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We Care. We Will Help. Addressing Sex-Based Offenses in the Campus Community

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About Title IX

Title IX states: "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." The law protects people from discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

The types of discrimination covered under Title IX include sexual harassment, the failure to provide equal opportunity in athletics and discrimination based on pregnancy. Title IX is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

The University takes all complaints of sexual misconduct seriously and offers compassionate support to anyone in the campus community who becomes the victim of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating or domestic violence, stalking or retaliation.

Such acts are illegal and violate the policies of Sacramento State and the California State University (CSU). Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education.

In 2014, California became the first state to enact "yes means yes" legislation. Under the law, the definition of consent requires "an affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity." To learn more about affirmative consent, visit the sexual assault web page.

In October 2000, Sacramento State became the first of the 23 CSU campuses to hire a dedicated Confidential Advocate.

Myths & Facts of Sexual/Dating Violence

Sacramento State Staff & Faculty Responsibility

All employees, other than physicians, licensed and sexual assault counselors and the Confidential Advocate, must report incidents of sexual violence to the Title IX coordinator. And to the extent possible, that information will be shared only with individuals responsible for handling the University's response to the incident. Sacramento State will protect victims' privacy except as otherwise required by law or University policy.

The University does not require victims to participate in any investigation or disciplinary proceeding unless they wish to. And the University generally will not notify parents or legal guardians unless the victim is under age 18 or provides the University with written permission to do so.

Title IX Contacts

Title IX Coordinator

William Bishop, Director for Equal Opportunity, is the campus Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation (DHR) Administrator and Title IX Coordinator responsible for implementation of these policies. He may be reached at william.bishop@csus.edu or (916) 278-5770.

Deputy Title IX Coordinators

  • Alison Nygard: Office for Equal Opportunity Investigator, (916) 278-5770.
  • Stephanie Cruz: Office for Equal Opportunity Investigator, (916) 278-5770.
  • Tom Carroll: Interim Director of Student Conduct (916) 278-6060
  • Aja Holmes: Senior Associate Director, Residential Life, (916) 278-6655
  • Pamm Zierfuss-Hubbard: Associate Director of Athletics/SWA, (916) 278-7548