Title IX

Title IX applies to program equity. That includes (but is not limited to) areas like STEM fields, sports, access for pregnant students, and discrimination based on someone’s actual or perceived gender, gender identity, gender expression, and divergence from stereotypical notions of gender. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex and/or gender includes sexual harassment or sexual misconduct—including sexual violence, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence—that effectively bars the victim’s access to an educational opportunity or benefit. Additionally, University must promptly respond to student complaints of sexual harassment and sexual violence in a way that stops the behavior, limits the effects, and prevents its recurrence.

In accordance with Title IX, Hamline University does not discriminate on the basis of sex and/or gender in its educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other programs or in the context of admissions. The University prohibits all forms of discrimination including sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, sexual violence, and differential treatment.

Hamline looks at Title IX as a process of continuous improvement, and in light of this we look to Title IX guidance from the national Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights, other federal and state laws including the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA), the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SAVE), the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and most recently the Minnesota Campus Sexual Assault Law. This said, we look to maintain a program and activities that put Hamline at the forefront of the conversation, locally and nationally.

1972: Education Amendments
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 revised federal funding laws to prohibit sex-based discrimination in higher education “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits or, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance…” Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX).

1990: Clery Act
Initially called the “Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act” and later renamed in memory of slain student Jeanne Clery, this act amended federal financial aid laws to require all participating post secondary institutions to disclose campus crime statistics and security information.

2013: Campus SaVE Act
The Campus SaVE Act, as part of the 2013 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization updated the Cleary Act, expanding the scope of this legislation in terms of reporting, response, and prevention education requirements around rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

2016 – Minnesota's Campus Sexual Assault Law
Effective August 1, 2016, Minnesota law requires all public and many private colleges and universities to adopt sexual harassment and violence policies that expand the rights and protections of campus sexual assault victims.

In accordance with Title IX regulations, the university has designated Patti (Klein) Kersten as Hamline's Title IX coordinator. Generally, the Title IX Coordinator is responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of meaningful efforts to comply with Title IX law. This includes overseeing the Title IX complaint process as well as identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic problems that arise. Questions regarding Title IX, as well as concerns and complaints of non-compliance, may be directed to her.

This position works to support any student, faculty, or staff who has experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic/dating violence or stalking, and discrimination against students based on gender identity or expression. Crisis intervention services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through Public Safety at 651-523-2100 or residence hall staff.

Services include:

• Immediate student-centered support and advocacy
• Addressing immediate safety concerns
• Informing student of available options regarding medical services, forensic evidence collection, and reporting to law enforcement

Services also include ongoing support and advocacy, including:

• Support in accessing health and counseling services
• Academic accommodations
• Housing accommodations
• Consultation with friends, family, and others on how to support a victim, as requested by student
• Assistance filing a formal criminal report or formal conduct charge and connecting the student with an adviser who will support the student during medical, law enforcement, and/or student conduct proceedings, and assistance in connecting a student to community resource
• Various other campus and off-campus needs

Hamline University seeks to maintain a safe and nurturing learning, living, and working environment free from all forms of sexual harassment and misconduct as defined by Hamline University’s Policies against Sexual Misconduct, and Discrimination and Harassment. The Title IX Team coordinates the University’s sexual misconduct prevention, training, response, and the compliance with Title IX, Campus SaVE, and the Jeanne Clery Act. Learn about the Title IX Team.

Contact information

Title IX coordinator

Patti Kersten, Dean of Students/Title IX Coordinator
West Hall room 106D
651-523-2421 (office)
651-523-2948 (direct)
pkersten01@hamline.edu

Title IX staff trainings

All training by Title IX staff can be found in this Google Doc.