Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in any federally funded education program or activity. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issues regulations on Title IX. These regulations require every educational institution to have a Title IX Coordinator to oversee compliance. They also require the institution to take steps to prevent the creation of a hostile environment due to sexual harassment or assault.
Complaint: a complaint of sexual misconduct is a request for action by the university; complaints of sexual harassment or exploitation may be investigated internally or externally or settled by mediation; complaints of sexual assault (non-consensual sexual contact or intercourse) are investigated by an external investigator contracted by the university.
Complainant: a person who has filed a complaint of sexual misconduct.
External investigator: an independent expert contracted by the university to investigate all complaints of sexual assault and any complaints of sexual harassment or exploitation referred by the Title IX coordinator or university authorities.
Hostile environment: physical, social, or emotional interaction that unreasonably interferes with, denies, or limits someone’s ability to participate in or benefit from the university’s educational program or activities and/or to carry out the duties of employment.
Report: a report notifies the Title IX Coordinator of sexual misconduct; reports are kept in a secure location and used to offer help and to improve campus safety; they are not formally investigated unless they indicate a pattern, predator, threats, violence, or weapons.
Respondent: the person who is responding to a complaint of sexual misconduct (the person the complaint is about).
Responsible employee: a person who, if informed about sexual misconduct, is required to file a contact report with the Title IX Coordinator. Responsible employees include faculty, coaches, residence hall directors and residence life advisors, administrators, supervisory staff, and campus safety officers.
Quid pro quo (= one thing for another): offering a benefit in exchange for a sexual favor, or threatening to take away a benefit if a sexual request is not satisfied.
Retaliation: any harassing action (threats, violence, demotion or firing, etc.) against a person who filed a report or complaint of sexual misconduct; retaliation is expressly forbidden by Title IX.
Sanctions: disciplinary actions taken against those found in violation of the sexual misconduct policy; sanctions range from expulsion to suspension to warning and may include restrictions on campus or requirements for counseling.
Under Title IX, anyone with supervisory responsibility is considered a responsible employee who must report sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator. Responsible employees include faculty, administrators (deans), coaches, residence hall directors and RLAs, campus safety officers, human resources personnel, and any staff who supervise students or employees.
Confidential sources who are not required to report misconduct are counselors, health care providers, ministers, sexual assault crisis centers, campus advocate and our designated faculty/staff confidential resources. Anyone who has experienced sexual assault is encouraged to speak with one of these sources as soon as possible.
Emily Bowles (interim)
Room 101 Brokaw Hall
920-832-7496
titleix@lawrence.edu
The Title IX Coordinator addresses issues related to sexual misconduct, sexual assault, relationship and interpersonal violence, sex- and gender-based discrimination or harassment, and gender equity. The Title IX Coordinator also works with all parties involved in the complaint process to ensure a fair, equitable, and timely response. They are available as a private resource to anyone in the Lawrence community.
