What is Title IX?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
(20 U.S.C. .1681 et seq.) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in
education programs receiving Federal financial assistance. Athletics are
considered an integral part of an institution's education program and are
therefore covered by this law.
Title IX states:
"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."
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education
programs or activities operated by recipients of Federal financial assistance.
Sexual harassment of students, which includes acts of sexual violence, is a
form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX. Sexual violence refers to
physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is
incapable of giving consent due to the victim’s use of drugs or alcohol. An
individual also may be unable to give consent due to an intellectual or other
disability. A number of different acts fall into the category of sexual
violence, including rape sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.
All such acts of sexual violence are forms of sexual harassment covered under
Title IX.
Who does Title IX apply to?
Title
IX applies to all educational institutions, both public and private, that
receive federal funds. This means all students, faculty and staff are protected
by Title IX.
Who is responsible for enforcing Title IX?
Compliance
with Title IX is a shared responsibility of an entire institution, from
top-level administration to individual staff members. Institutions are required
to investigate any complaints of gender discrimination. In addition, all
students and employees must be notified of the name, office address and
telephone number of the designated Title IX coordinator.
UNK’s Title IX Officer is:
Cheryl Bressington, Title IX Coordinator
1200 Founders Hall
(308) 865-8655 or bressingtonc@unk.edu
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department
of Education enforces Title IX. OCR has the authority to develop policy on the
regulations it enforces. Anyone may file an OCR complaint, and the identity of
the party who files the complaint will be kept confidential.
Kansas City Office
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2037
Kansas City, MO 64114-3302
Telephone: 816-268-0550
FAX: 816-823-1404; TDD: 877-521-2172
Email: OCR.KansasCity@ed.gov
Procedures for Filing a Complaint
If
you are faculty or staff, the procedures are found at:
http://www.unk.edu/offices/aaeo.aspx?id=1522
If
you are a student, the procedures are found at:
http://www.unk.edu/Student_Affairs/vcsa/Sexual_Assault/Harassment/