The future of Title IX may be uncertain in Washington, but on campus, the message from the Simmons administration to students is clear: resources are available, you will be supported, and seeking help should never feel scary.
“We never want it to feel like an intimidating process,” said Sara Simberg, Simmons University’s Title IX Coordinator. “Students should always feel they can reach out to learn more or seek supportive measures, and it will remain within their autonomy.”
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, in federally funded education programs.
The purpose of campus Title IX offices is “to ensure that there is a centralized place where individuals who have been impacted can come for support and information,” said Simberg.
The political climate heavily influences Title IX policies. Each administration attempts to strengthen, broaden, or limit the law.
During the Obama administration, a 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter outlined institutions’ obligations to protect students from sexual harassment. In 2020, the Trump administration implemented formal regulations for the grievance process. The Biden administration later attempted to broaden these rules and include explicit protections for transgender students, but those regulations were struck down by a federal judge earlier this year.
“Federal law that regulates universities and colleges is a double-edged sword,” said Sam Hayes, Professor of Practice and expert in American government and politics. “It has the potential for an equalizing effect for all federally funded schools, but on the other hand, it gives people in charge of the federal government a lot of power over how it’s enforced.”
Simmons is currently operating under the 2020 standards. These regulations focus primarily on how schools must respond to allegations of sexual harassment, with less emphasis on other forms of sex-based discrimination.
Simberg emphasized that the Title IX office continues to provide support in areas not explicitly named in the policy. Simmons provides resources for sexual orientation and gender identity, despite them not being clearly defined under current regulations.
She points to Appendix A, or the Alternate Grievance Process, found in Simmons’ Sexual Harassment Policy. The appendix runs alongside the official Title IX policy and covers additional circumstances, such as sexual harassment involving students studying abroad. “We recognize there are just times where the Title IX regulations don’t fully encompass all of the different circumstances where students may need support around sexual harassment,” Simberg said.
Each August, students receive an email outlining updates in the university’s annual sexual harassment policy. Students are also informed about Title IX updates through peer education programs, such as Betsy’s Friends.
