Amherst College Report of the Title IX Review Committee 2020 - 2021

Amherst’s Title IX Review Committee, composed of students, staff, and faculty, met regularly throughout the academic year 2020-2021.  Its primary focus this year was the College’s newly implemented Interim Title IX Policy and Interim Title IX Grievance Process

In the fall, the Committee endeavored to learn about the policy and grievance process and to more fully understand the recent political and legal landscape regarding how colleges and universities must respond to reported instances of harassment and violence based on sex and gender.  The Committee focused on the development of law, practice, and College policy in this field from 2011 to the present, including the 2020 Title IX sexual harassment regulations that required significant changes to College policies.  

In the spring, the Committee planned and hosted (via Zoom) four community sessions: April 15, 2021 (open to all community members); April 16 (open to faculty and staff); April 16 (open to students); April 19 (open to faculty and staff).  These sessions were well-marketed on Amherst webpages, in the Daily Mammoth, and on some student group social media.  Three of the four sessions had no community attendees.  One session had one staff attendee.  No community members corresponded with the Title IX office or committee members to discuss the topic or to provide their feedback.

This spring also brought information of more likely shifts in the Title IX legal landscape.  In March 8, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order ordering a review of agency guidance related to Title IX and indicating that both a public hearing on the 2020 Title IX regulations, new guidance on the enforcement of those regulations, and notice of likely changes to those regulations are forthcoming.  On May 17, 2021, the Department of Education issued a Notice of Hearing, providing public hearing dates on Title IX and also welcoming written comments from all interested persons, for the purpose of “gather[ing] information for the purpose of improving enforcement of Title IX.”

Given the clear indication from the Department of Education that changes are forthcoming that are likely to affect Amherst’s Title IX policies and procedures and in light of the College’s interest in providing as much clarity and certainty around possible complicated issues related to reporting and responding to sexual harassment and violence on campus, in early May the Title IX Review Committee voted to recommend that the College maintain its current Interim Title IX Policy as we await new guidance and likely changes from the federal government.

Signed,

Members of the 2020- 2021 Title IX Review Committee

 

Dwight Carey

Assistant Professor of Art and the History of Art

Karu Kozuma

Chief Student Affairs Office (Committee Chair)

Ceclia Curran

Student, Class of 2024

Victoria Kuntz

Student, Class of 2023

Ilyssa Forman

Student, Class of 2022

Jxhn Martin

Director, Queer Resource Center

Laurie Frankl

Title IX Coordinator

Eboni Rafus-Brenning

Director, Multicultural Resource Center

Heidi Kellogg

Supervisor of Events and Support Services

Jessica Reyes

Professor of Economics

Lauren Kelly

Sexual Respect Educator