What Our Office Oversees
“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.”
– U.S Department of Education
Title IX and Liberty University
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Richard Nixon. It prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving any type of federal financial aid.
Title IX applies to schools, local and state educational agencies, and other institutions that receive federal financial assistance from the Department. These recipients include approximately 17,600 local school districts, over 5,000 postsecondary institutions, and charter schools, for-profit schools, libraries, and museums. Also included are vocational rehabilitation agencies and education agencies of 50 states, the District of Columbia, and territories of the United States.
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) evaluates, investigates, and resolves complaints alleging sex discrimination. OCR also conducts proactive investigations, through directed investigations or compliance reviews, to examine potential systemic violations based on sources of information other than complaints.
In addition to its enforcement activities, OCR provides information and guidance to schools, universities and other educational institutions and agencies to assist them in voluntarily complying with the law.
The Title IX process allows students, faculty, staff, and anyone on campus are able to report sex-based discrimination including sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating & domestic violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation.
Discrimination and Harassment
Protected Class Status is the race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status, or any other Protected Class Statuses under laws applicable to Liberty University.
Discrimination is conduct based upon an individual’s Protected Class Status that excludes an individual from participation, denies the individual the benefits of, treats the individual differently, or otherwise adversely affects a term or condition of an individual’s employment, education, living environment or participation in a program or activity.
Examples of unlawful discrimination include:
- Consideration of an applicant’s Protected Class Status as a negative factor in deciding whether to offer the applicant a job interview.
- Giving prohibited consideration to an individual’s Protected Class Status in deciding whether to offer an employee a promotion.
- Requiring members of protected group to meet higher standards for advancement, promotion, or grading than other employees.
- Denying a student or employee an educational activity because of his or her Protected Class Status.
Discriminatory Harassment is harmful conduct (including verbal, nonverbal, physical, emotional, and psychological conduct) based on an individual’s Protected Class Status.
Examples include but are not limited to:
Verbal Abuse
Threats or Intimidation
Bullying
Doxing
Hazing
Negative Stereotyping
Physical Abuse
Digital Abuse
Keeping Our Community Safe
Liberty University values the health and well-being of all members of our community. The Office of Equity and Compliance offers a safe, supportive, and neutral process to walk through with trained staff to help you understand your rights and options.
If you experience or witness any form of discrimination or discriminatory harassment, we encourage you to submit a report to the OEC.
Information sourced from the Department of Education
Making a Report
Make a report to the OEC if you experience or witness any form of discrimination, sex-based discrimination, and/or discriminatory harassment.
After submitting a report, a trained staff member from the OEC will be in contact with you concerning the next steps. Learn more about what happens after you report. Our OEC advisors exist to support individuals during the OEC complaint-resolution process.
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