Can a recipient use its existing discrimination grievance procedures for complaints of sex harassment?
Although federal law permits recipients to use their discrimination complaint procedures for complaints of sex harassment, it is recommended that recipients develop and use grievance procedures tailored specifically to allegations of harassment. Due to the sensitive nature of sexual harassment complaints, confidentiality may be a higher priority than in regular discrimination complaints. Thus, a grievance procedure that differs from the standard grievance procedure, at least during the early stages of proceedings, may be appropriate. Question 4: Do the Title IX regulations specify a certain structure or format for grievance procedures? Title IX regulations do not specify a structure or format for the grievance procedures. Instead, each recipient must develop grievance procedures that most effectively provide for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints. For those recipients who do not have Title IX grievance procedures or for those recipients who want to refine existing procedures