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Title IX

Federal Title IX requirements apply to education institutions, such as universities, that accept financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Title IX, adopted by Congress in 1972 and since amended, is enforced by DOE's Office of Civil Rights.

Title IX is probably best known as it applies to gender equity in Athletics — ensuring that female and male athletes have equal protection.

However, Title IX has broader protections. For example, Title IX seeks to protect students against sex discrimination, sexual harassment (which may include acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping), and sexual violence in educational programs and activities.

Institutions must establish and disseminate a Title IX policy, as well as complaint reporting and investigation procedures for responding to Title IX complaints. In addition, once an institution knows or reasonably should know about sexual harassment, including sexual harassment that is creating a hostile climate, Title IX requires the institution to take immediate action to eliminate the harassment, prevent its recurrence and address its effects.

For more information specifically on Title IX and its implementation please see below: