What is Title IX? Why does the University have a Title IX Coordinator?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972:

“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.”

The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the educational programs or activities that it operates, and is required under Title IX not to discriminate in such a manner. Sexual harassment, which, under Title IX, includes sexual assault and certain forms of relationship violence, is prohibited under Title IX and the University’s Title IX Policy.

Colleges and universities that receive federal financial assistance are required to designate a University employee to comply with the University’s responsibilities under Title IX, and this individual is referred to as the Title IX Coordinator. The University’s Title IX Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the development of sexual misconduct policies, ensuring compliance with Title IX and relevant federal and state regulations, and overseeing investigation and adjudication of formal complaints. The Title IX Coordinator is also responsible for coordinating the effective implementation of supportive measures and accommodations, with or without the filing of a formal complaint.

The Title IX Coordinator at the University of Mississippi is Honey Ussery and can be reached by email at titleix@olemiss.edu, by phone (662) 915-7045, or on campus at 120 Lester Hall.

For more information, please review the University’s Title IX Policy.

To learn more about Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the University of Mississippi’s obligations, visit the Office for Civil Rights.