Important updates for students regarding civil rights and Title IX resources
July 23, 2025
This message was sent to all UW students on July 24, 2025. You are also welcome to view the companion message shared with UW employees. Dear Students, We write to share several important updates that reflect our University’s ongoing commitment to fostering a respectful, safe and inclusive environment for all members of our community. These…
Important updates for employees regarding civil rights and Title IX resources
July 23, 2025
This message was sent to all UW employees on July 24, 2025. You are also welcome to view the companion message shared with UW students. Dear Colleagues, We write to share several important updates that reflect our University’s ongoing commitment to fostering a respectful, safe and inclusive environment for all members of our community. These…
The University Begins Recruiting for a Title VI Coordinator
April 9, 2025
The University is currently recruiting for a newly created Title VI Coordinator position! The Title VI Coordinator will join the newly restructured Civil Rights Compliance Office (CRC), which is scheduled to launch July 2025. The Title VI Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating the University’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. In…
Access and Accessibility in the Built Environment
March 3, 2025
In 2019, the University prioritized work to re-establish comprehensive transition plans for its built environments. Through this process, the University evaluated its facilities and programs within the public rights-of-way, public outdoor spaces and building entrances accessible to the public, to determine barriers to access for individuals with disabilities. The campus transition plans describe the current…
The University Enters into a Resolution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights
February 7, 2025
The University announced on January 15, 2025, that it has entered into a voluntary resolution agreement with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to resolve complaints that the University discriminated against students on the basis of shared ancestry by failing to respond to incidents of harassment consistent with the requirements of…
Implementation of 2024 Title IX Regulations at UW Blocked by Federal Court
August 1, 2024
August 1, 2024 Legal challenges to the 2024 Title IX regulations continue, and more states and specific schools are being impacted by federal court-ordered injunctions. The University of Washington is one of the many schools blocked from implementing the regulations on August 1 as planned. We are closely monitoring the legal landscape, and if the…
Update on Title IX Regulations at the UW
July 17, 2024
July 17, 2024 A temporary injunction preventing the federal government from enforcing the 2024 Title IX regulations has been expanded to include the University of Washington. At present, 14 states and hundreds of individual schools, colleges and universities in states across the nation are included in the injunction, which effectively prevents the Department of Education’s 2024…
Final 2024 Title IX Regulations Released
April 26, 2024
April 26, 2024 The U.S. Department of Education released the long-awaited final Title IX regulations on Friday, April 19. The new regulations will go into effect on August 1, 2024. While the final regulations have maintained most of the elements from the proposed regulations, they also include some notable changes. A UW work group is…
Accessibility = Community
April 10, 2024
Over the 2023–24 academic year the UW community has been able to engage in a variety of events, lectures and educational resources designed to explore our history of disability access, and build our knowledge on how to foster disability inclusion across our institution. This yearlong campaign could not have been possible without great campus partners. A…
Accessibility is a Journey
January 23, 2024
Welcome to 2024! I begin this year with a mix of excitement and reflection, a common pairing of emotions this time of year. I am excited as I look forward to a series of accessibility projects on the horizon for the UW, including a new online campus map with accessibility features embedded. I am also…
Disability Employment Awareness Month
January 23, 2024
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and serves as a recognition of the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive workforce. At the UW we strive to create welcoming and respectful learning and working environments, and to promote access and opportunity for everyone. Review the Fall 2023 newsletter to learn more…
What is Title IX and why is it important?
October 30, 2023
October 30, 2023 Message to UW Students Dear UW Students, Title IX and other federal and state laws prohibit all forms of sex- and gender-based discrimination. Sex- and gender-based discrimination includes sexual harassment, relationship violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, and sexual assault. Title IX also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression,…
50th Anniversary of Section 504
September 26, 2023
September 26, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the foundational civil rights law that established protection from discrimination for individuals with disabilities in the United States, and requires the University of Washington to provide equal access to programs,…
Annual Notice on Student Accommodations
September 26, 2023
September 6, 2023 Each University of Washington student deserves an equal opportunity to succeed academically, and instructors and academic personnel play a crucial role in our students’ success. Disability is an aspect of diversity, and the University is committed to educating a diverse student body to become responsible global citizens and future leaders. By making…
July is Disability Pride Month
September 26, 2023
Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to honor the history, achievements, experiences and struggles of the disability community in recognition of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the landmark legislation that broke down barriers to inclusion in society. Review the Summer 2023 newsletter to learn more about the spotlight and resources featured.
