Title IX Changes at Reed: What You Need to Know

Going into this school year, Reed has seen sweeping changes to its Title IX regulations as a result of new federal guidelines. All U.S. institutions that receive federal funding were required to comply with these revisions by August 1 this year, meaning that these changes have been in effect for the entire 2024-25 school year. With that said, many students may not know what changed, or the scope of Title IX in the first place, and how it affects them. To find out more about the changes to Reed’s Title IX policy, the Quest reached out to Reed’s Title IX and 504 Coordinator, Christy Martin, for an interview.

Martin first highlighted that all staff and faculty all now obligated reporters of sex-based discrimination and harassment, which she stated to be “one of the biggest changes for our community,” and a step to ensure that Reed is more accepting of victims of any sex-based discrimination or harassment. Martin elaborated that “those with teaching, advising, and administrative leadership” as targets as obligated reporters. Furthermore, she noted some student worker groups with those aforementioned responsibilities who have also been assigned as obligated reporters. She stated “we have identified Student Senate members, House Advisors, Judicial Board, Honor Council, Appeals Board, and student workers who supervise other student workers as those who have obligated reporter responsibilities,” while specifically noting that the Quest’s editors do not meet such criteria. Further specification is provided on the Reed website’s Title IX page.

Another point Martin stressed was the difference between a report and a complaint for the purposes of Title IX. According to Martin, “a report is letting us know that a policy violation may have happened so that we can extend support to impacted parties,” whereas a complaint occurs when a survivor seeks resolution. She also noted the possibility that a report may lead a student to feel as if they want to pursue a resolution with a complaint or further support with no expiration date. Martin elaborated, “I’ve been hoping to raise awareness about the difference between a report and a complaint,” sympathizing with students who hesitate to seek support in fear of retaliating against someone who may have harmed them, clarifying that any escalation beyond support itself would be exclusively the choice of the victim reaching out.

Another significant impact of the Title IX change, as pointed out by Martin, are changes to the hearing process when a student files a complaint. This year, the hearing process undergone when a student files a complaint can be made asynchronous, so that those responsible for the final verdict will question parties and witnesses separately to reduce overall tension, though the process is still otherwise the same. Martin acknowledged that under the previous regulations there was potential for hearings “to be much more stressful and heated… we want to be able to bring the temperature back down and go with an asynchronous process.” This change seeks to make the process of a complaint less overwhelming for the student filing it and reduce stress for all parties involved.

Reed’s Title IX policy has also historically been paired alongside the DHSM, or Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Misconduct policy. Under this year’s changes to Title IX, the definition of sexual discrimination has expanded, allowing Title IX to cover everything under the “S” in DHSM. As a result, it becomes much easier to determine whether a violation would be handled under the procedures of Title IX or DHSM, and all sex-based or sexual violations are now covered under Title IX exclusively. This expansion of the behavior covered by Title IX means that students may still qualify for support, even as an aid for something they worry may not have been severe enough to warrant it.

Despite this, Martin mentioned that “a violation that happened before August 1 of 2024 would be handled under the previous Title IX policy,” meaning that, unfortunately, the new measures are not retroactive.

Martin additionally clarified that previous confidential resources at Reed are still available, citing the HCC and a new memorandum of understanding with Call to Safety, a third-party resource for survivors of sexual violence and misconduct. Martin stated “our main focus is access to education and people getting the support they need,” ensuring that Reed’s intention is not to replace or overhaul previous establishments, but to provide additional avenues for students alongside them. Martin further remarked that “discrimination is a huge umbrella and… creates barriers to education. The hope is that we’re creating systems that can help erode those barriers.”

Martin explained that such drastic changes to Title IX guidelines tend to happen every four years, around the end of a presidential term. She further specified, stating “it’s unlikely for freshmen who have just started this year to see a different Title IX policy before they graduate. Not impossible, but probably unlikely.” However, students who are interested in Title IX at a federal level can still stay informed through a number of sources, such as the ATIXA website and Title IX Today newsletter, and many non-profit or government agencies such as the DOJ Civil Rights Division, Advocates for Youth, Office for Violence Against Women, National Alliance for Partnerships in Education, or Center for Changing Our Campus Culture. 

Specific information on Title IX at Reed is available on the Reed College website. The website has a Title IX coordinator page, which is informational, containing contact information and information on how to report, and what it might look like, with a link to the online reporting form. It additionally includes links to links to the policy page and procedures. Martin affirmed, “the coordinator page is like the go-to resource on all things Title IX.” It also has links to Reed’s confidential resources and a link where any student can freely book a meeting with Martin, who also ensured that “we are always happy to meet with people,” citing herself and her two Deputy Coordinators, who can both be found on Reed’s Title IX page.

In closing, Martin urged students looking for further information on Title IX to reach out to her. “I’m a primary resource. This is my whole job. Everyone else is wearing other hats and doing other things as well, whereas this is my everything.”

Christy Martin can be reached via email at cmartin@reed.edu, and her meeting link is available at christymartin.youcanbook.me. These resources and more are also available on the Reed College Title IX web page.