Know Your Title IX: Sex Discrimination, Harassment and Assault
What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. Under Title IX, discrimination is any adverse action that unreasonably interferes with a person’s education or work environment due to the person’s sex, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or related conditions, or parenting status.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 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.”
Title IX of Education Amendments was passed by the U.S. Congress in June 1972, and signed into law on July 1, 1972. It is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities such as:
- Admissions
- Housing and facilities
- Courses and other educational activities
- Career guidance and counseling activities
- Financial aid
- Health and insurance benefits
- Scholastic, intercollegiate, club, or intramural athletics
Title IX Coordinator
For additional information about your rights under Title IX contact Amee Synnott.
asynnott@massasoit.mass.edu
(508) 588-9100 x1304
File a Complaint
If you think you may have been subjected to prohibited discrimination on the basis of one of the categories listed above, you have the right to file a complaint. For additional information about your rights under Title IX, including details about the complaint process please see the College’s Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity
File a Discrimination or Harassment Complaint
Title IX Resources
Trainings
- Pregnancy and Parenting Grand River Solutions March 2023 (PDF)
- Advisor Grand River Solutions March 2023 (PDF)
- Investigator Part 1 Grand River Solutions April 2023 (PDF)
- Investigator Part 2 Grand River Solutions April 2023 (PDF)
- Hearing Officer and Decision Maker Part 1 Grand River Solutions March 2023 (PDF)
- Hearing Officer and Decision Maker Part 2 Grand River Solutions March 2023 (PDF)
- The First Amendment and Title IX: An OCR Short Webinar
- OCR Short Webinar on How to Report Sexual Harassment under Title IX
- Conducting and Adjudicating Title IX Hearings: An OCR Training Webinar
- OCR Webinar on Due Process Protections under the New Title IX Regulations
- OCR Webinar on New Title IX Protections Against Sexual Assault
- OCR Webinar: Title IX Regulations Addressing Sexual Harassment
- Dan Schorr Title IX Training, September 2020
- Zoom call recording – 1 [00:59:56]
- Zoom call recording – 2 [02:41:15]
- Dan Schorr Title IX Slides (PDF)
Massasoit Annual Clery Report
The Jeanne Clery Act, a consumer protection law passed in 1990, requires all colleges and universities who receive federal funding to share information about crime on campus and their efforts to improve campus safety as well as inform the public of crime in or around campus. This information is made publicly accessible through the university’s annual security report.
More information about the Jeanne Clery Act
The Massasoit Community College Annual Clery Reports can be viewed on the Police Department’s page in the Crime Statistics card.
What is Consent?
Sexual intimacy requires that all participants consent to the activity. Consent between two or more people is defined as an affirmative agreement–through clear actions or words–to engage in sexual activity. The person giving the consent must act freely, voluntarily, and with an understanding of his or her actions when giving the consent. Lack of protest or resistance does not constitute consent, nor does silence mean consent has been given. Relying solely on non-verbal communication can lead to misunderstanding. Persons who want to engage in the sexual activity are responsible for obtaining consent–it should never be assumed. A prior relationship or prior sexual activity is not sufficient to demonstrate consent.
Consent must be present throughout the sexual activity–at any time, a participant can communicate that he or she no longer consents to continuing the activity. If there is confusion as to whether anyone has consented or continues to consent to sexual activity, it is essential that the participants stop the activity until the confusion can be clearly resolved.
Consent…
- is about communication.
- is an informed, voluntary, wanted, sober, mutual & verbal agreement to engage in sexual activity.
- must be asked for every step of the way. Consent for one activity does not mean consent for another.
- is never implied assumed.
- is not coerced.
- can be withdrawn at any time for any reason.
- is NOT dressing sexy, flirting, accepting a ride, a drink, etc.
- is NOT saying “yes” while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- is NOT saying “yes” because of pressure or fear.
Not Saying “No” Doesn’t Mean “Yes.”
Want more information about healthy relationships?
- Check out the following websites:
Onelove - The Antiviolence Project
- and RAINN
- 2024 Climate Survey Summary [PDF]
- Know Your IX
Founded in 2013, Know Your IX is a survivor- and youth-led organization that aims to empower students to end sexual and dating violence in their schools. - Nine Fast Facts about Sexual Assault and Title IX (PDF)
- Safe Horizon – Facts on Sexual Assault
Safe Horizon is a victim assistance nonprofit that has been standing with victims of violence and abuse in New York City since 1978. We provide assistance, advocacy and support to victims who have experienced domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, youth homelessness and other crimes.