Updated Title IX Resource Guide Issued Reinforcing Institutional Roles and Responsibilities

The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) recently sent Dear Colleague letters to all college presidents and Title IX Coordinators reminding them of their institutions’ obligations to prohibit sex discrimination in educational programs and activities.

The letters are accompanied by an updated Title IX Resource Guide, which details the responsibilities and authority of Title IX Coordinators on their campus. The guide highlights the need to properly designate and train a full-time Title IX Coordinator who reports directly to the president; effectively ensures compliance with laws and regulations; responds to complaints; participates in complaint investigations; is visible throughout the school community; and assesses the campus climate.

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for, and has authority over, compliance with laws and regulations; ensuring the institution has in place appropriate administrative and grievance policies and procedures; collecting and reporting information about the school climate; and applying Title IX rules to various issues on college campuses.

Throughout the Resource Guide, the Department makes it clear that Title IX covers an institutions’ “community,” which includes students, parents, employees, and applicants for admission or employment.