Laws & Policies That Guide Our Work

OIE’s work is guided by city, state, and federal laws along with the internal policies of Tulane University.

Laws

The following is a list of the federal laws that govern the work we do—a measuring tool of sorts that defines what it means to be free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.  While all apply and are important, the bulk of our concerns come in under Title VII which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, and sex. Also important is Title IX, because it applies specifically to education and states that “no person, on the basis of sex, shall be excluded, denied benefits, or discriminated against in any education program or activity.”

Age Discrimination Act of 1972

Prohibits age discrimination other than employment in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance

Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

Protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) as amended

Prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities

Civil Rights Act of 1991

Provides monetary damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination

Clery Act (1990)

Requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publish policies and procedures improving campus safety.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

Prohibits sex-based wage discrimination, similar work at same establishment

Rehabilitation Act, sections 503 & 504 (1973)

Prohibit discrimination based on disability.  This law applies to secondary schools

Title IX of the Education Amendments (1972)

Prohibits sex discrimination

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964)

Prohibits Race and National Origin discrimination

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964)

Prohibits Race, Color, National Origin, Sex discrimination

VEVERRA (2013)

Prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment against protected veterans

The Crown Act 

Prohibits discrimination on account of one's natural, protective or cultural hairstyle

 

Tulane University Policies

At Tulane, our community agrees, by virtue of employment or enrollment, to follow a set of rules pertaining to our treatment of one another. All members of the Tulane community are required to abide by the university’s Equal Opportunity/Anti-Discrimination Policies (EO/AD Policies). These policies protect community members from discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, and other protected classifications.

Complaints against members of the Tulane community are resolved according to the processes outlined in the EO/AD policies, as well as the corresponding guidelines for their campus affiliation (Code of Student Conduct, Faculty Handbook, Staff Handbook).

Updates to federal Title IX regulations in 2020 limited some of the tools available to OIE. Despite these limitations, we continue to do everything we can to simplify the process, to connect survivors with the resources they need, and to help them understand the options available. We anticipate another major update to federal Title IX regulations this year and will update our EO/AD policies accordingly at that time. We encourage you to visit our All In website to learn more about how the 2020 federal update impacted our process.

In some cases, we may be required to report misconduct in our community.  For example, The Clery Act is designed to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics.  It requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly outline the policies and procedures they have put into place to improve campus safety.