Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that has removed many barriers that once prevented people, on the basis of sex, from participating in educational opportunities and careers of their choice. It states that:
"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
While many attribute the term "Title IX" to women and athletics, Title IX also protects any person from sex-based discrimination, regardless of their real or perceived sex, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Female, male, and gender non-conforming students, faculty, and staff are protected from any sex-based discrimination, harassment or violence under Title IX. Title IX requires that universities have established procedures for addressing complaints of sexual assault, domestic abuse, dating violence, stalking and other forms of sexual violence (See important Definitions).
Every educational institution receiving federal funding is required to have a Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator ensures that the University is compliant with Title IX and coordinates the investigation and disciplinary processes. Please direct any Title IX related inquiries to the Title IX Coordinator, Deonne Yeager, (843) 208-8280, deonne@uscb.edu .
Title IX Coordinators
Deonne Yeager
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Development
Title IX Coordinator
Beaufort Office: Sandstone 118
Bluffton Office:
Library 209
(843) 208-8280
deonne@uscb.edu
Important Definitions
Sexual Violence/Sexual Assault
Definition: A sexual act committed against someone without consent or who does not have the capacity to give knowing consent due to alcohol, drugs or disability.
For more information about sexual violence, visit the National Center for Victims of Crime.
Interpersonal Violence
(commonly referred to as dating violence, domestic violence, intimate partner violence,
and relationship violence)
Definition: A pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one person to gain
or maintain power and control over another person. Interpersonal violence can be physical,
sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence
another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate,
isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.
Interpersonal violence can occur in relationships between persons of any gender, and
is committed by a person who is or has been:
- In a romantic or intimate relationship with the reporting party
(of the same or different sex) - The reporting party’s spouse or partner (of the same or different sex)
- The reporting party’s family member or
- The reporting party’s cohabitant or household member, including a roommate.
For more information on domestic violence, visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline, an around the clock service that provides lifesaving tools and immediate support to enable victims to find safety and live lives free of abuse. For more information on dating violence, visit the National Center for Victims of Crime.
Stalking
Definition: Engaging in a course of harassing, threatening, or unwanted behavior that would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress or fear for their safety or the safety of others.
Types of Stalking: Stalking may occur in a range of formats including, but not limited to, in-person conduct, writings, texting, voicemail, email, social media, following someone with a global position system (GPS), and video/audio recording.
For more information on stalking, visit the Stalking Resource Center, a program of the National Center for Victims of Crime.