Title IX has gone through several revisions since it was passed in 1972. Although there aren’t any major changes expected for 2016, administrators need to make sure that their institutions follow existing laws to avoid investigations.
In a letter sent to Title IX coordinators during April 2015, Catherine E. Lhamon, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, emphasized that coordinators should have the full support of their institutions. This suggests that it isn’t enough for colleges to have a Title IX coordinators; they must also make the position visible to the community and students.
By putting Title IX coordinators out front, colleges can better educate their students, professors and staff members about what constitutes discrimination and sexual assault. When the department emphasizes this role, it made a significant step towards giving Title IX coordinators the power they need to do their jobs properly.
Colleges and universities that receive federal funds are required to comply with all aspects of Title IX. This means following the law’s procedural requirements, as well as making sure that no students are discriminated against. Simply having a Title IX coordinator does not fulfill a school’s obligations.
A lot of schools have difficulty complying with Title IX. As recently as 2014, the Office for Civil Rights opened investigations on 55 schools.
Chances are, these institutions weren’t resisting compliance, but simply did not have an appropriate system in place. According to the Department of Education, schools must take several steps to ensure that students understand their rights and are fully protected from discrimination and sexual violence.
These steps include:
- Providing accommodation services to investigate complaints
- Influencing student conduct by providing adequate definitions of sexual harassment
- Reaching prompt, fair resolutions after a complaint has been made
Advocate makes it easier for institutions to follow these and other steps by:
- Streamlining case management and reporting
- Collecting important data
- Detecting problem behaviors before incidents occur
- Creating workflows to address concerns promptly
Managing behaviors on campus is never a simple task, but there are ways to improve efforts and education that will curb unwanted actions. Adding Advocate to a Title IX compliance program can help colleges give their students environments that foster higher learning while protecting them from discrimination and violence.
To get more in depth on this topic, download our white paper: “Understanding the Implications of Title IX in Higher Education”
