Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects students and employees who are impacted by sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. When these behaviors occur, and a formal complaint is made, the college is obligated to address and remedy them and ensure that no one is denied effective access to the educational programs of the college.

Edmonds College has jurisdiction requirements that must be followed to determine whether a complaint falls within Title IX or is to be addressed within other college policies and procedures. Complainants are well-protected by the regulations in terms of supportive measures that are offered by the college to address the impact of sex offenses. Complainants and respondents are each entitled to an advisor of their choosing throughout the resolution process, and the college will provide this advisor to each party, when requested, to assist in the questioning of witnesses at a hearing.  The regulations also create options for alternative dispute resolution. To protect the due process rights of respondents, the college is required to use a formal complaint process for certain types of allegations. That formal process includes an investigation, a live hearing, questioning of the parties through their advisors, a determination by an objective decision-maker, and an appeal. 

The college has worked to balance the rights of all parties, and to create a process that is fair, transparent, and compliant.  The college must also comply with state laws and a federal law called the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Section 304, which also protects college community members when they experience sex offenses.