DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A case against a Decatur community college is being forwarded to a federal office one year after the investigation began, a move lawyers say is a massive step.

Last month, WCIA reported the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) found “reasonable cause” to believe that former Richland Community College employee Jennifer Reichart was fired based on her sex, and for investigating discriminatory practices by Richland’s President, Dr. Cristobal Valdez.

The change is the agency now leading the investigation. The EEOC just forwarded the case to the Department of Justice.

Reichart was hired by Richland in 2022 as the Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and was also the Title IX coordinator. She said she was discriminated against for opposing Valdez’s “retaliatory conduct,” and raising concerns about harassment of women.

Reichart’s lawyer, David Fish, said the EEOC has been trying to facilitate an agreement between both parties but were not able to.

“The main thing that Dr. Reichart wants is to have the retaliation stop,” Fish said. “She wants Richland to be a place where people can work without threat of any type of harassment. They should feel free to speak up, and she no longer wants that to occur there.”

Fish said only 3% of these cases are sent to the DOJ.

He also said he’s not sure when the case will start because of the government shutdown. However, Fish said they will file it within the next 90 days. WCIA reached out to Richland Community College and their board but did not receive an immediate response back.