Title IX and Gender Based Violence

Diversity and Title IX

On this page:

Overview

Victim-survivors are in every walk of life. They can be people of color, LGBTQA, devoutly religious, have disabilities, speak English as a second language, come from working-class communities, or from intergenerational wealth. Sometimes identity makes it more challenging to report gender-based harassment and sexual misconduct.

Myths and stereotypes can magnify the sexual vulnerability of people who have experienced discrimination because they may have had experiences that make them less trusting of institutions that are designed to help survivors. Sometimes survivors feel that they are betraying their community by reporting, or that their experience will be used to support more stereotyping and discrimination. Dealing with prejudices and 'isms' is difficult at times, but it is even more challenging when trying to recover from trauma.

Five Tips for Being an Ally

International and Immigrant Resources

If you are an international student victim, you are protected under Title IX and the Clery Act just like any American student. This means that you have the right to receive support and resources, file a complaint, and/or report to campus or local police. Your student visa status may not be used to intimidate, force, or coerce your decision to report or not.  Most student visas require a full course load (usually 12 units) in order to maintain eligibility. If you are struggling to maintain eligibility due to survivor trauma, the Office of Student Support Services may be able to assist with the university procedures for course load reductions.

University Center for International Education

The University Center for International Education can provide useful information regarding immigration status and referrals to campus support services. Questions regarding changes to other visa statuses, or legal options that fall outside of standard F-1 and J-1 student visas, or employer-sponsored work visas, may require consultation with student legal services or a qualified immigration attorney.

Student Legal Services

There may be other visa options for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, including VAWA petitions, U and T visas. Student Legal Services may be able to assist you with this paperwork and/or a referral to an immigration attorney.

Additional Resources 

LGBTQA Resources

Transgender students, staff & faculty: Pursuant to the guidance of the US Department of Education and the US Department of Justice as well as the University’s non-discrimination policy, WSU treats a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex for the purpose of Title IX. This means that WSU will not treat a transgender student differently from the way it treats other students of the same gender identity. Under Title IX, there is no medical diagnosis or treatment requirement that students must meet as a prerequisite to being treated consistent with their gender identity.

  • Restrooms: Wright State permits students to use the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity. Additionally, the university offers universal access restrooms. View a list of all gender and universal access restrooms.
  • Gender Inclusive Housing: Wright State is working to provide gender-inclusive housing options to students.
  • Chosen Names and Pronouns: Wright State is working to provide options for students to utilize chosen names and pronouns. Learn more about name changes.

Other helpful Resources:

Male Resources

People of Color Resources

Pregnant and Parenting Resources

Pregnancy is specially protected in Wright State University’s Non-Discrimination Policy which specifically states, “Wright State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, national ancestry, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military service or veteran status, mental or physical disability, or genetic information in employment, admission, treatment, or access to its programs or activities.” The Policy also indicates that it shall adhere to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity/affirmative action statuses and regulations.  

While the University does not specifically provide for procedures when a pregnant or parenting student has experienced discrimination, the guidance from the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights is particularly instructive.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is responsible for enforcing laws prohibiting discrimination in federally assisted programs and activities. These laws include Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs or activities. All public and private educational institutions that receive any federal financial assistance (“schools”) must comply with this law. Title IX protects students in all of the academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs or activities of schools. This includes pregnant and parenting students.

ED’s regulation implementing Title IX specifically prohibits discrimination against a student based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions.  Under Title IX, it is illegal for schools to exclude a pregnant or parenting student from participating in any part of an educational program.   In addition, a school must excuse a student’s absences because of pregnancy or childbirth for as long as the student’s doctor deems medically necessary. When a student returns to school, they must be allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before their medical leave began.

Of note, the Office for Civil Rights specifically addresses how to handle absences and missed work due to pregnancy or childbirth in their June 25, 2013 Dear Colleague Letter and accompanying pamphlet.  In accordance with Title IX, when a student returns to school, they must be reinstated to the status they held when the leave began, which should include giving them the opportunity to make up any work missed. A school may offer the student alternatives to making up missed work, such as retaking a semester or allowing the student additional time in a program to continue at the same pace and finish at a later date. The student should be allowed to choose how to make up the work. Should teachers at the school have their own policies about attendance and make-up work, the school must ensure that the policies and practices of individual teachers do not discriminate against pregnant students.

Resources

Religious Resources

Resources for Persons with Disabilities

Campus Resources

Wright State University Office of Disability Services

Campus ADA Coordinator: 

Tom Webb
​Wright State University
University Hall 180
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH 45435-0001
(937) 775-5680
ada@wright.edu

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations

National Resources

Disability and Abuse Project

Veteran Resources

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses the term “military sexual trauma” or “MST” to refer to sexual assault or sexual harassment during military service and has services available to assist Veterans in their recovery from MST. 

  • Veterans can receive free treatment for mental and physical health conditions related to their experiences of MST at every VA medical facility.  Veterans do not need to have documentation of their experiences and may be able to receive care even if they are not eligible for other VA services.
  • Veterans can apply for disability compensation for any current difficulties that are related to their service, including difficulties related to MST.

Other resources are:

Quick Escape