08/01/2024
By William Cummings

UMass Lowell is committed to employment and pedagogical practices and a learning environment free of discrimination and harassment. At UMass Lowell, equal opportunity and safe working and learning environments are the foundation for a diverse, inclusive and highly effective community in which all members may thrive.

As part of the commitment, the university is providing an update on the new U.S. Dept, of Education Title IX Rules took effect today, August 1, 2024. In consultation with the UMass System and the Office of General Counsel, UMass Lowell’s Office of Equal Opportunity has been leading campus conversations and working diligently to revise Title IX policies, guidelines, and procedures to meet these requirements, which will soon be published on the Equal Opportunity website.

Mandated Training Requirements for All Employees

In the coming months, Equal Opportunity will roll out annual, required training on the new regulations for all employees. Depending on their roles at the university, additional training will be provided to specific administrators and employees, which will also be made broadly available to university employees as requested.

Mandated Reporting and Referral Requirements for All Employees

Under the new regulations, university employees who are not Confidential as defined within University Guidelines (Confidential Employees are employees granted confidentiality by privilege or state licensing requirements and/or considered confidential by the university) will be required to notify the Title IX Coordinator of disclosures made to them of sex discrimination under Title IX. This includes sexual harassment as defined in the regulations (quid pro quo harassment, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or retaliation).

Confidential employees are required to refer the reporting individual to the Title IX Coordinator and provide the contact information for the Title IX Coordinator. Additional information is provided in the UMass Lowell Non-Discrimination Guidelines, located on our website and will be provided in trainings.

Reports to the Title IX Coordinator may be made by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity by phone at 978-934-3565, email at equal_opportunity@uml.edu, or by using the online reporting form located on the Equal Opportunity website.

Accommodations for Pregnancy and Pregnancy Related Conditions

The 2024 Title IX regulations also include prohibition of discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or pregnancy related conditions. Under the new regulations, if a student discloses to an employee that they are pregnant, the employee must notify the student of their right to be free from discrimination, right to contact the Title IX Coordinator for reasonable accommodations under Title IX, and provide the contact information for the Title IX Coordinator. Equal Opportunity will provide additional resources and information on its website, including a brochure with this information that can easily be provided to students.

Employees seeking reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and/or pregnancy related conditions under Title IX, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and/or Massachusetts General Laws should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity.

UMass Lowell and the UMass system are closely monitoring litigation and injunctions in place regarding the 2024 regulations. If we are required to make changes, updates will be made and published on the Equal Opportunity website.