What is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681) is an all-encompassing federal law that prohibits discrimination based on the gender of students and employees of educational institutions which receive federal financial assistance.

"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..." 20 U.S.C. § 1681

Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment, rape, and sexual assault. A college or university that receives federal funds may be held legally responsible when it knows about and ignores sexual harassment or assault in its programs or activities. The university can be held responsible in court whether the harassment is committed by a faculty member, staff, or student.

Who is Covered by Title IX?

Educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance are covered by Title IX. If only one of the institution's programs or activities receives federal funding, all of the programs within the institution must comply with Title IX regulations. In compliance with Title IX, Panola College prohibits discrimination in employment as well as in all programs and activities on the basis of sex.

Senate Bill 212

During the 2019 Texas legislative session, Senate Bill 212 was passed into state law. This new law requires all College employees to report sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking to the Title IX Coordinator. Employees are defined as full-time faculty and staff as well as part-time faculty and staff. An employee who fails to report an incident may be subject to criminal offense (misdemeanor) and the College is required to terminate their employment. 

Key Points

Beginning January 1, 2020, all employees who witness or receive information about "Title IX incidents" that involve a current student or employee must promptly report the incident to the College's Title IX Coordinator. Reports can be made by phone: 903-693-2021; email: hr@panola.edu; or online at the reporting link below.

• A Title IX incident can include sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking. Retaliation against persons who make a good faith report is prohibited.
• An employee is not required to report an incident where they are the victim.

An employee who does not report an incident or makes a false report can be charged with a criminal offense (misdemeanor). Also, the law states if an employee fails to make a required report or makes a false report, the employee shall be terminated.

Reports to the Title IX Coordinator must include all relevant information known about the incident.

The law also requires the College to designate certain employees as confidential employees. Specifically, the law requires designation of employees "as persons to whom students enrolled at the institution may speak confidentially concerning sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking".

Only confidential employees who have been designated by written notice by the College Title IX Coordinator, are required to only report the type of incident. Employees designated as confidential employees are distinct from those employees who, like a medical doctor or attorney, have an independent duty of confidentiality with no duty to report when performing their professional duties. Employees who are officially designated as "confidential employees" have been notified by the Title IX coordinator of such designation. Unless you have received such notice, you are not a confidential employee.

Panola College designates the following as Confidential Employees:

Stacy Gee, Advisor/Testing Coordinator
Charles C. Matthews Student Center, Second Floor - Room #2303
903-693-2046
sgee@panola.edu

Leslie Edelen, Advisor/Veteran's Affairs Certifying Official
Charles C. Matthews Student Center, Second Floor - Room #2204
903-693-2034
ledelen@panola.edu

Joseph Harris, Director of Admissions/Registrar
Charles C. Matthews Student Center, Second Floor - Room #2210
903-693-2009
jharris@panola.edu 

The identity of an alleged victim is confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Public Information laws. Unless the victim signs a waiver, only those with a need to know (based on their role in the investigative and hearing process) may learn the alleged victim's identity.

For more information, please review Senate Bill 212.