The Title IX Equal Protection Project was established in 2017 to identify and address potential Title IX violations at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Through reviews of scholarship listings, academic programs, leadership initiatives, and other student opportunities published on institutional websites, the project has identified thousands of instances in which eligibility or participation was restricted based on sex. Many of these opportunities were limited exclusively to female students, potentially denying equal access to qualified male applicants.

Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. As a result, educational opportunities generally must be made available on an equal basis unless a specific legal exemption applies.

Over the past several decades, enrollment patterns in higher education have shifted significantly. Men now represent approximately 40–42% of undergraduate students nationwide, compared to nearly 58% in 1970. Despite these changing demographics, the project continues to identify scholarships, programs, and campus initiatives that maintain sex-based eligibility restrictions.

In many cases, these restrictions are clearly stated on institutional websites through scholarships designated for women only, leadership programs limited to female students, or grants and opportunities unavailable to male applicants.

When potential violations are brought to the attention of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), institutions often take corrective action by revising eligibility requirements and policies. Because these restrictions are frequently public and well-documented, many cases can be resolved without lengthy investigations.

The Title IX Equal Protection Project encourages colleges and universities to regularly review scholarships, programs, leadership initiatives, and other educational opportunities to ensure compliance with Title IX and equal access for all students.

Regulations

The Title IX Equal Protection Project also reviews colleges and universities to determine whether their published Title IX policies, procedures, and regulations comply with federal requirements.

On August 14, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education implemented significant Title IX regulatory changes designed to strengthen due process protections and establish clear procedures for addressing allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. These regulations required educational institutions to update their Title IX policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal law.

Key provisions of the 2020 Title IX regulations included:

• Defining sexual harassment and establishing specific procedures for how schools must respond to reports and formal complaints.
• Requiring colleges and universities to follow prescribed grievance procedures, including live hearings and cross-examination in higher education cases.
• Strengthening due process protections for all parties involved in Title IX proceedings.
• Requiring institutions to conduct more formal investigations and provide parties with access to relevant evidence.
• Allowing institutions to use either the “preponderance of the evidence” standard or the “clear and convincing evidence” standard, provided the chosen standard is applied consistently.
• Requiring institutions to publicly post Title IX training materials used by personnel responsible for investigating, adjudicating, or resolving complaints involving sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and other forms of sex-based discrimination.

The project reviews institutional policies, websites, and published procedures to identify areas where schools may not have fully implemented or updated their Title IX regulations. When concerns are identified, institutions are encouraged to update their policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal requirements and protect the rights of all students.