Sex Discrimination (Sexual Misconduct)
It is the policy of Salisbury University (SU) to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which protects individuals from discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. Any form of sex discrimination (which includes acts of sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual violence) is prohibited by Title IX. Retaliation for asserting claims of sex discrimination is also prohibited under Title IX.
Pursuant to Title IX, “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…” Some of these programs and activities include: admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, athletics, housing and employment.
As a recipient of federal funds, SU has an obligation to operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. More important is SU’s own mandate of equal opportunity, inclusiveness and nondiscrimination in employment and educational opportunities. The Office of Institutional Equity supports Salisbury University in its compliance and enforcement efforts by serving as an integral resource for Title IX issues. The Office of Institutional Equity partners with other SU departments and offices to assist in their Title IX compliance efforts.
The Office of Institutional Equity also provides assistance by serving as an entry point for Title IX complaints of discrimination. The objective of the complaint handling process is to resolve the complaint of discrimination in a fair and appropriate manner, as promptly as possible. Important components of the process include ascertaining the basis for the complaint and identifying strategies or tools for its resolution.
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is the division of the federal government charged with enforcing compliance with Title IX. Information regarding OCR can be found at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html