Title IX Fall Semester Updates
Lewis & Clark has released a new Interim Sex Discrimination, Harassment, and Misconduct Policy under Title IX. Read more for details about the changes and how to provide feedback.
This policy reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment for all members of our community. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Our updated policy has been developed to enhance protections against sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of sex discrimination, ensuring compliance with the latest federal regulations and best practices. (Incidents that occurred prior to August 1, 2024, will continue to be resolved under the prior Sexual Misconduct Policy.
As a result of the rapid turnaround required for implementation, the 2024-2025 Sexual Misconduct Policy was developed to serve as an interim policy for the academic year. During the 2024-2025 academic year, we will form a Title IX Policy task force to refine and finalize the policy and will hold multiple opportunities for stakeholders to provide feedback and suggestions before crafting a finalized Sexual Misconduct Policy which will be implemented for the 2025-2026 academic year. This will allow us to remain compliant with federal regulations, while also giving us some additional time to gather community input.
We welcome your feedback about the new policy. To facilitate this, we will be convening at least two groups to gain a deeper understanding of the policy during the fall semester and to provide substantive feedback throughout the fall and spring semesters.
We are requesting that students, faculty, and staff who are willing to provide feedback to reach out to me directly (at lmakin-byrd@lclark.edu or titlenine@lclark.edu) by September 25 to join this working group. We anticipate that the working group will take approximately 4-5 hours a semester. We will also provide a survey in the spring semester for all campus constituents to complete, so that everyone has the opportunity to provide feedback, even if you are not able to participate in the working group.
Key components of the new policy include:
- Clear Definitions: Comprehensive definitions of prohibited conduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
- Reporting Procedures: Clear procedures for reporting incidents, ensuring privacy and support for all parties involved.
- Supportive Measures: A commitment to providing supportive measures for individuals affected by sexual misconduct.
- Fair Process: Equitable procedures for investigation and resolution of complaints, ensuring a fair process for all parties.
- Pregnancy Support: Additional resources available to those experiencing pregnancy.
We encourage all members of our community to familiarize themselves with the new policy and take advantage of the resources available. You can review the Title IX policy on our website.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Title IX Coordinator at lmakin-byrd@lclark.edu or titlenine@lclark.edu.
