What is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects all people form sexual discrimination in education programs or any activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Elms College holds up the ideals behind Title IX in order to foster a safe environment for our students. Title IX states the following:

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.

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any program or activity including, but not limited to:

  1. Educational programs or activities, e.g., student services, academic counseling, discipline, classroom assignment, grading, athletics, recreation and study abroad;
  2. Admission and recruitment, e.g., financial aid, housing;
  3. Medical services, including psychological counseling.

Title IX Prohibited Conduct

  • Quid Pro Quo: An employee conditioning educational benefits on participation in unwelcome sexual conduct.
  • Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome conduct that a reasonable person would perceive as so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive.
  • Sexual Assault: Any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of that person, including instances where the person is incapable of giving consent.
  • Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors: the length of the relationship; the type of relationship; and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
  • Domestic Violence: Is violence, which includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence, committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.
  • Stalking: A course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.

Reporting

Title IX Formal Report Form

Anonymous Title IX Report Form

To report in person, ask questions, or request information please contact the following persons:

Title IX Coordinators

CHERYL SMITH
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES
TITLE IX COORDINATOR

413-265-2253 | smithc911@elms.edu

Teresa Winters
DEAN OF STUDENTS –
DEPUTY TITLE IX DEPUTY COORDINATOR

413-265-2210 | winterst@elms.edu

Title IX Committee Members

  • Cheryl Smith, Director of Human Resources – Title IX Coordinator
  • Teresa Winters, Dean of Students- Deputy Title IX Coordinator
  • Michelle Proulx, Associate Director of Admissions
  • Michael McGravey, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies & Director of the Institute for Theology and Pastoral Studies (ITPS)
  • Pablo Madera, Director of Public Safety
  • Jason Murphy, Associate Professor, Philosophy

Title IX Files


To file a complaint outside of the college, contact:

Office for Civil Rights, Boston Office
U.S. Department of Education
5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor
Boston, MA 02109-3921
Tel: 617-289-0111
Fax: 617-289-0150
OCR.Boston@ed.gov