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Board of Trustees Orientation

Title IX

Title IX

Contact Information
Michelle Disson
Title IX Coordinator
863-874-8484  |  titleixcoordinator@floridapoly.edu

Sexual Misconduct & Title IX

Maintaining a campus free of sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct and sexual harassment, is important for all students and employees.

Title IX of the Education Amendments (1972) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” – Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act

The university is working toward fostering a climate free from sexual misconduct through training, education, prevention programs, and through policies and procedures that encourage prompt reporting, prohibit retaliation, and promote timely, fair and impartial investigation and resolution of sexual misconduct cases in a manner that eliminates the sexual misconduct, prevents its recurrence and addresses its effects.

The university’s Sexual Misconduct policy is consistent with federal law in prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.

The information contained in the above link hits the high points on the delegation of authority to Boards of Trustees, fiscal responsibilities of the Trustees, parameters surrounding the expenditure of funds, and key statutes and regulations that provide do’s and don’ts on the use of funds.

Reporting of Sexual Misconduct can be done through the or by contacting Title IX Coordinator, Michelle Disson.

University, Local, & National Resources

Թ Poly does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual violence of any kind and provides a variety of resources both on and off campus. 

BayCare’s Student Assistance Program
800-878-5470


800-878-5470

Թ Poly Title IX Coordinator
863-874-8484

Թ Poly Police Department
863-874-8472


863-413-2707-24/7 crisis line
600 El Paseo, Lakeland, Թ, 33805


863-834-6000
228 S. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland, Թ, 33801


863-298-6200 (non-emergency) or 911 | 1891 Kim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven, Թ, 33880


863-687-1100
1324 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland, Թ, 33805 


800-656-4673


800-799-7233


800-273-8255

Advancement & Foundation Module Coming Soon!

Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Թ, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.

Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at Թ, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining Թ Poly in 2025, she spent 11 years at SUNY Potsdam, where she advanced to Full Professor and developed a 3-2 Engineering dual-degree program with Clarkson University. Her work emphasizes experiential learning and research-driven education to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.