Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs, including athletic programs, or in activities that receive federal funding. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment, rape, and sexual assault.
On May 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education issued a Final Rule under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 that provided further guidelines for colleges and universities regarding their Title IX policies and processes. These new federal guidelines went into effect on August 14, 2020. A Summary of Major Provisions of the Title IX Final Rule is also available. At the request of the survivor, instances of sexual violence that do not fall under the Title IX guidelines will still be investigated by the University under the University's Code of Conduct.
Section 106.45(b) of the 2020 Final Title IX Rules requires the sharing of “All materials used to train Title IX Coordinators, investigators, decision-makers, and any person who facilitates an informal resolution process. A recipient must make these training materials publicly available on its website, or if the recipient does not maintain a website the recipient must make these materials available upon request for inspection by members of the public.” The State University of New York at Fredonia is a member of SUNY's Student Conduct Institute (SCI), and individuals who are required to receive training must complete SCI trainings prior to investigating and hearing cases.
