OCR’s Enforcement of Title IX

OCR vigorously enforces Title IX to ensure that institutions that receive federal financial assistance from the Department comply with the law. OCR evaluates, investigates, and resolves complaints alleging sex discrimination. OCR also conducts proactive investigations, through directed investigations or compliance reviews, to examine potential systemic violations based on sources of information other than complaints. 

In addition to its enforcement activities, OCR provides information and guidance to schools, universities, and other educational institutions and agencies to assist them in voluntarily complying with the law. 

To learn more about filing a complaint with OCR, please visit
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html. For assistance related to Title IX or other civil rights laws, please contact OCR at OCR@ed.gov or 800-421-3481, TDD 800-877-8339.

Know Your Rights posted from the OCR website:

• A school has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively.  If a school knows or reasonably should know about sexual harassment or sexual violence that creates a hostile environment, the school must take immediate action to eliminate the sexual harassment or sexual violence, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.

• Even if a student or his or her parent does not want to file a complaint or does not request that the school take any action on the student’s behalf if a school knows or reasonably should know about possible sexual harassment or sexual violence, it must promptly investigate to determine what occurred and then take appropriate steps to resolve the situation.

• A criminal investigation into allegations of sexual harassment or sexual violence does not relieve the school of its duty under Title IX to resolve complaints promptly and equitably.

• Title IX requires that each school publish a policy that it does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities.  This notice must be widely distributed and available on an ongoing basis.

• The policy must state that inquiries concerning Title IX may be referred to the school’s Title IX coordinator or to OCR.

• Every school must designate at least one employee who is responsible for coordinating the school’s compliance with Title IX. This person is sometimes referred to as the Title IX coordinator.  Schools must notify all students and employees of the name or title and contact information of the Title IX coordinator.

• The coordinator’s responsibilities include overseeing all complaints of sex discrimination and identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic problems that arise during the review of such complaints.

• Title IX requires schools to adopt and publish grievance procedures for students to file complaints of sex discrimination, including complaints of sexual harassment or sexual violence.  Schools can use general disciplinary procedures to address complaints of sex discrimination.  But all procedures must provide for prompt and equitable resolution of sex discrimination complaints.

• Every complainant has the right to present his or her case.  This includes the right to adequate, reliable, and impartial investigation of complaints, the right to have an equal opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence, and the right to the same appeal processes, for both parties. 

• Every complainant has the right to be notified of the time frame within which: (a) the school will conduct a full investigation of the complaint; (b) the parties will be notified of the outcome of the complaint; and (c) the parties may file an appeal, if applicable.

• Every complainant has the right for the complaint to be decided using a preponderance of the evidence standard (i.e., it is more likely than not that sexual harassment or violence occurred).

• Every complainant has the right to be notified, in writing, of the outcome of the complaint.  Even though federal privacy laws limit the disclosure of certain information in disciplinary proceedings:   

• Schools must disclose to the complainant information about the sanction imposed on the perpetrator when the sanction directly relates to the harassed student.  This includes an order that the harasser stay away from the harassed student, or that the harasser is prohibited from attending school for a period of time or transferred to other classes or another residence hall.

• Additionally, the Clery Act (20 U.S.C. §1092(f)), which only applies to postsecondary institutions, requires that both parties be informed of the outcome, including sanction information, of any institutional proceeding alleging a sex offense.  Therefore, colleges and universities may not require a complainant to abide by a non-disclosure agreement, in writing or otherwise.

• The grievance procedures may include voluntary informal methods (e.g., mediation) for resolving some types of sexual harassment complaints. However, the complainant must be notified of the right to end the informal process at any time and begin the formal stage of the complaint process.  In cases involving allegations of sexual assault, mediation is not appropriate.
  
  

If you want to learn more about your rights, or if you believe that a school district, college, or university is violating Federal law, you may contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, at (800) 421-3481 or ocr@ed.gov.  If you wish to fill out a complaint form online, you may do so at: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html .

