What is Title IX?

Do you know your IX?

Title IX is a landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. Title IX is not just about sports; it is a prohibition against sex-based discrimination in education. It addresses discrimination against pregnant and parenting students. It also addresses sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, and sexual violence. Sexual violence includes attempted or completed rape or sexual assault, as well as sexual harassment, stalking, voyeurism, exhibitionism, verbal or physical sexuality-based threats or abuse, and intimate partner violence.

Title IX does not apply to female students only. Title IX protects any person from sex-based discrimination. Female, male, transgender, and gender non-conforming students, faculty, and staff are protected from any sex-based discrimination, harassment, or violence.

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.

The College’s Commitment to Title IX Compliance

Kapi‘olani Community College (Kapi‘olani CC) is committed to maintaining and promoting safe, respectful campus environments that are free from discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence. The University of Hawai‘i is committed to maintaining and promoting safe and respectful campus environments that are free from sex discrimination and gender-based violence.  This includes sex discrimination; sexual harassment; gender-based harassment, including harassment based on actual or perceived sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; sexual exploitation; sexual assault; domestic violence; dating violence; and stalking. These forms of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct are prohibited by law and are serious offenses that violate the basic standards of behavior expected of members of the Kapi‘olani CC community. Such conduct substantially interferes with a person’s civil rights to equal opportunity in employment, education, and/or access to Kapi‘olani CC programs, activities, and services, whether on­ or off-campus. The College will take appropriate action to prevent sex discrimination, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, sexual exploitation, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Kapi‘olani Community College’s Statement on Non­-Retaliation

The law prohibits retaliation against an individual for opposing any practices forbidden under this policy EP 1.204 (pdf), for bringing a complaint of discrimination or harassment, for assisting someone with such a complaint, for attempting to stop such discrimination or harassment, or for participating in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a complaint of discrimination or harassment. It is central to the values of Kapi‘olani CC that any student, employee, or community member who believes they (or another individual) may have been the target of unlawful discrimination or harassment, feels free to report their concerns for an appropriate investigation and response, without fear of retaliation or retribution. Inquiries concerning Kapi‘olani CC’s policies and procedures on sexual harassment and sexual assault may be made to the Title IX Coordinator, Devon Ishii Peterson, JD, (808) ­734-9542 or at devon@hawaii.edu.

UH Policies, Procedures & Guidelines

UH’s Executive Policy (1.204 Policy and Procedural Guidelines on Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking) provides guidance on compliance with the complex and inter­related requirements of sex discrimination and sexual violence laws that cover students, employees and third parties including both on-­campus and off­-campus situations. More specifically, it incorporates the requirements and spirit of the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act of 2013.