Title IX covers a variety of sexual misconduct and is defined under the general term of sexual harassment. Sexual misconduct is the umbrella term for all prohibited sex and gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, or sexual/domestic/dating violence at UWO, including Title IX sexual harassment and non-Title IX sexual misconduct.

Sexual misconduct can have the effect of denying individuals equal access to and benefit from UWO programs and activities. All sexual misconduct is prohibited under Title IX and University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Policy. See Policies for more information.

Title IX Sexual Harassment Definition

• An employee of the institution conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the institution on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; or
• Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the institution’s education program or activity; or
• Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, or Stalking.

Title IX Jurisdiction:

• In the United States; and
• Within an “education program or activity”- includes locations, events, or circumstances over which the University exercises substantial control over both the respondent (individual accused of behavior) and the context in which the sexual harassment occurred.

Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct

In addition to Title IX requirements, UWO has student and employee conduct policies which cover prohibited sexual misconduct which falls outside the scope of Title IX sexual harassment (non-Title IX sexual misconduct). For example, sexual misconduct which occurs in a study abroad program or an incident that happens off campus. 

No one is alone at UWO. Sexual misconduct in any form can have a profound impact on a victim/survivor’s academic, social, working, and personal life. It can also affect their friends and family, other students, co-workers, and members of the university community. To combat this complex social problem, UWO provides a variety of support services and prevention programs designed to prevent sexual misconduct, provide information about what to do when an incident has occurred, and increase awareness of campus and community resources for support and response. Please see the Support, Prevention, and Education pages for more information.

Victim/survivors of sexual misconduct are encouraged to seek support and report any incident.

Everyone has a part in Title IX. UWO carries out compliance of Title IX through a coordinated and collaborative system of initiatives, programs, and services that collectively protect educational access, advance gender equity, and prevent and promptly respond to reports of sexual misconduct and sex discrimination.

Title IX applies to students, employees, visitors, contractors, and guests.

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has a Title IX Coordinator to oversee the institutional response to Title IX complaints, identify and coordinate training and education programs, develop resource materials for faculty, staff, and students, as well as monitor trends and effectiveness of Title IX prevention and education efforts.

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The following behaviors are prohibited under Title IX and UWO policies:

• Sex Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Sexual Assault
• Sexual Exploitation
• Dating Violence
• Domestic Violence
• Stalking
• Retaliation
• Providing false information to a reporting or investigatory office on a Title IX matter
• Refusal to comply with a reasonable request on a Title IX matter

Title IX’s protection extends to a broad array of UWO programs, benefits, and services, including but not limited to:

• Admissions/Recruitment
• Housing
• Facilities
• Access to Classes
• Counseling
• Financial Assistance
• Employment Assistance
• Health Insurance
• Marital or Parental Status and Pregnancy
• Athletics
• Employment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy and parental status—in educational programs and activities. As a pregnant or parenting student, you may be eligible for certain accommodations or reasonable adjustments.

As you work with professors around specific needs and/or missed classes, please feel free to reach out to the Dean of Students office with questions or concerns.

It is important for all members of the UWO community to know that pregnant and parenting students have certain rights under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Those rights include:

Reasonable Adjustments

Should a pregnant student have specific classroom needs (e.g., larger desk, elevator access, ability to make frequent trips to restroom), faculty and/or other university personnel are required to comply.

Excused Absences

Any absence related to pregnancy or childbirth must be excused for as long as medical personnel deem necessary. Instructors may request that students meet with an employee in the Dean of Students Office, especially if the absence is for an extended period of time. Students with children may need to be absent to care for a sick child, cover a gap in childcare, or other emergencies. Instructors are encouraged to accommodate such absences. Students should work with the Dean of Students Office if these needs arise.

Make-Up Work

Students returning to class must be allowed to return to the same academic status as before the medical leave began and given the opportunity to make up any work missed during the leave. This includes an opportunity to make-up “class participation” points that the student missed by virtue of not being in class. Further, any deadlines that were missed during the leave must be extended to allow submission of work.

Stopping Out

Students who may be interested in taking a semester off should speak with their advisor and/or the Dean of Students office to discuss how the time off would affect the student’s academic progress. Further, students who receive financial aid should meet with the Financial Aid office to learn what implications, if any, time away has on aid.

It is important to note that pregnant or parenting students are held to the level of academic standards and must meet the learning objectives that have been set for the course. Students must work with their faculty to determine what accommodations are reasonable to allow the student to complete all work while also achieving course outcomes.

Parenting/Pregnancy Resources

U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights – “Know Your Rights: Pregnant or Parenting?  Title IX Protects You from Discrimination at School”

National Women’s Law Center – Education for Pregnant & Parenting Students