Title IX – Sexual Misconduct

What is Title IX?

The Education Amendments of 1972 state that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Title IX applies to all institutions that receive federal financial assistance, including K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights enforces Title IX, including investigating and resolving complaints. Additionally, the OCR provides institutions with information and guidance in order to provide support in complying with the law.

Examples of Title IX Violations

• Sexual harassment, sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking or gender-based harassment having occurred on or off-campus
• Can be based on actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression
• May include acts of aggression, intimidation, or hostility; can be verbal, physical, or graphic
• Not necessarily sexual in nature, like name-calling, bullying, or humiliation based on a discriminatory factor
• Favoring men over women (or vice versa) in the classroom
• Being excluded from class or denied coursework because of pregnancy
• Being asked for sexual favors in exchange for things like better grades or a recommendation letter

How to File a Complaint

Complaints are filed with District Title IX Coordinator. The college has designated and authorized the following employee as the District Title IX Coordinator to address concerns or inquiries regarding discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and gender-based harassment:

Charlene Buckley
Highland Campus
6101 Highland Campus Drive
Building 3000, Suite 2270
Austin, TX 78752
Direct Phone: 512-223-7964
Email: charlene.buckley@austincc.edu; or equalopportunity@austincc.edu

College Policies

The following ACC Administrative Rules (AR) and Guidelines/Procedures (G/P) address how the college responds to complaints of sexual misconduct, including Title IX Grievance Procedures:

• Prohibition of Sexual Misconduct (AR)
• Title IX Grievance Procedures (G/P)
• Sexual Misconduct Investigation Procedures (G/P)

ACC is committed to providing timely support and assistance to anyone who has been affected by sexual misconduct. “Sexual misconduct” is an umbrella term that refers collectively to the following offenses:

• Sexual harassment and discrimination
• Sexual assault, which includes non-consensual sexual penetration and sexual touching
• Intimate partner violence, which includes dating and domestic violence
• Sexual exploitation
• Stalking
• Gender-based harassment and discrimination that is non-sexual

Additional Information and Assistance

For information about immediate assistance, see the following:

Emergency Information for Immediate Assistance
Employee Reporting Requirements

Information on the Title IX webpages is provided in response to 34 C.F.R. Part 106.8 of the 2020 Title IX Regulations, mandating notice of a nondiscrimination policy and adoption and publication of grievance procedures that provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee complaints. In accordance with Title IX, the college does not, and is required not to, discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs or activities. The requirement not to discriminate extends to employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX may be referred to the district’s Title IX Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education, or both.

Reporting Requirements under Tex. Educ. Code § 51.253(c)

For the purposes of complying with the Chief Executive Officer’s reporting requirements under TEC, Section 51.253(c), the 2023-2024 Summary Data Report includes all of the required reporting information for the time period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.