Final Title IX Rules are Now Expected in October 2023
May 27, 2023
May 30, 2023 The much-anticipated release of the new Title IX regulations has been postponed. The U.S. Department of Education announced in its blog on May 26 that the target for the final rule has shifted from May to October 2023. The Department cited the significant number of comments they received on the proposed Title…
Event Planning
April 18, 2023
Spring is upon us and with its arrival has brought cherry blossoms on campus as well as growing hours of sunlight throughout the Pacific Northwest. However, this spring has also inspired reflection for those in and connected to the disability community. Spring quarter is also a time to gather and celebrate as we honor the…
Proposed Title IX Rules regarding Students’ Eligibility for Athletic Teams
April 11, 2023
April 11, 2023 On April 6, 2023 the U.S. Department of Education shared an unofficial version of proposed Title IX regulations regarding sex-related eligibility criteria for male and female athletic teams. The department also provided a fact sheet, U.S. Department of Education’s Proposed Change to its Title IX Regulations on Students’ Eligibility for Athletic Teams.…
Quarterly ADA & Accessibility Newsletter
November 11, 2022
Sign up for the ADA & Accessibility Quarterly Newsletter Add your name and email on the right sidebar on the home page to receive quarterly information and resources. Review past newsletters. Follow the ADA Office on Social Media Follow us on Instagram @uw_ada or Twitter @uw_ada
Title IX Rights and Resources for UW Students
October 21, 2022
October 21, 2022 Message to UW Students About Title IX Rights and Resources Dear UW Students, We’re contacting you with information about Title IX, a federal gender equity law that prohibits discrimination based on sex or gender. As a UW student, there are a number of reasons why Title IX may matter to you: You…
Fact Resource about Pregnancy and Related Conditions
October 12, 2022
October 12, 2022 During a time when access to the full range of reproductive health care options is changing in the national landscape, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released the Discrimination Based on Pregnancy and Related Conditions fact resource. This resource emphasizes and clarifies universities' existing Title IX obligations to protect…
UW submits response to 2022 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
September 12, 2022
September 12, 2022 The U.S. Department of Education posted proposed Title IX regulations in the Federal Register on July 12, 2022. The University of Washington submitted a detailed response, which includes a letter from President Cauce and specific feedback based on the Office of the Title IX Coordinator’s analysis and input received from partners across…
Proposed Title IX Rules
July 12, 2022
July 12, 2022 The U.S. Department of Education posted proposed Title IX regulations on June 23, 2022, which were published in the Federal Register on July 12, 2022. A 60-day notice and comment period is now underway, with comments due to the Department of Education on or before September 12, 2022. The Notice of Proposed…
Portion of Title IX regulations deemed “arbitrary and capricious”
September 10, 2021
September 10, 2021 Recently, a federal court ruled that one part of the Department of Education’s 2020 federal Title IX regulations was “arbitrary and capricious” and set it aside. The Department of Education then issued a letter stating that the Department would immediately stop enforcing that part of the 2020 Title IX regulations. UW will…
Biden orders review of the Title IX regulations within 100 days
March 9, 2021
March 9, 2021 President Biden issued an executive order on March 8, 2021 guaranteeing an educational environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation or gender identity. The order requires a review of all agency actions that may be inconsistent with this guarantee and specifically references the Title IX regulations that…
Will Title IX rules change under Biden Administration?
