Message Regarding New Title IX Regulations

Changes include new requirements for reporting

Office for Institutional Equity

The following message was distributed to all faculty and staff on Sept. 5, 2024.

Dear Colleague,

Duke is committed to maintaining an environment in which all students, staff and faculty can thrive and that is free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.  Last April the U.S. Department of Education released revised Title IX regulations that include a series of significant changes.  Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in Duke programs and activities.  The regulations, which went into effect on August 1, 2024, importantly contain new requirements for how university staff and faculty must respond to certain allegations of discrimination and harassment, as well as to student disclosures of pregnancy. 

Duke’s existing policy requires staff and faculty who are considered “responsible employees” to share incidents of possible discrimination and harassment with the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE). The new regulations have expanded the members of our community who will have some kind of required response to certain types of discrimination and harassment.  

Please see the following link to a short video that explains your obligations when a student or employee discloses an incident of discrimination or harassment, or a student discloses pregnancy. 

Key points in the video: 

  • All employees who are designated as Responsible Employees (e.g., faculty, senior administrators, advisors, graduate student TAs) must report incidents of possible discrimination and harassment (including sexual misconduct) to OIE. Reporting to OIE allows our staff and campus partners to offer support and options to address the situation.
  • All other employees (not designated as Responsible Employees) must provide OIE’s contact information to a person who discloses an incident of possible discrimination and harassment.  
  • Any employee to whom a student discloses their pregnancy (or related condition) must provide the student with OIE’s contact information.  

We ask that you take a few minutes to view this video and encourage your colleagues and friends to do the same. You should also consider sharing the video during any department, school, unit, clinic or division meeting. 

If you are interested in additional training please see the following to make a request to OIE.

Kimberly Hewitt,
Vice President for Institutional Equity 
Chief Diversity Officer