Current Announcements and News
State and Federal Level
We will continue to update this section with news regarding Title IX, and other intersecting State and Federal level statuatory and regulatory information.
2025
On January 9, 2025, a federal district court in Kentucky issued a ruling in Tennessee vs. Cardona, one of the several lawsuits against the 2024 Title IX Regulations. The federal court's decision invalidates the 2024 Title IX regulations, finding them unconstitutional and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. This ruling effectively nullifies the 2024 rules nationwide, requiring schools and colleges to revert to the 2020 Title IX regulations. As a result, schools, including Lake Forest, must adjust policies and practices to align with the 2020 regulations. Therefore, the former Title IX policy will be reinstated until further notice.
2024
The Biden Administration Releases the 2024 Title IX Regulations
On April 19, 2024, the Department of Education released the 2024 Title IX regulations, and published its new Final Rule under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, on Monday, April 29, 2024. The new regulations, which govern colleges and universities’ obligations to address sex discrimination, become effective and enforceable on August 1, 2024. The College will review and interpret the regulations, and provide communication to the college through various platforms regarding the impact of the new regulations on policies, procedures, and protocols.
For questions regarding the regulations, you may contact, Ed Whipple, Vice President of Student Affairs, ewhipple@lakeforest.edu or titleix@lakeforest.edu.
2023
Federal Update: The Title IX regulations were anticipated October, 2023, however, there was another delay with releasing the Title IX Federal Regulations. The release of the new regulations is now anticipated sometime spring 2024. We will keep you updated.
State of Illinois Update
- A few highlights of 2023 Illinois protections and rights:
- Intoxication and sexual assault: when someone is unable to give consent when intoxicated, the respondent may be held responsible even when the accused did not provide the substance that intoxicated the harmed party.
- Extended reporting time: the survivor is now allowed 180 days to report an incident to law enforcement (It was only 90 days).
- Confidentially with health plan when seeking help: allows victims/survivors to decline to bill their health insurance provider for the cost of emergency care if they themselves are not the primary policy holder when seeking treatment from abuse of partner or family member.
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2022 News
Federal
- Department of Education solicited public comment about proposed Title IX regulations. Learn more.
- The college outlined the proposed changes spring 2022.
- US News Gains and Goals 50 Years of Title IX.
- Federal climate survey will be something campuses will have to adhere to soon. More information on this and any impact on the state climate survey that is also underway.
- June 23, 2022, Marked 50 Years of Title IX!
State
- Campus climate surveys are also being drafted for campuses as a joint effort of various constituents in higher education, providers, legal including the Attorney General Office. They held their initial meeting late fall and more will result from this.
Information on previous regulations can be found down below.
2021
March 2021
Executive Order on Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
1st 100 days, March 2021 President Biden ordered a review of existing regulations and policies to account for the significant rates at which students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) are subject to sexual harassment, which encompasses sexual violence; to ensure that educational institutions are providing appropriate support for students who have experienced sex discrimination; and to ensure that their school procedures are fair and equitable for all.
Read order here.
April 2021
Biden Administration shared Sex and Gender letter to parents outlining ensuring equal access for students.
Read letter here.
June 2021
In honor of Pride month, the Office for Civil Rights published a Pride blog and issued a notice of interpretation. This notice explains that the OCR will enforce Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, consistent with the reasoning in Bostock v. Clayton County, issued one year ago on June 15, 2020. You can find the press release here. Additionally, the OCR compiled a list of resources for LGBT+ students.
June 7, 2021 - June 11, 2021
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced it would conduct a comprehensive review of its regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, starting with a public hearing on the issues of sexual harassment in school environments, including sexual violence, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. From June 7, 2021 — June 11, 2021, the OCR will hosted a virtual public hearing. The OCR seeked participation from the public to address:
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- Steps the Department can take to ensure that schools are providing students with educational environments free from discrimination in the form of sexual harassment.
- How the Department can continue to ensure that schools have grievance procedures that provide for the fair, prompt, and equitable resolution of reports of sexual harassment and other sex discrimination.
- The Department’s role in addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in educational environments.
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The public hearing took place on the following dates and times:
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- June 7, 2021, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., CST
- June 8, 2021, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., CST
- June 9, 2021, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., CST
- June 10, 2021, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., CST
- June 11, 2021, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., CST
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Campus and Local Level
On June 3, 2021, the NCAA released an updated timeline for when educational institutions must be in compliance with their Policy on Campus Sexual Violence. Read the full report here.
In Spring 2021, the Title IX Office sought campus feedback from current employees and students who have engaged with the Title IX Office, as well as suggestions and comments overall. The feedback survey was available on my.involvement or through the link in your LFC email.
Visit the Title IX Homepage, my.involvement, or your LFC email for further internal communication.
2020
March 2020
White House issued a Proclamation on 2020 Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month.
May 2020
2020 Inside Higher Education: Insight on Coronavirus Updates
2019
January 2019
Comments submitted by Lake Forest College's Coalition Against Sexual Misconduct on January 30, 2019, on the proposed Department of Education Title IX regulations.
2018 and Before
Local radio station WBEZ 91.5 FM featured a segment about Zacharias Center in Gurnee. This segment centered around the Z-Center's workshop to teach young mento fight rape culture.
Listen to the Congressional Committee on Education and the Workforce” hearing on “Prevention and Responding to Sexual Assault on College Campuses” from Thursday, September 10, 2015.
Check out seeactstop.org to get facts, take action and help bring an end to the culture of campus sexual assault.
Contact Information
titleix@lakeforest.edu