What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits educational institutions from discriminating against anyone on the basis of sex. Title IX states that:
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 applies to any institution receiving federal financial assistance, including state and local educational agencies. Educational programs and activities that receive federal funds from the Department of Education must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. Also, a recipient may not retaliate against any person for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy, or because a person made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title IX.
The College’s Title IX Coordinator is the official designated by GRCC to ensure compliance with this policy on behalf of the College. This includes ensuring compliance with Title IX and GRCC’s Title IX program, as well as all other applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Title IX Coordinator maintains the primary responsibility for ensuring appropriate education and training, and for coordinating the College’s efforts related to the intake, investigation, resolution and implementation of supportive measures to stop, remediate and prevent sexual harassment, retaliation, and other conduct prohibited under GRCC’s Title IX policy.
Title IX Policy & Requirements
GRCC addresses allegations of violations of Title IX under GRCC's 6.5 Title IX policy. The full text of this policy can be located on GRCC's policies website.
Under Title IX, Grand Rapids Community College is required to:
- Address all sex discrimination in its education programs or activities. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and includes: quid pro quo harassment, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence.
- Address sexual harassment which occurs in its education program or activities. This includes investigation and resolving cases of sexual harassment promptly and in accordance with federal, state, and local law, as well as providing support to students and employees who experience sexual harassment.
- Support students and employees who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking and sexual harassment outside GRCC's education program or activity.
Complaints about incidents of any of these forms of gender discrimination should be reported to:
Lisa Thomas, Ed.D.
Director of Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
lisathomas2@grcc.edu or titleix@grcc.edu
(616) 234-2353 or (616) 234-4999
or any of GRCC's Deputy Coordinators.