What is Title IX?
Title IX of the Education Amendments is a federal civil rights law that forbids discrimination on the premise of gender in federally funded educational institutions. Basically, Title IX enforces the notion that every student or college employee regardless of whether they are a man, a woman, or are gay, lesbian or transgender, are entitled to the protection and opportunities that funded colleges and universities have promised them. Since the vast majority of higher education institutions - both private and public - receive some form of financial support from the government, most schools across the nation are obligated to comply with this law.
Title IX is usually referenced in terms of intercollegiate sports; specifically, the unfair treatment of genders in intercollegiate sports (scholarships, access to programs, funding, etc.). However, its applicability extends to several other areas in college settings. Students or employees who have acquired Title IX charges may be involved in the following cases:
- Sexual misconduct and harassment
- Sexual violence, including, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse, or sexual coercion
- Unjust school policies
- Employment discrimination
- Bullying
- Student and employee opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related programs and fields
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct
In recent years, Title IX's applicability in sexual misconduct cases has taken the nation by storm. Talk of school processes and disciplinary action (or the lack thereof) have been expressed by an abundance of people. Under Title IX, sexual misconduct is considered gender-based discrimination, which means that schools are required to handle these cases by investigating, reprimanding and even aiding in prosecuting students who are found guilty of these crimes. And the stakes are high for higher education institutions who comply with Title IX. The Department of Education has clearly stated that if schools do not appropriately handle these cases, they may be in violation Title IX.
In the event that a school is in violation of Title IX, the institution will be obligated to repair the issue that was listed in a complaint. Schools have been caught doing a number of inappropriate things such as destroying evidence to purposely disadvantage a student or prevent a party from receiving afforded resources, such as access to a school psychiatrist or counselor. Upon the discovery of this mistreatment, institutions may face the penalty of losing a portion, or in serious circumstances, the entirety of the funding that is provided by the federal government.
Representation
Knowledgeable attorneys with LLF Law Firm represent clients who believe that their Title IX rights have been violated. This entails:
Student defendants: students who have been accused sexual misconduct or other crimes that are contrary to their school's code of conduct will need an attorney to guide them through Title IX's complex processes.
College and university employees: Coaches, faculty, professors, graduate assistants, teaching assistants etc. may have received notification of Title IX charges and need an attorney to protect their rights.
Philadelphia Title IX Attorney
If you are an employee or student of a college or university and are facing allegations concerning discriminatory actions, you should immediately consult with an attorney who is well-versed in Title IX policies and processes. Skilled legal professionals at LLF Law Firm have experience representing people who have been in your predicament. Contact LLF Law Firm today for help.
The following links provide information regarding how individual Philadelphia colleges and universities handle allegations of sexual assault and Title IX sexual misconduct against accused students (Philadelphia Title IX campus disciplinary cases generally follow a similar process for both accused students and accused employees depending on the college or university involved):
