Exploring Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policies in Higher Education: An Examination into the Breadth and Depth of Policies’ Content

ABSTRACT Schools are required to have written policies regarding the handling of sexual misconduct cases, but little research has examined the content of these policies. This study explored the content of Title IX sexual misconduct policies for 200 universities in the U.S. specifically assessing if the content is in line with the Title IX regulations set forth by the Trump administration. The results revealed that there were certain areas of high transparency, where the policies inform the students in-depth about their Title IX sexual misconduct procedure (e.g. confidentiality, how and where to report, standard of proof). However, there were notable gaps where the policies require further details in order to fully inform their stakeholders (e.g. cross-examination, rape shield provisions). Given the importance of having a comprehensive Title IX policy, future research and recommendations for improving schools’ Title IX policies are discussed.