Title IX

Sex and Gender Discrimination

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 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.”

SaVE Act and VAWA

The College’s Sexual Harassment policy also addresses the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Both SaVE and VAWA specifically address sexual violence in the form of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. They expand upon Title IX and provide guidance for addressing issues beyond gender discrimination by the College.

What is Sex Discrimination?

Sex discrimination comes in various forms. Some examples include sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, and sexual exploitation. For a full list with definitions of each type of discrimination, please visit our Definitions page.

Who does Title IX Protect?

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in both the educational and employment settings, so the policy applies to administration, faculty, staff, students, and third parties.

Sexual Assault and Dating Violence Help

If you are a victim of sexual assault, your first priority should be to get to a place of safety. You should then obtain necessary medical treatment. You can seek medical attention without reporting to the police! Call 911 for any kind of emergency, immediate harm or threat of harm.

Mercy Public Safety (419-251-1444) is also a resource which can be contacted with an emergency. Mercy Public Safety strongly advocates that a victim of sexual assault report the incident in a timely manner.

Time is a critical factor for evidence collection and preservation. An assault should be reported directly to a Mercy police officer and/or to a Campus Security Authority. Filing a police report with a Mercy police officer or CSA will not obligate the victim to prosecute, nor will it subject the victim to scrutiny or judgmental opinions from the officers.

If you have experienced sexual assault or dating violence on or off campus, Mercy College can help you in the following ways:

• Access to Education: If your experience is limiting your ability to attend school, Mercy College can provide reasonable accommodations to break down any barriers you may be encountering.
• Health and Counseling: Mercy College will connect you to on campus and community partners to assist you in getting counseling and/or medical care. View Title IX Resources.
• Reporting: You have various options if you wish to report sexual assault. Confidentiality is a priority for Mercy College, but cannot be guaranteed in all circumstances. View information on Reporting an Incident.

Gender Discrimination

Mercy College of Ohio does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, or sexual orientation in its educational programs and activities. Mercy College is committed to building and preserving a community in which its members can learn, work, live, and conduct business together free from all forms of sexual misconduct exploitation, intimidation, harassment, and violence. Read the full policy.

Title IX Coordinator

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for the prompt response to reports of Sexual Harassment, as well as training, education, communication, and administration of grievance procedures for handling formal complaints alleging violations of this policy. In the absence of the Title IX Coordinator, the Deputy Title IX Coordinator will assume all responsibility for compliance relative to Title IX.