Purchase College is committed to maintaining an educational and working environment grounded in fairness, dignity, and equal access. As a recipient of federal financial assistance, the college has a responsibility to uphold civil rights protections that prohibit discrimination and harassment and to ensure equitable participation in its programs, activities, and employment practices.
The Equity & Civil Rights function of the Office of Diversity and Compliance provides leadership, oversight, and accountability for the college’s responsibilities under federal and state civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and New York Education Law §129-B. Together, these frameworks support a campus climate rooted in safety, respect, and shared responsibility, and they are comprehensively included in our nondiscrimination policy.
Title IX is a comprehensive federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities. At Purchase College, Title IX applies to all departments, programs, and activities (on and off campus) and extends to students, employees, and campus visitors.
The principal objective of Title IX is to avoid the use of federal money to support sex discrimination in education programs and to provide individual citizens effective protection against those practices” (see: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq.). Title IX applies to all departments, programs, and activities, on and off campus, available to students at Purchase College, in addition to employment. Under Title IX, the college prohibits sex-based discrimination, harassment, and related forms of misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. The Title IX framework is designed to ensure access to supportive measures, provide fair and impartial review, and address both individual concerns and broader patterns that may affect campus equity and safety.
In addition to federal Title IX requirements, Purchase College complies with New York Education Law §129-B, commonly known as the Enough Is Enough law. This statute establishes comprehensive standards for addressing sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking at New York institutions of higher education.
Section 129-B emphasizes prevention, education, survivor support, and institutional accountability. At Purchase College, these requirements are integrated into the Title IX framework to ensure coordinated reporting processes, access to supportive resources, ongoing education, and campus-wide efforts to promote safety, dignity, and equity.
The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, typically known by its acronym “SONDA,” prohibits discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, credit, and the exercise of civil rights. New York has long prohibited discrimination on the basis of certain characteristics, such as race, sex, and religion. SONDA added the term “sexual orientation” to the list of specifically protected characteristics in various State laws, including the Human Rights Law, the Civil Rights Law, and the Education Law.
The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) prohibits discrimination gender identity or expression. The law defines gender identity or expression as “a person’s actual or perceived gender-related identity, appearance, behavior, expression, or other gender-related characteristic regardless of the sex assigned to that person at birth, including, but not limited to, the status of bring transgender. GENDA also includes offenses regarding gender identity or expression within the list of offenses which may be treated as hate crimes by the State. To view the full text of The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) (Senate Bill S1047), please visit the following New York State Senate Website.
Complaints may be made to the Affirmative Action Officer or the Chief Human Resources Officer. This does not rescind a person’s right to file a complaint with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. This includes protection against exclusion, unequal treatment, or conduct that creates a hostile environment and interferes with access to educational or employment opportunities.
Through Title VI oversight, the college addresses concerns related to racial or ethnic discrimination and harassment and works to identify and respond to patterns or systemic issues that may impact campus climate. This work supports Purchase College’s commitment to equity, accountability, and inclusive community standards. These requirements are integrated into the nondiscrimination policy and framework.