• Access to Education Records

• Amendment of Education Records

• Disclosure of Education Records

'Complaints of Alleged Violations of FERPA Eligible students who believe that their FERPA rights may have been violated may file a complaint with SPPO at https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint. SPPO will review the complaint to ensure that the complaint: • Is filed, in writing, by an eligible student who maintains FERPA rights over the education records that are the subject of the complaint; • Is submitted to SPPO within 180 days of the date of the alleged violation or of the date that the eligible student knew or reasonably should have known of the alleged violation; and • Contains specific allegations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of FERPA has occurred. SPPO will then make a case-by-case determination of the best mechanism for resolving the complaint. Sometimes the action will be an investigation, while for other complaints, consistent with the statute and applicable regulations, FERPA will take other appropriate actions, such as acting as an intermediary or providing resolution assistance. More information regarding the FERPA complaint process is available at https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-acomplaint. For more information regarding FERPA and other student privacy issues, please visit the website at https://studentprivacy.ed.gov.'

If you have questions about FERPA that are not addressed here, you may visit their website, and you may also submit a question through their website at https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/contact, or write to SPPO for additional guidance at the following address: Student Privacy Policy Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-8520

To file a complaint regarding FERPA violations click on the following link link: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint

Key provisions of Title VI related to education include:

• Nondiscrimination Policy: Educational institutions must have a clear policy stating that they do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

• Language Access: Schools must ensure that limited-English proficient students and parents have access to language assistance services, such as interpreters or translated materials, to facilitate effective communication.

• Harassment and Bullying: Title VI also addresses racial harassment and bullying within educational settings, ensuring that schools take appropriate actions to prevent and respond to such incidents.

• Investigations and Compliance: The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for enforcing Title VI in educational settings. The OCR investigates complaints of discrimination and ensures schools' compliance with the law.

Title VI, alongside other federal civil rights laws like Title IX and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, plays a vital role in promoting equal educational opportunities and advancing equity and inclusivity in educational institutions across the United States. Educational institutions found in violation of Title VI may face sanctions or risk losing their federal funding. 

Click on the following link to file a complaint regarding Title VI violations: https://www.justice.gov/crt/fcs/complaint-process#:~:text=How%20to%20File%20a%20Title%20VI%20or%20Title,Title%20VI%20Hotline%3A%201-888-TITLE-06%20%281-888-848-5306%29%20%28Voice%20or%20TDD%29

Here are the following ways to submit your report: 

1. You can send an email to whistleblower@cfpb.gov.

2. The CFPB’s Whistleblower Tip line is: (855) 695-7974

3. You can send a letter or package to: 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
ATTN: Office of Enforcement, WB
1700 G Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20552

For more information please visit here: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/information-industry-whistleblowers/

OSHA ONLINE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT FORM

'OSHA administers more than twenty whistleblower protection laws, including Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, which prohibits retaliation against employees who complain about unsafe or unhealthful conditions or exercise other rights under the Act. Each law has a filing deadline, varying from 30 days to 180 days, which starts when the retaliatory action occurs.

A whistleblower complaint must allege four key elements:

• The employee engaged in activity protected by the whistleblower protection law(s) (such as reporting a violation of law);

• The employer knew about, or suspected, that the employee engaged in the protected activity;

• The employer took an adverse action against the employee;

• The employee's protected activity motivated or contributed to the adverse action.

Filing with a form is not required, as OSHA accepts whistleblower complaints made orally (telephone or walk-in at any OSHA office) or in writing, and in any language. If you choose to use their form, you must complete the screens and fields that are marked as "required"; all other screens and fields are optional. 

If you file a complaint, OSHA will contact you to determine whether to conduct an investigation. You must respond to OSHA's follow-up contact or your complaint will be dismissed. 

A whistleblower complaint filed with OSHA cannot be filed anonymously. If OSHA proceeds with an investigation, OSHA will notify your employer of your complaint and provide the employer with an opportunity to respond. Because your complaint may be shared with the employer, do not include witness names or their contact information on this form; you will have the opportunity to offer evidence in support of your complaint during the investigation. 

If you have any questions about the complaint filing or investigative processes, please do not hesitate to call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or contact your local OSHA office. 

If you think your job is unsafe and you want to ask for an inspection, you can call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), or file a "Notice of Alleged Safety or Health Hazards" by clicking here.' 

