What is "Notice and Comment," and How Do I Submit a Comment to the Department of Education?

On November 28, 2018, the Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, published a new proposal to amend regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). The proposed rules would radically alter the way schools, colleges, and universities that receive federal funds are required to respond to sexual harassment and assault.

ED has just announced that members of the public have 24 extra hours, on Friday, February 15 (12am-11:59pm) to tell the Department of Education what we think of these proposed changes, by submitting Comments.

Here're several options for what you can do:

1. Familiarize yourself with the problems (short analysis and longer analysis) of the proposed rules.

2. Review the resources on how to comment and encourage others to comment. (You can host a comments event; teach your students civic engagement by developing a comments assignment; offer academic credit for comments; spread the news on social media; contact your colleagues, students, family and friends and encourage them to participate.)

3. Submit a comment in several different ways:

• Submit a comment without attachments via Hands Off IX (if you already have your comment drafted, search for "First Name" to quickly go to the form to paste in your comment), or via other online options
• Send research or other printables that ED may not have read to Ever Hanna (ever@endrapeoncampus.org) and Phoebe Suva (phoebe@endrapeoncampus.org).
• Want to contribute as a researcher and scholar committed to civil and human rights, but don't have a lot of time? Submit your (or others') research as a comment.

Faculty, Teachers, and Educators of all kinds can provide a unique voice in the comment period for these proposed rules. We can share what we have seen and experienced in our classrooms and with our students. And those of us who research or write about gender, civil and human rights, inequality, sexual harassment and similar topics can make a very significant contribution to the commenting process in very little time.

Because Title IX is about protecting and advancing gender equality, and sexual harassment and gender-based violence are inextricably linked with gender inequality, all research relevant to gender inequality is relevant to this proceeding. Therefore, even if you are unsure of whether your (or others') research will be helpful, you can and should submit it to the Department of Education via a comment. The text of your comment can provide a brief statement of why your research is relevant to this proceeding, or to the pro-equality, pro-civil rights spirit of Title IX, then can include your (or others') article(s), book chapter(s), etc., as attachments to your comment. The text of your comment can provide a brief statement of why your research is relevant to this proceeding, or to the pro-equality, pro-civil rights spirit of Title IX, then can include your article(s), book chapter(s), etc., as attachments to your comment.

Questions (including about sending your research to the Department of Education) or suggestions for this website? Email FacultySayHandsOffIX@gmail.com