Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Renee Madison and Title IX Coordinator Amy Gordon announced Jan. 21 via email to the Colgate University community that the University would be reinstating its previous Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy. 

Former Title IX regulations from the Biden administration that went into effect on Aug. 1, 2024 temporarily prompted the University to update its policies. Earlier this month, however, a federal district court vacated these regulations; starting Jan. 9, 2025, Colgate returned to its former policy.

Madison and Gordon explained in the email that the expanded Title IX regulations, which included new protections for gender identity and expression, were already covered by Colgate’s former policy, so the change would not be too significant. The email also shared that Colgate’s recently updated provisions regarding pregnancy and related conditions will honor recently passed New York State law protections. 

Notably, returning to the former Title IX policy means most faculty and staff are no longer mandated reporters. The message urged community members to be cognizant of sexual violence despite potentially being no longer legally obliged to share information.

“We still request that those without such a designation continue to assist in our work to provide resources and support for our students by sharing information with the Title IX coordinator about individuals experiencing sexualized violence,” Madison and Gordon wrote.