For more information visit here: https://www.osha.gov/whistleblower/WBComplaint

Preparing Your Complaint

Before you file a complaint to the Office of the Attorney General, take a moment to make sure you have all of your important information. 

The more details you can provide, the more effective your complaint. Important information includes:

• The name of the business or individual you're filing a complaint against

• The business/individual's full address, including zip code

• A detailed description of your complaint

• Explanation of how you came into contact with the business/individual

• Transaction dates and amounts

• Contract information (when appropriate) with payment details

• How you may have attempted to resolve the dispute, including the names of people you spoke with

Note: You can also attach supporting documents when filling out the online complaint form.

Here's a list of resources that administrators should consider offering to students to improve access to campus safety, emergency protocols, and reporting incidents:

• Comprehensive Campus Safety Website: Develop a comprehensive and user-friendly campus safety website that includes information on safety measures, emergency protocols, and reporting options.

• Emergency Phone Numbers and Hotlines: Publicize campus security or police emergency phone numbers and hotlines in prominent places on campus and in student handbooks.

• Campus Safety App: Create or promote the use of a campus safety app that provides important safety information, emergency alerts, and reporting tools.

• Safety Workshops and Orientation: Organize campus safety workshops and orientation sessions for new students to familiarize them with safety protocols and resources.

• Campus Map and Emergency Exits: Provide easily accessible campus maps that highlight emergency exits and assembly points in buildings and common areas.

• Anonymous Reporting Platforms: Implement anonymous reporting platforms or hotlines to encourage students to report incidents without fear of retaliation.

• Campus Security Escorts: Offer security escort services during late hours or in secluded areas to enhance safety for students.

• Emergency Preparedness Training: Conduct emergency preparedness training for students, faculty, and staff to ensure they know how to respond effectively to various emergencies.

• Bystander Intervention Training: Organize bystander intervention training to equip students with skills to safely intervene in potentially harmful situations and support others.

• Resident Advisors (RAs) and Campus Staff: Train resident advisors and campus staff on safety protocols, reporting procedures, and how to provide support to students.

• Counseling and Health Centers: Promote campus counseling and health centers that can provide support for students who have experienced incidents and offer referrals to appropriate resources.

• Title IX Coordinators: Ensure students know how to contact the Title IX Coordinator for information on reporting incidents related to sexual harassment, assault, or discrimination.

• Campus Security Walks: Organize campus security walks where campus security personnel and students collaborate to identify safety concerns and make improvements.

• Student Organizations: Encourage and support student organizations that promote campus safety and awareness.

• Campus Safety Reports: Make campus safety reports and statistics easily accessible and publicized annually to keep students informed about safety issues.

By offering these resources, administrators can empower students to take ownership of their safety and well-being, create a safe and supportive campus environment, and foster a culture of proactive reporting and intervention. Regularly assess the effectiveness of these resources and seek student feedback to continuously improve campus safety initiatives.

ACAHM stands for the "Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine." It is an independent accrediting agency in the United States that evaluates and accredits educational programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. 

The ACAHM's primary role is to ensure that acupuncture and Oriental medicine schools and programs meet established standards of quality and education. Accredited programs are recognized for providing comprehensive and rigorous training to students, preparing them to become competent and skilled practitioners in the field. 

Accreditation by ACAHM is significant because it is often required for graduates of acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs to be eligible for licensure in many states. States typically require applicants for acupuncture licensure to have graduated from a program accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which includes ACAHM. 

Please note that accreditation standards and recognition may vary over time, so it's essential to verify the current status of ACAHM and its role in accrediting acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs. You can visit the official ACAHM website or contact them directly for the most up-to-date information. 

If you are interested in filing a complaint with ACAHM please see below, and more information can be found on their website at https://acahm.org/faqs/complaints-faq/

Below is a copy of the ACAHM Complaint Form that you may also download from their website by clicking on the following link: https://acahm.org/forms/acaom-complaint-form/

ACAHM's Contact Information As of 1 November 2022:

Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine [ACAHM]

500 Lake Street, Suite 204

Excelsior, MN 55331

General telephone: (952) 212-2434

General Email: info@acahm.org