Title IX: Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex
At OHSU, we are committed to building a community that is free of sex and gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation related to sex and gender. OHSU complies with Title IX and related laws.
This page offers information about:
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity) discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Title IX prohibits sex and gender discrimination and sexual misconduct, including:
- Sexual violence or partner/relationship violence
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual exploitation (including revenge porn, sharing of personal or nude images without consent, and voyeurism)
- Stalking or bullying (physical and media/electronic)
- Different standards or outcomes based on gender
- Different treatment based on pregnancy or parenting status
In line with Title IX, OHSU prohibits sex and gender discrimination in education programs, activities, employment, and admissions.
If you or another OHSU community member are the target of sexual misconduct or gender discrimination, we encourage you to submit a report to OCIC. You can also get confidential support.
OCIC’s Title IX coordinator is specially trained to address concerns around Title IX compliance. Please reach out with any questions.
- Angela Fleischer, M.S.W., LCSW, CFP-A, (she/her/hers), Title IX Coordinator: titleix@ohsu.edu or 503-494-5148
- The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights: 800-421-3481
Your rights
Survivors of sexual misconduct, harassment, gender discrimination and other crimes have rights. These rights can vary from state to state. Knowing your rights will help you to make informed decisions.
Your rights include:
- Both the accuser and the accused can have others present during the investigation process.
- The Confidential Advocacy Program can accompany you to any proceedings and provide support and advocacy.
- Both parties are informed of the outcome of disciplinary proceedings.
- Survivors are informed of counseling services.
- For students: Student Health and Wellness Center.
- For employees: Employee Assistance Program.
- Survivors are informed of their options to notify law enforcement.
- Survivors are told of options for changing academic and living situations.
- The Confidential Advocacy Program has resources and support services if you have safety, academic, professional or other concerns.
- Survivors have the right to a forensic medical exam free of charge.
- Survivors are informed of the standing of sexual assault evidence:
- Any results of a sexual assault evidence kit.
- Policies governing the kit’s collection and preservation.
- Notice if the government intends to destroy the kit after the statutory limitations period or 20 years have passed.
- Survivors can request in writing to have sexual assault evidence preserved longer.
History of the Clery Act: Fact Sheet, Congressional Research Service (October 2014)
Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act of 2016
Report to Congress, Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act Working Group (October 2018)
Survivors Bill of Rights in the States Act (2023)
Title IX and other related laws
Title IX is a federal law that was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. It states:
“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.”
This law applies to any institution, like OHSU, which receives federal financial assistance from the Department of Education. These institutions must operate in a non-discriminatory manner and may not retaliate against anyone for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy. They may not retaliate against anyone for making charges, testifying or participating in any complaint under Title IX. Sexual harassment and sexual violence are prohibited under Title IX.
Title IX amendments in 2023 updated the policy to govern access for transgender youth.
Learn more
- Title IX, U.S. Department of Education
- Questions and Answers on the Title IX regulations on Sexual Harassment, U. S. Dept. of Education, Office for Civil Rights (June 2022)
- Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (March 2022)
- FAQs about Sex Discrimination, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights
- FAQs on Title IX and Supportive Measures for Higher Education Students, National Women’s Law Center (October 2021)
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act placed requirements on American colleges and universities. They must publish and distribute an annual security report to current and prospective students and employees.
This report must include data about crime on and around their campuses, information about how they support victims of violence and the policies and procedures they use to improve campus safety.
Learn more
The Jeanne Clery Act, The Clery Center
An amendment to the Clery Act, the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act of 2013 expands protections from sexual violence and harassment for students.
Learn more
Part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII prohibits employers from discriminating against or making employment-related decisions based on sex, race, color, national origin, and religion. It generally applies to employers with 15 or more employees. The law was amended in 1978 to include pregnancy.
Learn more
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Laws We Enforce, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, U.S. Department of Justice
Toolkit for survivors
The Confidential Advocacy Program provides a range of support and guidance. This includes help with safety planning, financial assistance, systems navigation, academic support, emotional support, education and information.
Resources for safety planning:
- Plan to Safety, National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Personalized Safety Plan, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- myPlan, Free app to help with safety decisions
- Family Law Resources from the State of Oregon
- Crisis help
The Family Abuse Prevention Act provides restraining orders to protect you in cases of alleged domestic violence, harassment, stalking, or sexual assault.
Stalking is a term often used to mean unwanted, obsessive attention that would cause a reasonable person to feel threatened.
Other resources
National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline has a wide range of resources that offer help to survivors and guidance for those who care for them.
- Understand Relationship Abuse
- Power and Control
- Abuse and Cultural Context
- Warning Signs of Abuse
- Why People Abuse
- Support Others
- Plan for Safety
Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
The Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence offers a database of community-based advocacy, legal assistance programs and shelters.
Submit a report to OCIC
Questions, concerns
- Immediate crisis? Call 911 or OHSU Public Safety at 503-494-4444.
- Discrimination, harassment, retaliation: Contact ocic@ohsu.edu or 503-494-5148 and press 5.
- Sexual misconduct, gender discrimination: Contact titleix@ohsu.edu, 503-494-5148 and press 6.
- Free confidential support for handling any type of discrimination, harassment or retaliation.
- To report a concern anonymously: OHSU Integrity Hotline, 877-733-8313
Expectations for OHSU members
When it comes to discriminatory misconduct:
- OHSU employees, except designated confidential employees, must report discriminatory misconduct they hear about to OCIC or to their Human Resources business partner.
- Students are not required to report discriminatory misconduct.
- All OHSU members are encouraged to report discriminatory misconduct they experience.
- See OHSU's Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation policy for more detail.
Unsure if you need to report? Call OCIC at 503-494-5148