Policies
Current Policies
The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance revises and implements the following policies.
| Policy | Effective Date | Applies To | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct | September 1, 2025 | All members of the Northwestern community | This policy covers a wide range of discriminatory and harassing behaviors, including those based on race, ethnicity, religion, and other protected characteristics. |
| Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment | September 1, 2025 | All members of the Northwestern community | This policy specifically addresses sexual harassment and other forms of sex-based discrimination in educational programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance, and which occurred after August 14, 2020 |
| Responsible Employee Reporting Obligations | September 15, 2025 | Northwestern employees | This policy explains employees' reporting requirements when they learn about discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. |
| Non-retaliation Policy (on the Provost's website) | February, 2022 | All members of the Northwestern community | This policy prohibits the taking of any retaliatory action for reporting or inquiring about alleged improper or wrongful activity. |
| Reasonable Accommodation Policy | September 1, 2025 | all University community members and third parties who request accommodations |
This policy details accommodations for students, employees, job applicants, and third parties on the bases of disability, pregnancy and lactation, and religion, unless a fundamental alteration or undue hardship applies. |
| Policy on Academic Accommodations for Religious Holidays (on the Provost's website) | December 3, 2024 | Northwestern students | This policy applies to accommodations for religious observances and holidays. |
Archived Policies
| Responsible Employee Reporting Obligations | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| Reporting by by University Employees of Disclosure Related to Discrimination and Harassment | August 12, 2024 - September 15, 2025 |
| Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct | Effective Date |
| Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct | August 12, 2024 - August 31, 2025 |
| Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct | April 12, 2024 - August 31, 2024 |
| Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct | September 1, 2023 - April 11, 2024 |
| Policy on Discrimination and Harassment | September 1, 2019 - August 13, 2020 |
| Policy on Sexual Misconduct | September 1, 2019 - September 9, 2020 |
| Interim Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment | Effective Date |
| Interim Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment | September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2025 |
| Interim Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment | September 7, 2022 - August 31, 2023 |
| Interim Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment | September 1, 2021 - September 7, 2022 |
| Interim Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment | August 14, 2020- August 31, 2021 |
| Policy on Institutional Equity | Effective Date |
| Policy on Institutional Equity | September 7, 2022 - August 31, 2023 |
| Policy on Institutional Equity | September 1, 2021 - September 7, 2022 |
| Policy on Institutional Equity | August 14, 2020- August 31, 2021 |