View all text of Subpart A [§ 106.1 - § 106.9]

§ 106.8 - Designation of coordinator; nondiscrimination policy; grievance procedures; notice of nondiscrimination; training; students with disabilities; and recordkeeping.

(a) Designation of a Title IX Coordinator. (1) Title IX Coordinator. Each recipient mustdesignate and authorize at least one employee, referred to herein as a Title IX Coordinator, to coordinate its efforts to comply with its responsibilities under Title IX and this part. If a recipient has more than one Title IX Coordinator, it must designate one of its Title IX Coordinators to retain ultimate oversight over those responsibilities and ensure the recipient's consistent compliance with its responsibilities under Title IX and this part.

(2) Delegation to designees. As appropriate, a recipient may delegate, or permit a Title IX Coordinator to delegate, specific duties to one or more designees.

(b) Adoption, publication, and implementation of nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures. (1) Nondiscrimination policy. Each recipient must adopt, publish, and implement a policy stating that the recipient does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and this part, including in admission (unless subpart C of this part does not apply) and employment.

(2) Grievance procedures. A recipient must adopt, publish, and implement grievance procedures consistent with the requirements of § 106.45, and if applicable § 106.46, that provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints made by students, employees, or other individuals who are participating or attempting to participate in the recipient's education program or activity, or by the Title IX Coordinator, alleging any action that would be prohibited by Title IX or this part.

(c) Notice of nondiscrimination. A recipient must provide a notice of nondiscrimination to students; parents, guardians, or other authorized legal representatives of elementary school and secondary school students; employees; applicants for admission and employment; and all unions and professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with the recipient.

(1) Contents of notice of nondiscrimination. (i) The notice of nondiscrimination must include the following elements:

(A) A statement that the recipient does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and this part, including in admission (unless subpart C of this part does not apply) and employment;

(B) A statement that inquiries about the application of Title IX and this part to the recipient may be referred to the recipient's Title IX Coordinator, the Office for Civil Rights, or both;

(C) The name or title, office address, email address, and telephone number of the recipient's Title IX Coordinator;

(D) How to locate the recipient's nondiscrimination policy under paragraph (b)(1) of this section; and the recipient's grievance procedures under paragraph (b)(2) of this section; and

(E) How to report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination under Title IX; and how to make a complaint of sex discrimination under this part.

(ii) Nothing in this part prevents a recipient from including in its notice of nondiscrimination information about any exceptions or exemptions applicable to the recipient under Title IX.

(2) Publication of notice of nondiscrimination. (i) Each recipient must prominently include all elements of its notice of nondiscrimination set out in paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) through (E) of this section on its website and in each handbook, catalog, announcement, bulletin, and application form that it makes available to persons entitled to notice under paragraph (c) of this section, or which are otherwise used in connection with the recruitment of students or employees.

(ii) If necessary, due to the format or size of any publication under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, the recipient may instead include in those publications a statement that the recipient prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates and that individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator, and provide the location of the notice on the recipient's website.

(iii) A recipient must not use or distribute a publication stating that the recipient treats applicants, students, or employees differently on the basis of sex, except as such treatment is permitted by Title IX or this part.

(d) Training. The recipient must ensure that the persons described in paragraphs (d)(1) through (4) of this section receive training related to their duties under Title IX promptly upon hiring or change of position that alters their duties under Title IX or this part, and annually thereafter. This training must not rely on sex stereotypes.

(1) All employees. All employees must be trained on:

(i) The recipient's obligation to address sex discrimination in its education program or activity;

(ii) The scope of conduct that constitutes sex discrimination under Title IX and this part, including the definition of sex-based harassment; and

(iii) All applicable notification and information requirements under §§ 106.40(b)(2) and 106.44.

(2) Investigators, decisionmakers, and other persons who are responsible for implementing the recipient's grievance procedures or have the authority to modify or terminate supportive measures. In addition to the training requirements in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, all investigators, decisionmakers, and other persons who are responsible for implementing the recipient's grievance procedures or have the authority to modify or terminate supportive measures under § 106.44(g)(4) must be trained on the following topics to the extent related to their responsibilities:

(i) The recipient's obligations under § 106.44;

(ii) The recipient's grievance procedures under § 106.45, and if applicable § 106.46;

(iii) How to serve impartially, including by avoiding prejudgment of the facts at issue, conflicts of interest, and bias; and

(iv) The meaning and application of the term “relevant” in relation to questions and evidence, and the types of evidence that are impermissible regardless of relevance under § 106.45, and if applicable § 106.46.

(3) Facilitators of informal resolution process. In addition to the training requirements in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, all facilitators of an informal resolution process under § 106.44(k) must be trained on the rules and practices associated with the recipient's informal resolution process and on how to serve impartially, including by avoiding conflicts of interest and bias.

(4) Title IX Coordinator and designees. In addition to the training requirements in paragraphs (d)(1) through (3) of this section, the Title IX Coordinator and any designees under paragraph (a) of this section must be trained on their specific responsibilities under paragraph (a) of this section, §§ 106.40(b)(3), 106.44(f) and (g), the recipient's recordkeeping system and the requirements of paragraph (f) of this section, and any other training necessary to coordinate the recipient's compliance with Title IX.

(e) Students with disabilities. If a complainant or respondent is an elementary or secondary student with a disability, the recipient must require the Title IX Coordinator to consult with one or more members, as appropriate, of the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, 34 CFR 300.321, if any, or one or more members, as appropriate, of the group of persons responsible for the student's placement decision under 34 CFR 104.35(c), if any, to determine how to comply with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq., and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794, throughout the recipient's implementation of grievance procedures under § 106.45. If a complainant or respondent is a postsecondary student with a disability, the Title IX Coordinator may consult, as appropriate, with the individual or office that the recipient has designated to provide support to students with disabilities to determine how to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794.

(f) Recordkeeping. A recipient must maintain for a period of at least seven years:

(1) For each complaint of sex discrimination, records documenting the informal resolution process under § 106.44(k) or the grievance procedures under § 106.45, and if applicable § 106.46, and the resulting outcome.

(2) For each notification the Title IX Coordinator receives of information about conduct that reasonably may constitute sex discrimination under Title IX or this part, including notifications under § 106.44(c)(1) or (2), records documenting the actions the recipient took to meet its obligations under § 106.44.

(3) All materials used to provide training under paragraph (d) of this section. A recipient must make these training materials available upon request for inspection by members of the public.

[89 FR 33885, Apr. 29, 2024]