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What is Title IX?

Mission Statement

Spelman College is committed to cultivating a campus community free from sex and gender-based discrimination and harassment, including sexual misconduct and relationship violence. Dedicated to delivering the Spelman Promise, the Title IX & Compliance Office supports this commitment through compliance efforts, promoting community accountability, responding to incidents, education and encouraging student leadership.

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that 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."

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces, among other statutes, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Learn more here.

Title IX Requirements

Title IX requires schools to take steps to prevent and remedy two forms of sex-based discrimination

Sexual harassment and sexual violence, which is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. It includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual violence is a form of sexual harassment. Sexual violence, which is non-consensual physical conduct of a sexual nature. A number of different acts fall into the category of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse, and sexual coercion.
Gender-based harassment, which is unwelcome conduct based on a person’s actual or perceived sex, including harassing conduct based on a person’s gender expression, gender identity, transgender status, gender transition, or nonconformity with sex stereotypes.