Academic Title IX Penalties

Title IX investigations are not Criminal Trials, but punishment can still hurt your standing as a student. Reputational harm alone can destroy your social circle and prospects.

Academic Title IX penalties can threaten your ability to stay in school after an investigation wraps up. Working with our Title IX Attorneys at Leifert & Leifert can improve your chance to defend against any allegations and to protect yourself against severe penalties.

What Can Lead to a Title IX Penalty?

Title IX outlaws sex discrimination, harassment, and violence by holding education institutions responsible for managing their campuses. If a school receives federal funds or participates in federal programs, it must comply with Title IX, such as by creating a Title IX policy and investigating violations of that policy or code of conduct.

Conduct violating Title IX protections can range widely and can affect students and staff. Such actions can include:

• Stalking
• Relationship violence
• Sexual misconduct, violence, and assault
• Creating a hostile educational environment
• Gender bias in the workplace, athletic programs, and housing

Students might be responsible for this kind of conduct in their relationships with other students or with an institution’s employees, through both actions and words. Interactions with other students in residences, at parties, or in the classroom can all result in Title IX violations and academic penalties if conduct appears sexually motivated and threatens the safety and comfort of others.

When you become subject to an academic Title IX investigation accusing you of this kind of conduct, you should speak with an Attorney immediately about potential penalties. School investigations function differently than police investigations, but a Lawyer familiar with your school’s process and Title IX penalties could still work with you to understand your options.

What are Title IX Penalties?

Title IX penalties for students can vary greatly depending on the school. A verbal or written warning can occur, as can escalating penalties such as counseling, formal letters of apology, loss of scholarships, probation, a change in residence, restriction of student privileges, suspension, and expulsion. Staff and faculty face different penalties along the lines of termination and loss of tenure. In some cases, a school might require restitution to a victim of sexual violence or harassment.

If a student has already graduated or if an investigation continues at the end of their academic career, their degree could be revoked or withheld. Each institution scales penalties and applies them to student violations differently, so having an Attorney on your side could ensure that you understand your school’s policies when facing an investigation.

Reach Out to an Attorney About Title IX Penalties and Investigations

A Title IX investigation can come up quickly and leave you wondering what to do next. With tight timeframes and the potential for serious penalties, you need someone on your side for support and information.

Avoiding Title IX academic penalties first requires an understanding of your school’s process and policies, which our Attorneys at Leifert & Leifert can help provide. Call today to schedule a consultation with an experienced Lawyer.