Preventing Sexual Misconduct (Title IX)

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funds. Sex discrimination includes sexual violence and gender-based harassment.

The protections of Title IX extend to all academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic and other programs of a school, whether those programs take place on campus, in a school facility, at an off-campus class, seminar or event that the school sponsors, or elsewhere. Title IX protects students, faculty and staff from sexual harassment by any school employees, non-employee third parties and other students.

In recent years, media attention has focused on numerous campus sexual-harassment cases that have resulted in large settlements for victims. In the wake of those settlements, which required the colleges involved to make extensive changes to their Title IX policies and procedures, schools should adopt and publish Title IX sexual-harassment grievance procedures, designate Title IX coordinators to investigate complaints and train staff, faculty, coaches, teaching assistants, security, resident advisors and students on Title IX, among others.

The topics covered in the course include:

• Reasons for concern
• Anti-harassment laws and policies
• Campus SaVE Act
• Sexual harassment and sexual violence
• Types of harassment
• Conduct to be avoided
• Reporting sexual harassment
• Bystander intervention
• Responding to complaints
• Effects of trauma
• Avoiding retaliation
• Maintaining a respectful work environment
• There is also a 10-minute training course for students that covers the following topics: Sexual violence, Quid pro quo, Hostile environment, When to intervene, If it happens to you