Title IX - For Faculty

Title IX is a federal civil rights law.

Title IX protects faculty, school employees, and students from gender discrimination—including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy—as well as sexual harassment and sexual violence while at school or involved in school-related programs and activities.

Here is everything you need to know about Title IX for faculty, including how it protects teachers, what is a Title IX coordinator, and what are Title IX responsible for employees.

What Is Title IX?

Title IX is a federal civil rights law that requires all schools to have a written and published policy that states gender discrimination is prohibited from all educational efforts, which includes after-school activities, athletics, and other programs in addition to the classroom.

It’s not enough to have a written policy, however. Schools are also required to distribute the information to all faculty members and employees (as well as students) and publish the procedures in a way that is easily accessible to all, be it on a website, or a poster in classrooms and administration buildings. In addition, schools must have a proper process for faculty, employees, and students to file Title IX complaints, which includes complaints of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. These must also be easily accessible to all so that faculty and students are aware of how to report Title IX violations.

How Does Title IX Protect Teachers?

Title IX doesn’t just protect students—it also protects teachers. Under Title IX law, teachers are protected against discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. All school employees have the right to follow the administration’s procedures for reporting a Title IX complaint to the designated Title IX Coordinator, as well as a right to all other protocols within the school’s policies and procedures. This also includes a right to equal opportunity when presenting their case and providing witnesses and other evidence necessary to report their situation.

If a teacher or faculty member has been accused of a Title IX violation, they also have the right to be treated fairly throughout the investigation. This includes the equal opportunity to present their case, provide witnesses, and share other evidence in their defense.

What Is a Title IX Coordinator?

Title IX protects teachers and school faculty, and it also requires further involvement from staff. Through the federal civil rights law, all schools are required to designate an employee as the Title IX Coordinator and ensure all faculty, students, and school employees receive the name and contact information of the Title IX Coordinator. This employee’s responsibilities include coordinating the school’s Title IX policies and procedures and ensuring said information is communicated to students and school employees as well as available made readily available for all to reference.

What Are Title IX Responsible Employees?

Title IX responsible employees at a school include all supervisory employees as well as those employees who regularly work with students. These employees include professors, advisors, coaches and athletic staff, public safety employees, as well as graduate research associates.

While a Title IX Coordinator is the designated person responsible for coordinating the school’s Title IX policies and procedures, all Title IX responsible employees are obligated to report any Title IX incidents to the school’s coordinator in compliance with the law. It is advised that these employees report any occurrences of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence within 24 hours of being made aware of the situation.

What to Do If You’ve Been Accused of a Title IX Violation

If you have been accused of a Title IX violation, it is important to know that such allegations are extremely serious and should be treated as such, no matter what your perception of the situation may be. If found guilty, you can face a number of consequences, including job loss, loss of license, and other life-altering decisions that could put your future on the line.

One of the most important things to do if you have been accused of a Title IX violation is to obtain an experienced attorney as soon as you receive notice of a complaint (or as soon as possible). While an attorney might not have many rights within an internal Title IX investigation, they are able to conduct their own investigation of the situation, as well as offer support and guidance, prepare you for questioning, and ensure you have a full understanding of your rights under the school’s policy and Title IX law.