Reviewed by Survivor Rights Center · Updated 2026-10-21
Title IX is a civil-rights law. It says no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Sexual assault and harassment can be forms of sex discrimination that a school must respond to.
The Clery Act is a transparency law. Under 20 U.S.C. 1092(f), each participating institution must distribute an annual security report with its campus security policies and crime statistics, and must make timely reports to the campus community on crimes that are considered a threat to students and employees and that are reported to campus security or local police.
Federal Title IX regulations have changed more than once in recent years, and the rules that apply can depend on when the conduct happened. Our explainer on the Title IX rules after 2025 covers which regulations are in effect. Your school's Title IX coordinator must be able to explain its current grievance process.
The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights says a complaint generally must be filed within 180 calendar days after the discrimination, with limited waivers. If you are using your school's own grievance process, OCR says you have 60 days after that process ends to file. OCR acts as a neutral fact-finder, not as your advocate, and it does not represent people in court.
OCR also states that its Title IX regulations do not require you to file with OCR before filing a claim in federal court. If you go to court, OCR will not continue to pursue your complaint.
RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline is free, confidential and available 24/7 at 800-656-4673. Many campuses also have confidential advocates whose conversations are not reported to the Title IX office. Ask which campus resources are confidential before you share details.
No. You can use confidential resources, such as RAINN or a campus confidential advocate, without starting a formal process.
No. OCR's 180-day rule applies to OCR complaints. Court deadlines are separate and depend on the type of claim and the state.
The Clery Act is mainly enforced by the Department of Education through disclosure requirements. Lawsuits against schools usually rely on Title IX or state law. A licensed attorney can explain the options.
This article is general educational information, not legal advice. Confirm specifics with a licensed attorney in your state; many offer a free first consultation. If you need support now, the RAINN hotline is 800-656-4673, 24/7.
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