Prohibited Conduct (Policy)
The Ñý¼§Ö±²¥, together with our Affiliates, commits to a learning and working environment that emphasizes the dignity and worth of every member of its community that is free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based upon race, color, religion, national origin, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, gender, age, political ideas, marital or family status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation (taken together, generally, “protected-class harm”). An inclusive environment is necessary for a healthy and productive University community. The University will take appropriate action to prevent, resolve, and remediate protected-class harm.
Title IX
"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." -Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972
Important Update: Federal Title IX Regulations
June 27, 2024
Dear Members of the Community,
As many of you are aware, the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ has been working diligently since April to implement revised federal Title IX regulations, which were initially to go into effect August 1, 2024. Title IX governs UM’s response to sex-based harassment, sex discrimination, and sexual violence. Since April, 26 states have filed lawsuits to block the implementation of these new 2024 regulations. A lawsuit involving Montana was filed in federal court, and the judge granted a temporary injunction, meaning that the federal court has blocked implementation of the 2024 Title IX regulations until a trial can be held. The trial will not happen before August 1, 2024, thus the implementation deadline for the regulations will pass before this matter is resolved.
In the meantime, the 2020 Title IX regulations remain in effect as they have been for the last four years, and we will continue to train our employees to ensure continued compliance. Amidst evolving legal circumstances, our commitment to you, the members of our community remains unchanged – to maintain a safety and welcoming environment for all. We are closely monitoring the legal landscape and will continue to provide Title IX protections to our community consistent with law. We will provide additional community updates in the future when there is significant news to report. In the meantime, questions about Title IX compliance should be directed to: Pamela Altmaier, Title IX Coordinator, at 406-243-5710 or pamela.altmaier@umontana.edu.
Sincerely,
Pamela Altmaier Alicia Arant
Title IX Coordinator AVP of Conflict, Resolution, & Policy
April 24, 2024
On April 19, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued new governing how universities and colleges, including the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥, must address reported sex-based misconduct under Title IX, which is a federal statute that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. Title IX, together with other relevant civil rights laws and prior OCR guidance, form the basis of the University’s current Discrimination, Harassment, & Retaliation Policy and accompanied Grievance Procedures. The new regulations will require UM’s Office of Conflict, Resolution, & Policy (CRP), which includes the Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, to amend its existing investigatory and adjudicatory processes, but UM’s institutional commitment to stop, remedy, and prevent recurrence of discrimination remains unchanged. The University will continue to prohibit all forms of sex-based misconduct, address such reports in a fair and respectful manner, and provide supportive measures to the parties involved.
UM is taking time to examine the new regulations, in collaboration with state and national partners, to determine how best to implement the required changes on our campus. Additionally, UM was awarded a grant through the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) to support effective, comprehensive responses to sex-based misconduct. Given the opportunities of the forthcoming Title IX regulations and the efforts of the OVW grant, CRP will be reviewing and intentionally updating its training offerings, policies and procedures, and response processes prior to August 1, when the final regulations go into effect. CRP will seek input from campus and community constituents as we proceed.
Sincerely,
Pamela Altmaier Alicia Arant
Title IX Coordinator AVP of Conflict, Resolution, & Policy