Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments was passed by the U.S. Congress in June 1972, and signed into law on July 1, 1972. Though most notable for advancing equity in girls and women's sports, Title IX provides federal civil rights that prohibit sex discrimination in education programs and activities such as:

  • Admissions or financial aid;
  • Housing and facilities;
  • Courses, academic research and other educational activities;
  • Career guidance, counseling or other educational support services;
  • Athletics (scholastic, intercollegiate, club, or intramural);
  • Employment, training for employment, or advancement in employment.

The protections of Title IX also extend to sexual harassment and sexual assault or violence that impairs or interferes with access to equitable educational and employment opportunities. Title IX is applicable to all members of the campus community, individuals doing business with the campus, those utilizing campus facilities, and those who engage in volunteer activities or work activities in connection with or for SUNY Delhi.

Each school must designate a Title IX administrator to review, update and implement current Title IX policies, to coordinate appropriate training and resources, and ensure effective and timely responses to complaints of sexual violence, misconduct, discrimination or harassment.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including transgender status), or national origin.

The Title IX Coordinators at SUNY Delhi are:

  • Ruth Ehrets, Assistant Interim Director of Human Resources & Title IX Coordinator,
    Human Resources (contact to report incidents involving faculty/staff)
    105 Bush Hall
    P: 607-746-4498
    E:
    ehretsrh@delhi.edu
  • Rebecca Harrington, (contact for student concerns)
    Deputy Title IX Coordinator
    Russell Hall F209
    454 Delhi Drive
    Delhi, NY 13753
    Email address: harrinrl@delhi.edu
    Telephone number: 607-746-4443
  • SUNY Delhi's Title IX training materials may be found by clicking the Student Conduct Institute button below:

SCI Badge Image

The Title IX Coordinators oversee the processes that address reported concerns or claims of sex or gender based harassment, discrimination, misconduct or violence. This includes working closely with Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, Health & Counseling Services, University Police and other offices to provide educational programming for the campus community, investigate claims of sexual discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, violence or misconduct, to identify the appropriate responses or resolutions as may be prescribed by policy and law. The Title IX coordinators will also work with the complainant(s) to assist them in accessing any appropriate internal and external support services.

Students holding up "It's On Us" bannerOur student-athletes provide leadership in the prevention of sexual and dating violence by participating in the “It’s On Us” campaign. They are challenging all students to sign the pledge to be active bystanders and work to raise awareness and prevent sexual and dating violence on college campuses.

About Title IX

Policy for Alcohol and/or Drug Use Amnesty in Sexual Violence Cases
The health and safety of every student at the State University of New York and its State-operated and community colleges is of utmost importance. SUNY Delhi recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time a sexual violence incident occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. SUNY Delhi strongly encourages students to report incidents of sexual violence to campus officials. A bystander reporting in good faith or a victim/survivor reporting sexual violence to SUNY Delhi officials or law enforcement will not be subject to campus conduct action for violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the sexual violence.
Affirmative Consent
  • Affirmative consent is a clear, unambiguous, knowing, informed, and voluntary agreement between all participants to engage in sexual activity.
  • Consent is active, not passive.
  • Silence or lack of resistance cannot be interpreted as consent.
  • Seeking and having consent accepted is the responsibility of the person(s) initiating each specific sexual act.
  • Consent to any sexual act or prior consensual sexual activity between or with any party does not constitute consent to any other sexual act.
  • The definition of consent does not vary based upon a participant's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
  • Consent may be initially given but withdrawn at any time.
  • When consent is withdrawn or cannot be given, sexual activity must stop.
  • Consent cannot be given when a person is incapacitated.
  • Incapacitation includes impairment due to drugs or alcohol (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary), the lack of consciousness or being asleep, being involuntarily restrained, if any of the parties are under the age of 17, or if an individual otherwise cannot consent.
  • Consent cannot be given when it is the result of any coercion, intimidation, force, or threat of harm.
Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment consists of non-consensual sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct on or off campus, when:

  • Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a condition of an individual's employment or academic standing; or
  • Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment decisions or for academic evaluation, grades, or advancement; or
  • Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating or hostile academic or work environment.
  • Sexual harassment may be found in a single episode, as well as in persistent behavior.
  • Nonverbal - May include staring at someone (e.g., "undressing someone with one's eyes"); blowing kisses; winking; or licking of one's lips in a suggestive manner; displaying sexually-oriented pictures or cartoons; using sexually-oriented screen savers; viewing pornographic websites.
  • Verbal - May include telling jokes; using sexually explicit profanity or threats; describing sexual encounters with others; suggesting sexual activity; whistling in a sexually suggestive manner; using terms such as "honey", "babe", "sweetheart", "dear"; repeated requests for dates, etc.
  • Physical Contact - May include touching, patting, pinching, bumping, grabbing, cornering or blocking a passageway, kissing, providing unsolicited back or neck rubs.
Dating/Domestic Abuse
  • Ongoing, purposeful behavior that is aimed at dominating one's partner, and often one's children as well
  • Domestic/dating abuse involves repeated, ongoing, intentional control tactics used by one partner against the other.
  • Those tactics may be physical, sexual, economic, psychological, or all of the above.
  • An abuser is someone who engages in a pattern of coercive control, not simply someone who physically assaults a partner.
  • Victims need domestic violence services, safety planning, orders of protection, and support.
  • Victims should not have to deal with domestic abuse all by themselves.
Dating Violence
  • A violent act committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and
  • The existence of the relationship shall be determined based on the victim's statement with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of the relationship, and the frequency of the relationship.
Domestic Violence
  • A violent crime committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner OR a person sharing a child with the victim; AND
  • Has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner
Stalking

Stalking means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to:

  • fear for his or her safety or the safety of others; or
  • suffer substantial emotional distress.
Questions?
Office of Admissions

118 Bush Hall