ONLINE COURSES
Conducting Effective Internal Investigations
Course Details
About this Event
Conducting effective internal investigations is crucial to ensuring compliance with the many laws, regulations, and other obligations facing today’s institutions of higher education. The circumstances that prompt an investigation arise in many contexts, including student misconduct, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, academic or research misconduct, financial improprieties, and more. No matter the context, when properly conducted, an internal investigation can help an institution to identify risks and remedy potential issues.
Join instructors Kendall Isaac, Emily Babb, and Alexandra Mitropoulos as they lead this eight-module online course, designed to teach participants how to conduct effective internal investigations from start to finish.
The course features access to:
- Eight modules (pre-recorded webinars, self-assessments, and extensive resources)
- Two interactive, live online forums with the course instructors (recordings are made available to those who were not able to attend live).
Course Schedule
Module 1: Introduction
- Introduction and Course Outline
- Types of investigations
- Value of Good Investigative Practices
Module 2: Pre-Investigation Considerations
- Pre-investigation Considerations
- Concurrent External Investigations
- Public Relations Considerations
- Choosing an Investigator
- Developing an Investigative Strategy or Plan
Module 3: Receiving and Evaluating a Complaint
- Receiving and Evaluating the Complaint
- Confidentiality vs. Transparency
- Notice
- Interim Measures
- Amnesty
Module 4: Interviews: Logistics, Who to Interview, and How to Interview Effectively
- Interviews Logistics
- Participation by Parties and Witnesses
- Required Disclosures – Garrity Rights
- Conducting the Interview – Tips for Good Questioning
- Post-Interview Considerations
- Interviewing High-Level Employees and Police
Module 5: Gathering Evidence
- Corroborating Evidence
- Direct and Circumstantial Evidence
- Other Types of Evidence
- Evidence Collection
- Assessing Relevance and Authenticity
Module 6: Weighing and Evaluating Evidence
- Weight of Evidence
- Assessing Credibility and Reliability
- Plausibility
- Motives
- Demeanor of Parties and Witnesses
- Effects of Trauma
- Evaluating Inconsistencies
Module 7: Report Writing
- Key components of a report (recommended)
- Style/audience/tone
- Final Decision
Module 8: You’re Done….Now What?
- Disclosure of the report
- Best practices for document retention and use of the attorney-client privilege
- Notifications
- Appeals
- Post-Appeal Considerations
- Consultation with In-House Counsel
Live Forums
Opportunity for Q&A with course Instructors
Unable to attend live? The recording will be available on the course platform for all registrants within a week of the live forum.
FIRST FORUM
Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 1:00–2:15 P.M. ET
SECOND FORUM
Tuesday, March 6, 2026, 2:00–3:15 P.M. ET
CLE
8
Pre-recorded sessions
2
Live Forums
350
Total Minutes
5.8
CLE Credits (60-min hour)
7.0
CLE Credits (50-min hour)
Unless otherwise noted, NACUA certifies that this program has been presumptively approved and conforms to the standards prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bars of…
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