Dear UT Southwestern Community:

UT Southwestern is committed to ensuring that all members of our community are afforded a working and learning environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.    

On Wednesday, May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education announced significant changes to Title IX regulations that govern how concerns of sexual harassment, sexual violence, dating and domestic violence, and stalking are handled on college campuses. These regulations take effect on Friday, August 14, 2020. In compliance with these regulations, UT Southwestern has created a new Title IX Sexual Harassment policy, ETH-153, and also amended several existing policies and procedures that address sexual misconduct.

Though much of the Title IX complaint and resolution process will remain the same, there are some notable changes including: 

1. Narrowing the definition of what is prohibited conduct under Title IX based on both the nature of the conduct and where it occurs; 
2. Requiring live hearings to adjudicate formal complaints covered under Title IX; and  
3. Mandating that each party has an advisor at the live hearing to conduct cross-examination. 

UT Southwestern will continue to provide an inclusive and welcoming educational and working environment for everyone where sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender discrimination, and gender-based violence within the UT Southwestern community is not tolerated and is promptly addressed.  

The newly created Title IX Policy, “ETH-153 Title IX Sexual Harassment,” can be found here.  UT Southwestern encourages all members of the campus community to review this new policy.  UT Southwestern will continue to address misconduct that is not covered by Title IX under other applicable policies (e.g., ETH-151, ETH-154 and EDU-151).

Texas state law requiring mandatory reporting of incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking (known as SB 212) is not impacted by the new Title IX regulations. Accordingly, all UT Southwestern employees are legally required to promptly report to a Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Coordinator observations witnessed or information received regarding sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, and stalking committed by or against a student or employee. An employee who knowingly fails to report or provides false information is subject to termination of employment and possible criminal penalties.  Please refer to ETH-154 for a complete description of employee reporting requirements.  

Title IX Reporting Information  

Information on how to report possible Title IX violations is available here.

Or you may contact UT Southwestern’s Division of Title IX in the Office of Institutional Equity & Access: 

Email: TitleIX@utsouthwestern.edu 
Telephone: (214) 648-4343 

To learn more about UT Southwestern’s new Title IX process, please visit the Title IX website where you can view more information. 

Resources for our campus community may also be found on the Title IX website. 

Thank you for supporting UT Southwestern’s commitment to a professional work and learning environment that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our employees, students, and residents.

Sincerely,

Charles Ginsburg, M.D.
Marilyn R. Corrigan Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Research
Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Education
Professor of Pediatrics
Title IX Coordinator