"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." 

The Cleveland Institute of Art is committed to providing a learning, working and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free of sexual misconduct and discrimination. Title IX of the Education Act Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities operated by recipients of Federal financial assistance. This includes sexual harassment, discrimination based on pregnancy, parental status, sex stereotypes (such as treating persons differently because they do not conform to sex-role expectations or because they are attracted to or are in relationships with persons of the same sex), and gender identity or transgender status. The Institute does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its educational programs or in any other activities sponsored by the Institute. Through its policies on sexual discrimination, the Institute supports everyone: male, female, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals. This non-discrimination policy extends to all visitors; applicants for admission to the Institute; and all students who are full- or part-time, matriculated for a degree or not. 

Sexual harassment (which includes sexual violence and assault) is a form of sex discrimination and is therefore a violation of Title IX. Specific behaviors that are prohibited by Title IX include rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual exploitation, and other forms of non-consensual sexual activity; stalking; and relationship violence that is gender-based. Many behaviors that meet the definition of Title IX sexual harassment also constitute crimes.

Any of the following conduct on the basis of sex constitutes Title IX sexual harassment:

• A school employee conditioning an educational benefit or service upon a person’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct (“quid pro quo” harassment);
• 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 school’s education program or activity; or
• Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking (as those offenses are defined in the Clery Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f), and the Violence Against Women Act, 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)).

Title IX also prohibits discrimination against pregnant and parenting students. Under Title IX, it is illegal for schools to exclude a pregnant student from participating in any part of an educational program. In addition, a school must excuse a student’s absences because of pregnancy or childbirth for as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences medically necessary. When a student returns to school, she must be allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before her medical leave began. Any special services provided to students who have temporary medical conditions must also be provided to a pregnant student. A school may require a pregnant student or student who has given birth to submit medical certification for school participation only if the school also requires such certification from all students with physical or emotional conditions requiring the attention of a physician.

Discrimination on the basis of sex also includes: (1) discrimination based on sexual orientation; and (2) discrimination based on gender identity. It is impossible to discriminate against a person based on their sexual orientation or gender identity without discriminating against that person based on sex. For example, prohibiting a transgender person from dressing or presenting consistent with that person’s gender identity would constitute sex discrimination.

Any member of the CIA community who is consulted about, observes, and/or witnesses behavior involving a potential Title IX violation has the responsibility to report it to the Title IX Coordinator. This requirement excludes persons identified as Confidential Resources, such as mental health counselors and medical professionals. In addition, to the extent possible, members of the CIA community should also encourage those directly involved to promptly make a report to a Title IX Coordinator:

April L.Woodward
Director, Title IX Compliance & Title IX Coordinator
Phone: 216.421.7476
Email: titleix@cia.edu

You may also file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) using OCR’s electronic complaint form at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html.

Click above to Submit a Report to the Title IX Coordinator 

Reports can be submitted anonymously.

1. Cleveland Police Department
   9-1-1 Available 24/7
2. University Circle Police Department
   216.791.1234 Available 24/7
3. CIA Security
   216.421.7330 (when CIA buildings are open)
4. Cleveland Heights Police Department
   216.321.1234 Available 24/7
5. CWRU Police Department
   216.368.3333 Available 24/7
6. East Cleveland Police Department
   216.451.1234 Available 24/7
7. University Hospitals
   1. Confidential Advisors* and SANE Nurses (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) available here
      11100 Euclid Avenue
   2. Emergency Room between Cornell and Adelbert Roads
      216.844.3722
8. Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC)
   Confidential Advisors* available here
   216.619.6192 Available by phone 24/7
   https://www.clevelandrapecrisis.org/ and info@clevelandrcc.org
9. CWRU University Health Services
   Confidential Advisors* available here
   2145 Adelbert Road just beyond Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital
   216.368.2450
   https://students.case.edu/departments/wellness and healthservice@case.edu
10. CWRU University Counseling Service
    Confidential Advisors* available here
    220 Sears Building on the Case Quad a few buildings behind Crawford Hall
    216.368.5872
    Confidential advisor walk-in hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:00-4:00
    https://students.case.edu/departments/wellness and counseling@case.edu
11. CWRU LGBTQ Center
    Confidential Advisors* available here
    First floor, Tinkham Veale Center (on Bellflower Road)
    216.368.LGBT
    CRCC confidential advisor walk-in hours: Monday and Wednesday, 1:00-5:00 https://case.edu/lgbt/
12. Circle Health Services — formerly The Free Clinic
    Confidential Advisors* available here
    12201 Euclid Avenue
    To reach the Trauma Recovery Center, call
    216.644.5847 Available 24/7
    http://www.circlehealthservices.org/trauma/
13. CWRU Flora Stone Mather Center for Women (and men)
    248 Tinkham Veale University Center on Case Campus (on Bellflower Road))
    216.368.0985
    centerforwomen@case.edu
    Confidential advisor walk-in hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9:00-5:00
14. Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center
    Confidential Advisors* available here
    2806 Payne Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114
    216.391.HELP Available by phone 24/7
    http://www.dvcac.org/

*Confidential Advisors can take a report of sexual violence but are not required to file a report to anyone else. These persons provide support and advice to anyone reporting sexual violence.