Title IX

What is Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681) is an all-encompassing federal law that prohibits discrimination based on the gender of students and employees of educational institutions which receive federal financial assistance.

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..." 20 U.S.C. § 1681

Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment, rape, and sexual assault. A college or university that receives federal funds may be held legally responsible when it knows about and ignores sexual harassment or assault in its programs or activities. The university can be held responsible in court whether the harassment is committed by a faculty member, staff or student.

Enforcement of Title IX

The United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is in charge of enforcing Title IX. Information regarding the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) can be found at: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html.