Title IX
“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.”
— Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972
Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
How to Report
Emily Zank
Title IX Coordinator
ezank@brenau.edu
770-534-6191
Located at 109 Owens Student Center Gainesville Historic Campus
What Title IX covers
The Title IX Sexual Harassment and Related Conduct Policy includes, but is not limited to:
- Gender-based harassment
- Harassment based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
- Harassment
- Conduct that creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile working or learning environment or that unreasonably interferes with work or academic performance based on a person’s protected status.
- Sex-based conduct
- Must satisfy one or more of the following: An employee of Brenau University conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service on participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive and offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s education program or activity.
- Sexual assault
- An offense classified as a forcible or non-forcible sex offense under the uniform crime reporting system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v).
- Domestic violence
- 34 USC 12291(a)(8): The term “domestic violence” includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim.
- Dating violence
- The term “dating violence” means violence committed by a person: who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors:
- The length of the relationship.
- The type of relationship.
- The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
- Stalking
- The term “stalking” means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to: fear for his or her safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress.
- Fondling
- The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim.
Title IX Process
Brenau University is committed to maintaining a living, working and educational environment free from sexual harassment, sexual violence and sex discrimination. It is the policy of Brenau to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, prohibiting discrimination based on sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) in the University’s educational programs and activities.
Brenau will not condone harassment of any kind of its students or employees. Harassment will not be tolerated however it is communicated. All employees, including supervisors, faculty and executives, will be subject to severe corrective action, up to and including discharge, for acts of sexual harassment.
The Title IX policy applies to all Brenau University faculty, staff, students and campuses. This policy is applicable to on-campus conduct and, when applicable, off-campus conduct. This policy also applies to guests and individuals conducting business on all University property.
- All victims of sexual assault have the right to a criminal investigation and are encouraged to contact the local authorities. Individuals are encouraged to call 911 if they feel they are in immediate danger.
- Any individual who feels they have been a victim of sexual misconduct should consider reporting to the Office of Campus Safety and Security and/or law enforcement.
- Once University officials have actual knowledge of Title IX complaints, written or unwritten, the University is required to investigate and to take action consistent with its policies and procedures. All faculty and staff should report any incidents of which they are aware to the Title IX coordinator.
- All faculty and staff should immediately report incidents involving students to the Title IX coordinator.
Resources
- Call 988: Call, text or chat with 988 and be connected to trained crisis counselors in the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
- Rape Response: 770-503-7273, advocate@raperesponse.com
- Georgia Crisis & Access Line: 1-800-715-4225 (24/7)
- Depression Hotline: 888-273-5174
- Self-Harm Hotline: 877-455-0628
- National Crisis Line: 800-273-8255
Please note that any time there is an emergency, while you are on campus, please contact Security at 770-534-6202.
Trainings
- 2020 – Webinar Title IX – Final Rules – Part I – Definitions Obligations (PDF)
- 2020 – Webinar – Title IX – Final Rules – Part II – PreHearing Investigations (PDF)
- 2020 – Webinar – Title IX – Final Rules – Part III – Informal and Formal Resolution (PDF)
- 2020 – Webinar – Title IX – Final Rules – Part IV – Appeals Retaliation and Record Keeping (PDF)
- 2020 – Webinar – Title IX – Final Rules – Part V – Review (PDF)
- 2020 – Webinar – Title IX – Role of Decision-Maker (PDF)
- 2020 – Webinar – Title IX – Trauma Informed Investigation and Questioning (PDF)
- 2020 – Webinar and In Person – Title IX Investigator Training – Part V – Investigation Videos (PDF)
- 2020 – Webinar and In Person – Title IX Investigator Training – Parts I II and III – Definitions Investigation Hearing Appeal (PDF)
- 2020 – Webinar and In Person -Title IX Investigator Training – Part IV – ANSI ASIS Investigation Standards (PDF)
- 2021 Title IX Hearing Panel Member Training – Posting for Institutional Website (PDF)
- 2021 Title IX Investigator Training – Posting for Institutional Website (PDF)