This file was prepared for electronic distribution by the inforM staff. Questions or comments should be directed to inform-editor@umail.umd.edu. APPENDIX C H. Title IX of The Education Amendments of 1972 1. WHAT IS TITLE IX? Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. This prohibition covers all educational programs and services such as: employment, health benefits, housing, athletics, admissions, financial aid, recruitment, student treatment services, counseling, guidance, discipline, classroom assignments, and grading. Programs such as these must operate in a non-discriminatory manner with regards to gender. Sexual Harassment is a form of sex discrimination. (Meritor Savings Bank, FSB vs. Vinson 106 S. Ct. 2399 (1986). Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination against students. Therefore,educational institutions may be held liable under Title IX when students sexually harass other students or when students are sexually harassed by institutional personnel and the institution does not provide relief. 2. WHAT DOES TITLE IX MANDATE? Title IX explicitly prohibits all forms of sex discrimination. Therefore, an institution could be held liable under Title IX for sex discrimination when: (a) the offender was an employee or agent of the institution; (b) the offender was in a position to affect the academic success of the recipient, such as grades, scholarship, fellowship, grants, job references or job prospects, and/or when the climate for learning was negatively affected; and (c) the institution did not provide prompt remedies or corrective action once it knew or should have known that sex discrimination had occurred. Title IX explicitly prohibits sexual harassment. In August 1981, the U.S. Department of Education reaffirmed its jurisdiction over sexual harassment complaints. Therefore, sexual harassment in educational institutions is against the law and is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Although sexual harassment of students is emphasized as being a violation of Title IX, employees of educational programs and activities which receive federal funds are also protected from sexual harassment under Title IX. 1. Sexual harassment consists of verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, imposed on the basis of sex, by an employee or agent of a recipient that denies, limits, provides different, or conditions the provisions of aid, benefits, services or treatment protected under Title IX. 2. It is considered a violation of Title IX for a person to retaliate against someone who complains or opposes an unlawful educational practice or policy or who has made changes, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title IX. 3. Title IX is not the only federal non-discrimination statue that applies to the sexual harassment of students; but, it is the broadest scope and the simplest to invoke. 3. WHO ENFORCES TITLE IX? Title IX sex discrimination and sexual harassment complaints involving college and/or university employees, employers, or students are generally enforced by the Department of Education. Although the Department of Education is the leading law enforcement agency, some Title IX complaints are resolved through private litigation or by other Federal agencies. A sexual harassment or sex discrimination complaint may be filed with the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. or with one of the ten regional offices. The University of Maryland falls under Region III. The Office for Civil Rights in Region III is located at Gateway Building, 3535 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101, (215) 596-6787. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the alleged harassment or discrimination. (This deadline may be extended by the Department of Education). The Office for Civil Rights has a responsibility to ensure that educational institutions which receive federal funds comply with Title IX. Title IX, unlike Title VII, requires institutions to maintain grievance procedure escapable of prompt and equitable resolution of sexual harassment and sex discrimination complaints. *** The Office For Civil Rights' Primary Enforcement Role INVOLVES INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF TITLE IX COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER, THE OFFICE ALSO HAS A COMPLIANCE REVIEW PROGRAM TO DETERMINE WHICH INSTITUTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE IX. 4. HOW ARE TITLE IX CCOMPAINTS RESOLVED? Title IX mandates that all complaints be investigated and resolved in a "prompt" and "equitable" manner. The manner in which a complaint is resolved varies from case to case. For example, in some instances a single individual conducts the investigation, while in others it is conducted by a committee or panel. In some procedures, the Department of Education may attempt to resolve the complaint informally by getting the institution to comply with the grievance procedures in Section 106. 8. of Title IX. The complaint may also be referred to the Attorney General of the United States for formal legal action to be taken. For additional information or complaint procedure contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20202 - (202) 732-3366 or 723-1212.