December 7, 2020
December 7, 2020 The Office of the Title IX Coordinator has received numerous questions about what we expect given the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. We don’t have any “insider information” about who President-Elect Biden will select as the Secretary of Education, but we have read the news articles many of you have also…
October Title IX Community Conversation – Video Now Available
November 12, 2020
November 12, 2020 If you weren’t able to join the October 28 or 29 community conversation, a recording is now available of the October 29 presentation. The video includes information about what the new federal rules require and how UW has come into compliance. We also discuss initiatives that are focused on moving beyond compliance. View the…
Message to Students About UW’s Implementation of 2020 Title IX Rules
October 22, 2020
October 22, 2020 Dear UW Students: Title IX is a federal gender equity law that prohibits discrimination based on sex or gender. New Title IX regulations from the U.S. Department of Education went into effect on August 14, 2020, which govern how educational institutions must respond to particular instances of sexual assault, sexual harassment and…
Title IX Community Conversations: Moving Forward after the 2020 Federal Rules
October 19, 2020
October 19, 2020 The new federal Title IX rules went into effect on August 14, 2020, and require universities to respond to particular forms of sexual misconduct in specific ways. Join us for a community conversation about UW’s two-pathway approach to implementing the rules and provide input as we review and adjust our interim policies…
Title IX Regulations effective August 14, 2020
August 13, 2020
August 13, 2020 Dear University Community: The U.S. Department of Education’s new Title IX regulations governing how educational institutions respond to sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other forms of sexual misconduct take effect August 14, 2020. In January 2019, the UW submitted detailed comments outlining our concerns with the proposed rules and provided a declaration…
Title IX Community Conversation - Video Now Available
June 12, 2020
June 12, 2020 If you weren’t able to join the June 2 or June 4 community conversation, a recording is now available of the June 2 presentation. The video includes information about what the new federal rules require, and how UW is responding. Phase I of our response includes developing interim/emergency rules that must be in…
Title IX Community Conversations: New Federal Rules
May 26, 2020
May 26, 2020 The new federal Title IX rules describe how the US Department of Education will define sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence; they outline when an institution must respond to this conduct, and they prescribe how an institution must respond. Join us for a community conversation to discuss key elements of the new federal rules,…
Message to UW Students About New Federal Title IX Rules
May 13, 2020
May 13, 2020 Dear UW Students: President Cauce recently communicated with the UW community regarding the new Title IX regulations which were released by the U.S. Department of Education on May 6, 2020. The UW (and thousands of others) urged the Department of Education to take a different tack with these rules which govern how…
Final Title IX Rules Released
May 6, 2020
May 6, 2020 The U.S Department of Education posted final Title IX regulations on May 6, 2020, to go into effect on August 14, 2020. The new rules have maintained most of the elements from the proposed regulations (see UW’s response from January 2019), while also including new and amended language. The Department of Education’s website…
Anticipating Title IX Rules from U.S. Department of Education
December 16, 2019
December 16, 2019 There is speculation that the Department of Education will be releasing final Title IX rules early in 2020. If and when final rules are released, the Office of the Title IX Coordinator will work quickly to review and provide a general overview of the rules and implementation timeline. We will also schedule…
November Title IX Community Conversations in Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma
October 29, 2019
October 29, 2019 Join us for a conversation about the community impacts of sexual assault, sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct. What rights, resources and options are available to people who have experienced sexual misconduct? What can bystanders do to intervene and prevent harm? What happens during a University investigation? How can we…
UW Community Conversations at Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell
March 19, 2019
March 19, 2019 The University of Washington has submitted a response to the proposed Title IX regulations and is now preparing for what comes next. Title IX community conversations are scheduled for all three campuses and will include available updates about the federal rule-making process, UW Title IX initiatives around prevention and response, and ideas…
UW submits response to proposed Title IX rules
January 28, 2019
January 28, 2019 The U.S. Department of Education posted proposed Title IX regulations in the Federal Register on November 29, 2018. The University of Washington has analyzed these proposed rules, solicited input from the UW community, and has submitted a detailed response. Additional updates, including opportunities for input and discussion, will be posted here as we learn…
Proposed Title IX rules
December 8, 2018
December 8, 2018 The U.S. Department of Education posted proposed Title IX regulations in the Federal Register on November 29, 2018. This initiated a notice and comment period with comments due to the Department of Education on or before January 28, 2019. Attend a 2019 UW discussion forum Title IX discussion forums will include an…