Know Your IX: What Academic Medical Centers Should Understand About Title IX

Over the last decade, Title IX (the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education) has become an increasing focus both in higher education and in the media. Changes in federal guidance in 2011 led to an explosion of Title IX complaints and litigation, which increased even further when that guidance was withdrawn in 2017. Complaints are likely to rise with the release of new Title IX regulations in 2020. According to United Educators (a group that insures U.S. educational institutions), Title IX claims are among the most frequent and costliest claims that educational institutions face, and they are likely to remain so. However, despite the legal and reputational risks associated with Title IX, its application outside of colleges and universities is not well understood. All institutions that receive federal financial assistance, including academic medical centers (AMCs) not part of a university system, must follow Title IX requirements in their educational programs, which include their medical residencies and clinical rotations for students. Establishing a Title IX program in an AMC-whether or not it is part of a university-is a substantial undertaking that requires the cooperation of both educational and clinical leaders. In this article, the authors make the case that AMCs should take seriously the risks of not complying with Title IX, explain why establishing a separate process for Title IX reports is necessary, and set forth the major steps that institutions should take to come into compliance.