January 21, 2025

Title IX is a federal law introduced more than 50 years ago to end sex discrimination in education. All educational institutions that receive federal funds must comply with this legal mandate. On August 1, 2024, the Biden administration expanded the scope of Title IX to include the prohibition of discrimination based on both gender and gender identity. The 2024 regulations required teachers to refer to students using pronouns of their choosing, expanded the rights of victims of sexual assault, and broadened the definition of sexual harassment. 

On January 9, 2025, a federal court in Kentucky issued a ruling that resulted in the vacatur of the 2024 Title IX regulations. The 2024 Title IX regulations which governed the Bennington College Sexual and Interpersonal Misconduct Policy are no longer in effect. As a result, the College will revert to the 2020 Title IX regulations utilizing the Title IX Sexual Harassment, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Stalking Policy and Procedures and Bennington College Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Stalking to resolve reports made to the Title IX Office moving forward. 

While disconcerting to many, this change in regulations is not expected to have a major impact at Bennington. Most, if not all, faculty and staff already willingly honor students’ preferred pronouns and can go on doing so. In addition, we will continue to address sexual misconduct with the utmost care and with the greatest possible concern under the law. 

The website has been updated with the most recent iteration. If you have questions about how the Title IX regulations affect you, please reach out to Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and College Diversity Officer Alfredo Medina, Jr., PhD, or Title IX Assistant Tom Johnson.