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Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Surry Community College (SCC) students, employees, guests and visitors have the right to be free from all forms of gender-based and sexual discrimination. These include, but are not limited to: sexual violence, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, stalking, intimate partner violence, dating violence and domestic violence. All members of the campus community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe on the rights of others. SCC has zero-tolerance for gender-based and sexual misconduct.

Any College employee informed of a gender-based or sexual misconduct incident involving students and/or other College employees is expected to inform the Title IX Coordinator immediately.

The College’s response to sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, dating violence and stalking is governed by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (otherwise known as the “Clery Act”) which was enacted in 1990, and Section 304 of the 2013 Amendments to the Violence Against Women Act.

Title IX of the Education Amendments

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination against students or employees based on sex in educational programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance. The regulations prohibit discrimination, exclusion, denial, limitation, or separation based on gender.

“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 educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Examples of programs and activities subject to Title IX protection include athletics, recruitment, admissions, financial aid, and scholarships. Under Title IX, sex discrimination also includes sexual harassment, violence, and assault.

Under Title IX, higher education institutions must:

  1. Disseminate a notice of nondiscrimination.
  2. Designate at least one employee to coordinate its efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX.
  3. Adopt and publish grievance procedures providing for the prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee sex discrimination complaints.

For more information about Title IX please visit the Office of Civil Rights.

Know Your IX

If you have experienced sexual violence, here are some things you need to know about your Title IX rights:

  1. Your school must respond promptly and effectively to sexual violence.
  2. Your school must provide interim measures.
  3. Your school should make known where you can find confidential support services.
  4. Your school must conduct an adequate, reliable, and impartial investigation.
  5. Your school must provide remedies as necessary.

For more information about your Title IX rights, view SCC's requirement to address sexual violence or visit Know Your IX.

Violence Against Women Act

The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) (Public Law 103-322) was passed on September 13, 1994. VAWA provided federal money toward the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women.

In 2014, VAWA was re-authorized, but it included some new requirements for higher education institutions. Those new requirements are known by “VAWA – Section 304” or “The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act” or by “Campus SaVE Act.” The substantial changes required reporting elements under the Clery Act, and it also placed obligations on higher education institutions to deal with issues of sexual misconduct.

Under VAWA, higher education institutions must:

  1. Report criminal offenses of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in the annual security reporting along with the other criminal offenses which the Clery Act already mandates.
  2. Adopt student procedures that define the victim’s options and rights. These procedures should also define the person the victim can report incidences of sexual misconduct.
  3. Adopt institutional policies to address and prevent campus sexual misconduct. Institutions must also educate and train their students and employees on the policies and procedures dealing with sexual misconduct, and develop ongoing prevention and awareness programs for students and employees.

For more information about VAWA please visit the Clery Center.

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