What is Title IX?

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) enforces, among other statutes, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex/gender in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that:  “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.”

Prohibited conduct under Title IX includes Disparate Treatment Discrimination; Disparate Impact Discrimination; Discriminatory Harassment;  Sex-based Harassment, such as Quid Pro Quo, Hostile Environment Harassment, and Sexual Assault, including Rape, Sodomy, Sexual Assault with an object, Fondling, Incest, and Statutory Rape; Dating Violence; Domestic Violence; Stalking; Sexual exploitation, including Sexual Voyeurism, Prostituting another person, Knowingly soliciting a minor for sexual activity, and Sex trafficking; Retaliation; and Unauthorized Disclosure.

The Scope of Title IX

The Title IX policy applies to all faculty, staff, employees, students and other individuals participating in or attempting to participate in our education programs and activities, including but not limited to contractors, vendors, visitors, guests, or other third parties. The policy may be applied to incidents, patterns or practices, and/or institutional culture/climate. The policy also applies to our education programs and activities, circumstances where we have disciplinary authority, and to misconduct occurring within any building owned or controlled by an officially recognized student organization. The policy shall apply on and off CSCU campus property, at CSCU-sponsored activities, and at activities conducted by officially recognized student organizations. This also applies to conduct that occurs online and through other forms of electronic communication and social media.

Who is the WCSU Title IX Coordinator?

The Title IX Coordinator is Jennifer Labate, J.D., and the Deputy Title IX Coordinator is Scott Towers, M.S. The Title IX Office is located within the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Old Main Room 302, on the Midtown Campus.  To contact the Title IX Office, please email TIXCoordinator@wcsu.edu or call 203-837-8444.

They coordinate the System’s compliance with federal, state, and other civil rights laws and policies. They are responsible for providing comprehensive nondiscrimination education and training; coordinating a timely, thorough, and fair Resolution Process of all alleged prohibited conduct under this Policy; and monitoring the effectiveness of this Policy and related procedures to ensure that CSCU‘s education and employment environments are free from discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation.

They also provide information on available options, including supportive measures like No Contact Orders, residential changes and class accommodations.