June, July, and August of each year. The Health Center employs licensed healthcare professionals who provide health care to the participants and seasonal staff of camp programs when Camp Alonim is in session.  

  • Non-Confidential Resources and Support

    Beverly Hills Police Department
    464 N Rexford Drive
    Beverly Hills, CA 90210
    Phone: 310-550-4951

    West LA Community Police Station
    1663 Butler Avenue
    Los Angeles, CA 90025
    Phone: 310-444-0701

    Simi Valley Police Department
    3901 Alamo Street, Simi Valley, CA 93063
    Phone: 805-583-6950

    Ventura County Sheriff’s Office 
    800 S. Victoria Avenue 
    Ventura, CA 93009 
    Phone: 805-654-2380 

    Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Victim Services 
    1000 South Fremont Avenue 
    Unit 36, Bldg. A9E, Suite E9150 
    Alhambra, CA 91803  
    Phone: 626-514-1300 / 800-380-3811 
    Other Locations: https://da.lacounty.gov/vwap/locations  

    Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Crime Victims’ Assistance Unit 
    800 S. Victoria Avenue, Suite 314 
    Ventura, CA 93009 
    Phone: 805-654-3622 

    AJU’s Office of Equity, Compliance, and Title IX 
    Meng “May” Zhang,  
    Director of Equity, Compliance, and Title IX and Title IX Coordinator 
    Email: titleixataju.edu (titleix[at]aju[dot]edu)  
    Phone: 310-440-1571 

    AJU Human Resources 
    Email: hrataju.edu (hr[at]aju[dot]edu) 
    (To report alleged prohibited conduct by the Director/Title IX Coordinator) 

    Chairperson of the AJU Board of Directors 
    Email: chairpersonataju.edu (chairperson[at]aju[dot]edu) 
    (To report alleged prohibited conduct by the President of AJU) 

  • Education and Resources on Title IX and Violence Against Women Act

    AJU Education and Resources on Title IX & VAWA 

    Please click on the guide above to learn about AJU’s responsibility under Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Additionally, this guide will:  

    • Describe specific resources available both on and off campus  
    • Share details on available Supportive Measures  
    • Explain the right to an Advisor and how Advisors can assist throughout the process  
    • Inform about policy definitions that describe Prohibited Conduct  
    • Describe possible Sanctions for Policy Violations  
    • Identify common questions and answers asked by Complaints and Respondent 

Additional Information:

  • Pregnancy and Related Conditions/Lactation Spaces

    Appendix B: Procedures on Pregnancy and Related Condition, in AJU’s Procedures on Prohibition of Sex Discrimination describes how AJU supports individuals who are pregnant or experiencing related conditions.  

    The University provides Students, Employees, and External Parties with access to lactation spaces that are in working order, appropriate, safe, and private. All spaces include a chair, a surface to place lactation equipment on, access to a power source, and are near a refrigerator, and a sink with running water.  

    Lactation spaces are in the following locations: 

    Familian Campus 
    Room 267, 2nd Floor  
    Available Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm 
    Room 267 does not need advance notice or reservation for lactation use. 

    Brandeis-Bardin Campus 
    Lax Conference Room, Administrative Building 
    Available Hours: Monday-Sunday, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm  
    Please provide advance notice to the administrative staff at the Brandeis-Bardin Campus at least 24-48 hours before you begin using the space. How to contact the Brandeis-Bardin Campus:  
    Phone: (805) 915-0720  
    Daniel Maccabee, Sr. Director of Operations, DMaccabee [at] aju.edu (DMaccabee[at]aju[dot]edu) 

    Ziegler Campus 

    The following reservable rooms are available: 

    350SB Board Room    
    350SB Classrooms 1-5 

    Available Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 am- 5:00 pm / Friday, 8:30 am- 2:30 pm. Students and Employees are able to reserve a room using the Microsoft Outlook calendar system. External Parties and individuals with questions or concerns are asked to email the Ziegler Campus administrative staff for reservation-related matters.  How to contact the Ziegler Campus: Ziegler administrative staff, zieglerschool [at] aju.edu (zieglerschool[at]aju[dot]edu)   

  • Reporting to External Agencies

    Complaints and inquiries regarding sex discrimination, and discrimination, harassment, and retaliation involving federal laws may be directed to: 

    Office for Civil Rights 
    U.S. Department of Education 
    50 United Nations Plaza  
    Mail Box 1200, Room 1545 
    San Francisco, CA 94102 
    Phone: 415-486-5555 
    TDD: 800-877-8339 
    Email: OCR.SanFrancisco [at] ed.gov (OCR[dot]SanFrancisco[at]ed[dot]gov)  

    U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  
    Roybal Federal Building 
    255 East Temple Street, 4th Floor 
    Los Angeles, CA 90012 
    Phone: 213-785-3090 
    TTY: 1-800-669-6820 
    ASL Video Line: 844-234-5122 
    Email: info [at] eeoc.gov (info[at]eeoc[dot]gov)   

    Complaints and inquiries regarding sex discrimination, and discrimination, harassment, and retaliation involving state laws may be directed to: 

    California Civil Rights Division (CCRD) 
    2218 Kausen Drive, Suite 100 
    Elk Grove, CA 95758 
    Phone: (800) 884-1684 
    TTY: 800-700-2320  
    Email: contact.center [at] calcivilrights.ca.gov (contact[dot]center[at]calcivilrights[dot]ca[dot]gov)