Know Your Rights

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination - which includes sexual violence - in educational programs and activities. All public and private schools, school districts, colleges and universities receiving federal funding must comply with Title IX. All students have Title IX rights. If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual violence, here are some things to know:

  • Schools must respond promptly and effectively to sexual violence.
  • Schools must provide interim measures as necessary.
  • Schools should make known where students can find confidential support services.
  • Schools must conduct adequate, reliable, and impartial investigations.
  • Schools must provide remedies as necessary.

The Federal Campus Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights:

  • Survivors shall be notified of their options to notify law enforcement.
  • Accuser and accused must have the same opportunity to have others present.
  • Both parties shall be informed of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding.
  • Survivors shall be notified of counseling services.
  • Survivors shall be notified of options for changing academic and living situations.

The Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights was signed into law by President George Bush in July of 1992. This law requires that all colleges and universities (both public and private) participating in federal student aid programs afford secual assault victims certain basic rights. Schools found to have violated this law can be fined up to $35,000 or lost their eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs. Complaints about schools that have failed to comply with this law should be made to the U.S. Department of Education. The "Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights" exists as a part of the campus security reporting requirements, commonly known as the Jeanne Clery Act. Visit the UHM Department of Public Safety for the campus Annual Security Report.


UHM Office of Title IX
Jennifer Solidum Rose JD
Executive Director, UH Office of Equity Assurance
Interim Title IX Coordinator
Hawaii Hall #112
(808) 956-2299
Email: t9uhm@hawaii.edu


Anyone experiencing harassment or discrimination also always have the right to file a grievance with government authorities:

Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Seattle Office
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
915 Second Avenue Room 3310
Seattle, WA 98174-1099
Telephone: 206-607-1600
Fax: 206-607-1601
TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR.Seattle@ed.gov
www.ed.gov/ocr

U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Educational Opportunities Section, PHB
Washington, D.C. 20530
Telephone: 202-514-4092 or 877-292-3804 (toll-free)
Fax: 202-514-8337
Email: education@usdoj.gov