Dear Pitzer Community,
This morning, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, released new Title IX regulations that affect how colleges and universities must respond to reports of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking. The regulations go into effect on August 14, 2020.
We will be carefully reviewing the new regulations over the coming weeks, and consulting with counsel and our Title IX Coordinator to determine what changes are required to our existing policies to comply with the new regulations. Compliance is required to receive any federal funding, including student federal financial aid.
Based on our initial review, it appears that some changes will be necessary to our staff, faculty and student policies and procedures. We will be communicating with you about these policy changes and soliciting community input about potential changes that are optional rather than mandatory. As we work through these policy changes, we will continue to ensure a fair and equitable complaint process that upholds the rights of all parties.
I recognize that the Supreme Court also will decide three cases in the coming weeks that will have significant consequences for gay, lesbian, queer, and transgender people and communities. I want to take this moment to remind everyone that regardless of any changes to federal law, Pitzer College remains fully committed to ensuring an educational and working environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on sex, gender or sexual orientation, or any other prohibited basis under California or federal law. We also continue to strongly encourage every community member to report any sex discrimination or harassment to our Title IX Coordinator, Corinne Vorenkamp ([email protected] or 909.607.2958).
Melvin L. Oliver
President
