Title IX on the 9^th

This month, SUNY Poly’s Title IX Working Group would like to address the protections of our transgender students and employees.

On May 13, 2016, U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education jointly issued a Dear Colleague Letter (https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201605-title-ix-transgender.pdf) which established that the discrimination prohibited by Title IX also encompasses discrimination based on gender identity.  The letter provided schools with more specific information on how to be compliant with their obligations to transgender students under Title IX.

On February 22, 2017, U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague Letter (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201702-title-ix.docx) which withdrew the statements of policy that had been set forth in the May 2016 letter.  The letter does note that while the guidance is officially withdrawn, the “withdrawal of these guidance documents does not leave students without protections from discrimination, bullying or harassment.”

We would like to reassure our campus community that SUNY Poly remains dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive and safe learning and work environment for all our students, faculty, and staff. In short, the recent withdrawal of the guidance by the Office of Civil Rights does not affect our policies at SUNY Poly.  Our non-discrimination notice (https://sunypoly.edu/titleix/nondiscrimination) continues to provide for “equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs and activities” for all members of campus community, regardless of an individual’s gender identity.  Furthermore, under New York State Human Rights Law gender identity is considered a protected class.

If you have any questions or concerns on this topic, please contact the Title IX Coordinators at TitleIX@sunypoly.edu.

Thank you,

SUNY Poly Title IX Working Group Website: https://sunypoly.edu/titleix/ Email: TitleIX@sunypoly.edu

SUNY Poly Title IX Coordinators:

Rhonda Haines Title IX Coordinator VP for Human Resources and Special Projects NFE #4111 (Albany Site) Kunsela Hall, A011 (Utica Site) (518) 956-7362 hainesr@sunypoly.edu rhaines@sunypoly.edu

Stacey Genther Deputy Title IX Coordinator Health Educator Oriskany Hall, Suite B (315) 792-7808 stacey.genther@sunypoly.edu

Katie Tynan Deputy Title IX Coordinator AVP for Benefits and Leave Administration NFE #4111 (Albany Site) Kunsela Hall, A011 (Utica Site) (518) 956-7317 tynank@sunypoly.edu ktynan@sunypoly.edu