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Title IX
What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex, including pregnancy or parental status, in education programs and activities that received federal financial assistance. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.
Who does it protect?
It protects students, staff, faculty, and campus visitors from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions. Title IX ensures the right to take medically necessary leave and to be free of harassment, intimidation, or other discrimination because of pregnancy-related conditions.
What is Penn required to do?
To comply with Title IX, the University must:
- Allow pregnant students to continue to participate in academic and extracurricular activity of their choice, while providing reasonable accommodations as needed.
- Students must be allowed to take time off of school for pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, abortion and/or recovery for as long as their doctor says is medically necessary. That could mean a few absences for necessary medical appointments, or a longer leave of absence for a high-risk pregnancy or childbirth. This rule applies even if taking medically necessary leave would require an absence for longer than the school’s leave policy ordinarily allows. Students cannot be penalized for taking leave, and must be able to return to school in the same status they held before taking leave.
- Protect you from harassment related to your pregnant or parenting status.
- Penn's Title IX Office: https://titleixoffice.upenn.edu/home, contact titleIXofficer@upenn.edu.
The Family Center provides advising! If you have questions or concerns about your pregnancy leave or accommodations and/or Title IX we are here to listen, advocate on your behalf, and connect you to more resources. Contact our staff at familycenter@upenn.edu to set up an advising appointment.
Title IX Resources
See the following sources below for further information on Title IX.
University of Pennsylvania
The Pregnant Scholar
National Women's Law Center
U.S. Department of Education
Title IX 2024
Bias Incident Reporting Form
University of Pennsylvania
The Pregnant Scholar
National Women's Law Center
U.S. Department of Education
Title IX 2024
Bias Incident Reporting Form
- International Student and Scholar Services is a dedicated office available to provide you with professional immigration guidance, a wide array of services, informative programs, and support.
- Review guidance from ISSS for staying safe.
This includes, but is not limited to:- Know the forms of personal identification and immigration status documentation we recommend carrying at all times.
- Monitor your email for important updates from ISSS and read all ISSS communications carefully.
- Contact your assigned ISSS advisor directly for personalized support with any specific concerns.
- Know who to contact in case of emergency or if you are the victim of a crime or harassment
- Review practical tips for Staying Safe and Special Guidance for preventing identity theft and other forms of fraud and understanding your rights
- Immigration Policy Updates & Resources Website (Pennkey protected): All members of the Penn community are encouraged to visit our website for the latest announcements from ISSS, resources, and important contact information.
- Penn community members can connect with the office through various channels, including virtual and in-person advising. Website | 215-898-4661 | Email.
- Review guidance from ISSS for staying safe.
Legal Services available to the Penn Community
- Penn's Undergraduate Assembly and the Graduate & Professional Student Assembly provide free legal services to all students in Penn’s community.
- The Gittis Legal Clinics are Penn Carey Law School's teaching law firm, comprised of nine in-house clinics that provide low income residents with free or discounted legal services, provided by certified law students under close faculty supervision. The mission of the clinics is to educate students on the skills and intricacies of being a lawyer while serving the legal needs of clients and underserved communities.
- Community Legal Services of Philadelphia provides provides legal representation and advice to low-income tenants who are renters in non-subsidized housing in Philadelphia. CLS attorneys and other staff provide a full range of legal services, from individual representation to administrative advocacy to class action litigation, as well as community education and social work.
- Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in Philadelphia. Volunteers assist clients with a variety of legal issues, including family law, foreclosure, public benefits, and more. PLA also provides referrals and support to organizations that coordinate pro bono volunteer lawyers, including Philadelphia VIP and the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project.
- The Philadelphia Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) matches clients with carefully screened and well qualified lawyers in the Philadelphia area. LRIS refers to lawyers in more than 160 areas of the law. The initial consultation with any LRIS lawyer, up to 30 minutes, is only $35.00. There will be no upfront consultation fee in matters typically taken on a contingent fee basis. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, LRIS may be able to refer you to a legal aid agency or other resource that may be able to help you for low or no fee.
- The Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships has a legal clinic staffed by current Drexel Law students who work with West Philadelphia community members.
