How do federal laws such as Title IX and Equal Opportunity Employment affect faculty, staff, and students at the University of Miami? Beverly Pruitt, assistant vice president and Title IX coordinator, Workplace Equity and Inclusion; Maria Sevilla, deputy Title IX coordinator; and Jessica Pacheco, executive director, Workplace Equity and Inclusion, address questions as a team and provide insight into the impact of federal laws. They also outline resources available for the University community.
How does change in presidential administration impact Title IX and Equal Opportunity Employment?
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs and activities; enforcement of the law is within the purview of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) is an umbrella term that refers to laws that prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of certain protected characteristics, such as race, sex, national origin, age, disability, military status, etc. Many of these laws are enforced by either the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). With each presidential administration, changes in leadership within the aforementioned agencies are often followed by new guidance or regulations issued by those agencies. The starker the differences between administration platforms, the more likely we are to see such differences play out in the proposed guidance or regulations. It is common for incoming administrations to first publicly announce they will cease enforcement of policy or guidance that is not reflective of their positions and then work to formalize their new position in the form of formal guidance documents or through the rulemaking process.
When there are changes to Title IX or Equal Opportunity Employment at a federal level, how is the University impacted?
The University of Miami has a federal obligation to comply with Title IX and EOE laws. The Title IX Office and the Office of Workplace Equity and Inclusion are constantly monitoring changes to the University’s obligations and, when necessary, working with campus partners to revise relevant policies as needed.
In what other ways can governing agencies make changes to Title IX/EOE that may impact the University community?
The DOE, EEOC, and DOL can shape the University’s obligations through non-legally binding guidance or by enacting new regulations through the Notice and Comment Rulemaking Process. In addition, Congress can enact or amend laws through traditional legislative processes.
What resources are available to the University community regarding Title IX and Equal Opportunity Employment?
As described in the University of Miami’s Equal Opportunity policy, the University is committed to the principles of fairness and respect for all people while maintaining an institution free from unlawful harassment and discrimination in accordance with federal, state, and local law. If you have experienced or witnessed acts of discrimination, there are many options to help you find the appropriate office and person to help. Visit the HR website to review how to report discrimintation. Additionally, reporting sexual misconduct helps to build a safer community; anonymous and in-person reporting options are available. Faculty, staff, and students can find details and support through the University’s Title IX Office.
Learn more at https://news.miami.edu/life/stories/2020/03/title-ix-resources.html.
