CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Colleges and universities are preparing to be in compliance with new Title IX guidelines to prevent sex discrimination on campuses. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Higher education institutions are required to comply with new provisions for Title IX

  •  The policy updates protections for students to prevent sex discrimination

  •  A North Carolina student says Title IX helped her feel protected on the HBCU campus 

The U.S. Department of Education just released the final Title IX regulations. The updated changes ensure students are protected from discrimination, including LGBTQ students and people who are pregnant. 

Dr. Jordan Brooks serves as associate vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Johnson C. Smith University. He's also JCSU's Title IX coordinator. 

Brooks ensures students know their rights and responsibilities under Title IX.

"To [remove] barriers that prevent them from having equal access educational programs on the institution," Brooks said

Brooks said one of his top priorities is making sure the university is in full compliance with the updated Title IX provisions. 

"[With the changes], there is an expansion of the responsibility of a Title IX coordinator," Brooks said. "Make sure we're protecting everyone that is identified under Title IX. Also, training our faculty and staff on how this policy impacts them and our campus and their responsibilities." 

Brooks says Title IX is helping to create and solidify spaces where people from all backgrounds feel safe and welcomed. 

"We're actually doing things that matter, that add to the era of excellence that we're leaning towards," Brooks said. 

Malay Simmons is a Communication Arts major at JCSU. She's just a few weeks away from graduation day. 

Simmons says the HBCU is a place where she's among family. 

"I can't believe graduation is here," Simmons said. "I'm going to miss my family, this is home for me." 

A former JCSU Miss Junior, Simmons says she's proud to have made history as the first transgender student to be crowned queen at an HBCU.

"I finally got recognized for being who I was," Simmons said. "It was like I got my moment, paving the way for other women like [me] to be in this position." 

Simmons says Title IX is important for LGBTQ students. 

She says expanding the policy protections will ensure more transgender students get leadership and educational opportunities just like she did.

"Motivate you to continue walking in your 'queendom,' knowing that you are the essence of what leadership needs to look like," Simmons said. "It's vital because no one is used to seeing this in leadership, and they need to get used to it."

Colleges and universities are required to be in compliance with the updated Title IX policy by August 1. 

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