Title IX

Queens College, City University of New York, is a recipient of federal financial assistance for educational programs and activities, and in accordance with the provisions of the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which states, ”Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. The principal objective of Title IX is to avoid the use of federal money to support sex discrimination in education programs and to provide individual citizens effective protection against those practices” (see: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq.). Title IX applies to all departments, programs, and activities, on and off campus, available to students, in addition to employment. Title IX prohibits all inter/intrapersonal sexual misconduct, harassment, assault and violence.

The Title IX office receives and responds to incident reports and matters of concern; documents and tracks all investigative materials; conducts thorough unbiased investigations and provides interim accommodations and measures (academic and personal) regarding all inter/intrapersonal sexual misconduct, assaults, stalking, harassment, domestic violence incidents/matters for the campus community (students, staff, faculty, visitors). Title IX also identifies and addresses any patterns or systemic challenges revealed by reports, incidents or investigations.

Key points:

  • Applies to students and employees, including faculty, regardless of gender identity
  • Intersects with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, New York State’s “Enough is Enough” Law, the Clery Act, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and CUNY’s Non-Discrimination Policy
  • Is actionable under Title IX, but conduct that is not severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive might be actionable under NYS law, NYC regulations, or CUNY policy

Reporting Sex Discrimination

  1. Contact the Title IX Coordinator
  2. Review the Intake Form
  3. Gather your evidence

Goals of Initial Title Interview

  1. Ensure you are safe from further harm
  2. Collect information about the incident
  3. Inform you of supportive measures available to you

Supportive Measures

Supportive measures and accommodations are individualized services designed to restore or preserve equal access to education and to:

  • ensure safety
  • prevent retaliation
  • avoid an ongoing hostile environment

Supportive measures and accommodations are available to you, regardless of whether you decide to move forward with an investigation or resolution of a matter you report to the OCD or Title IX Coordinator.

 

Section VIII of CUNY’s Policy on Sexual Misconduct discusses supportive measures and accommodations in more detail, including a range of supportive measures and accommodations that may be available to you. The below list contains some of these supportive measures, but this list is not exhaustive, nor are they appropriate in all cases.
 
  • Counseling (confidential to the extent possible)
  • Health services
  • Course-related adjustments
  • Campus escort services
  • Mutual restrictions on contact between you and the alleged offender
  • Class or work schedule changes
  • Changes to work locations
  • Changes to campus housing locations
  • Leaves of absence
  • Increased security measures

Training Resources

Our team has been trained on Title IX, New York’s “Enough is Enough Law”, and the Clery Act by organizations such as the State University of New York’s (SUNY) Student Conduct Institute. Each QC employee also completes ESPARC training annually. Those with additional employment complete the mandatory NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention training, and some of our staff members have specialized training in:

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Employment Law and Mediation
  • Ethno-Religious Mediation

All QC students complete the online SPARC training every year. If you’re looking for customized training in person or online for yourself or a campus organization, please see our Compliance and Diversity Training pages.

Protection from Retaliation

CUNY and QC prohibits retaliation. This includes adverse treatment of an individual as a result of that individual’s:

  • reporting sexual misconduct
  • assisting someone to report sexual misconduct
  • opposing in a reasonable manner an act or policy believed to constitute sexual misconduct
  • participating in any manner (or refusing to participate) in an investigation or resolution under this policy

Adverse treatment includes intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by this policy. All individuals are prohibited from engaging in retaliation, including complainants, respondents, and others, such as friends or relatives of the parties.