legal help for DC Student-Survivors Under Title IX
Information for DC College Students on the new Title IX regulations
On August 1, 2024, Department of Education (DOE)’s new Title IX regulations went into effect. Title IX Regulations are the rules a school must follow in creating their campus policies - they dictate what a school can and cannot do.
If the misconduct occurred prior to August 1, 2024, the 2020 regulations will still apply. Additionally, some DC Universities are exempted from complying with the 2024 regulations due to ongoing litigation. Student-survivors should clarify with their schools Title IX Office which regulations and policy would apply.
Here are a few big changes:
The definition of “Hostile Environment Harassment” has been changed to include more misconduct
Misconduct that occurs off campus, must still be addressed if it results in a hostile environment within the school’s disciplinary authority
Schools must address complaints of sex-based discrimination if the complainant was participating or trying to participate in school at the time of the incident (rather than the time of filing)
For sex-based harassment involving one or more students, the school must:
Interview each party of witness in individual meetings OR
Have a live hearing (cross examination conducted by the parties’ advisors is allowed, but not required)
If you are a DC college student considering filing a Title IX complaint with your school or have started the grievance process and you are wondering how these rules may affect your case, please reach out to NVRDC.
Do you have more questions about Title IX at your school? Check out NVRDC’s Weekly Title IX Clinic for DC University Survivors. Student-survivors can schedule a free phone call with a DC Title IX attorney here: https://nvrdcphoneclinic.as.me/tix
Are you a DC student-survivor that wants help from a lawyer on a Title IX case?
As part of our Civil Legal Services, NVRDC provides free Title IX (Title 9) & Clery Act legal services to adult survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner and dating violence, and stalking who attend school in DC. We assist students seeking services related to being a victim of sexual assault, intimate partner/dating violence, or stalking in the following ways:
Brief Advice:
An attorney will give an overview of the Title IX process at the student’s DC university. This advice may include:
information about on-campus resources and accommodations;
steps for filing a student conduct complaint on campus;
the process for filing a complaint against the student’s school with the Department of Education; and/or alternative legal options (like filing a police report, or requesting a civil protection order).
An attorney can also discuss with a student-survivor the pros and cons of proceeding with a Title IX action and ask about any additional concerns the survivor might have.
Full-Representation:
Legal representation by a member of our legal team. Representation includes
Assisting the client with requests for reasonable accommodations through the university’s Title IX office (which may include such things as changing the student’s class or moving into a different dorm room);
Assisting the client with filing a Title IX complaint at a DC college or university; and/or
Representing the client as an adviser during the DC school’s student conduct process.
Want NVRDC to come to your campus to talk about the protections for student-survivors under Title IX and the Clery Act? Check-out our Know Your Rights trainings>>