Title IX Defense in Virginia
Serving students & Faculty nationwideIf you have been accused of violating Title IX at a college, school, or university, your future can be derailed. Administrators may jump to conclusions before conducting an impartial investigation, which could damage your reputation. Worse, you could be facing job loss or expulsion, interfering with your career prospects.
The dedicated legal team at KJK Student & Athlete Defense has the skills, experience, and resources necessary to advocate for you during this challenging time. Contact us today to arrange a confidential consultation with a caring lawyer.
Title IX
The Ins and Outs of Title IX
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sexual discrimination in education. Any educational program or institution that receives federal funding must comply with Title IX. If it doesn’t, it can lose federal funding.
Title IX was originally passed to provide equal opportunities to female students and athletes. However, it has expanded significantly in recent years. Today, it serves as the primary catalyst for seeking accountability after sexual assault on college campuses.
Each school is responsible for establishing its own Title IX policy and enforcing it. This unique approach makes Title IX cases legally unique.
Contact Us
Common Examples of Title IX Violations
Even though Title IX was originally introduced to promote gender equity in education, it has since expanded to encompass issues related to sex, gender, and equal treatment. Some of the most commonly cited forms of Title IX violations include the following:
Sexual Discrimination
Title IX prohibits sex discrimination, such as:
- Providing more favorable treatment to one sex versus another
- Not admitting women applicants simply because they are women
- Excluding women from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs
- Providing more funding to male athletes versus their female counterparts
Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Gender Expression
Current Title IX interpretation applies to discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This means that someone could be accused of violating Title IX for doing any of the following:
- Making fun of or harassing someone because they are transgender, nonbinary, or gay
- Denying access to gender-affirming facilities
- Being excluded from sports teams, clubs, or leadership roles due to gender identity or sexual orientation
However, many schools and states across the country have challenged this more liberal interpretation, so the matter is currently pending in litigation. Therefore, the more traditional interpretations are in effect until that matter is resolved.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment under Title IX is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that is so severe or pervasive that it creates a hostile environment that alters the victim’s education or job in an educational setting. Sexual harassment can include:
- Unwanted sexual advances
- Inappropriate touching
- Requests for sexual favors or dates
- Written communications of a sexual nature
- Suggestive jokes or sexual comments
Sexual Assault
One of the most serious Title IX allegations that a person can confront is being accused of rape or sexual assault. This could include such sexual conduct as:
- Forcible intercourse or penetration
- Groping or fondling without the other person’s consent
- Sexual activity that occurs when the alleged victim is unconscious or incapacitated due to drugs or alcohol
Sexual Misconduct
Title IX can also involve conduct that might not be prohibited in other settings, such as having sexual contact with someone without affirmative consent.
Dating or Domestic Violence
Title IX also covers violence between people involved in a dating, romantic, or intimate relationship, including physical assault, battery, emotional abuse, or coercion within a relationship.
Stalking
Title IX can also prohibit stalking, which may include any of the following:
- Repeated and unwanted following of a physical nature
- Persistent unwanted contact via phone calls, text messages, emails, or social media messages
- Surveillance or intimidation tactics
Virginia colleges and universities are required to investigate stalking complaints involving students or faculty, even when the alleged behavior occurs off campus.
Pregnancy Discrimination
Discriminating against students or school employees because they are pregnant, nursing, or parents. Pregnancy discrimination can include pressuring a student to drop out, denying the student access to classes or academic activities, or refusing reasonable accommodations based on pregnancy or medical conditions due to pregnancy or childbirth.
Retaliation
Title IX prohibits retaliation against anyone who files a Title IX complaint, participates in an investigation, or supports someone involved in the process – even if the underlying allegation was determined to be unfounded. Retaliation can take many forms, such as:
- Changing a student’s grades unfairly
- Verbally harassing the student or faculty member
- Threatening to fire the person
- Threatening disciplinary action
- Excluding a student from activities or group projects
The Title IX Investigation Process
Because every school has a different Title IX policy, investigative procedures can vary dramatically from one educational institution to the next. Schools are required to take prompt action following an allegation of a Title IX violation, or they can risk losing their federal funding. Sometimes, this prompt response can lead to a rush to judgment and condemnation of someone who is not guilty of the accusations.
Students should acquaint themselves with their school’s Title IX procedures and work with an experienced legal representative who can help guide them through the Title IX process, which may include the following steps:
- Filing of the complaint: A Title IX case officially begins when someone accuses a student, faculty member, or other person of violating the educational institute’s Title IX policy.
- Notice of investigation: The accused receives written notice of the charges against them. The Title IX coordinator explains the process to the accused and the accuser.
- Investigation: A Title IX investigator conducts an investigation, which may include interviewing the accuser, accused, and witnesses, reviewing digital records, and analyzing physical evidence.
- Written report: The Title IX investigator prepares a report summarizing their investigation and findings. The parties have an opportunity to respond.
- Hearing: Some schools allow students to have a hearing in which one or more people hear testimony and evaluate evidence to determine whether the allegations are true. The preponderance of the evidence standard is generally used in this forum, which is significantly lower than the beyond a reasonable doubt standard used in criminal proceedings.
- Determination: A decision is made regarding the allegations. If there is a finding of responsibility, the accused may face sanctions, such as suspension or academic probation.
- Appeal: The parties may have limited grounds to appeal if they disagree with how the decision was reached.
What Happens If I Am Found Responsible for Violating Title IX?
Students or faculty members who are accused of violating Title IX can face immediate interim measures before there is even a finding of responsibility. These so-called supportive measures can include no-contact orders, being removed from housing, a change in job schedule, or being required to skip campus activities.
Those found responsible for violating Title IX can face additional consequences, including the following:
- Suspension
- Expulsion
- Loss of tenure
- Job loss
- Loss of financial aid, including academic and athletic scholarships
- Being kicked off a sports team
- Removal from student housing
Colleges and Universities in Virginia
Virginia is home to many colleges and universities, including the following:
- American National University
- Appalachian College of Pharmacy
- Appalachian School of Law
- Averett University
- Blue Ridge Community College
- Bluefield University
- Bridgewater College
- Brightpoint Community College
- Central Virginia Community College
- Christendom College Front
- Christopher Newport University
- College of William and Mary
- Danville Community College
- Divine Mercy University
- Eastern Mennonite University
- Eastern Shore Community College
- Eastern Virginia Medical School
- ECPI University
- Emory and Henry University
- Fairfax University of America
- Ferrum College
- George Mason University
- George Washington University
- Germana Community College
- Hampden-Sydney College
- Hampton University
- Hollins University
- Institute for the Psychological Sciences
- J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College
- James Madison University
- Jefferson College of Health Sciences
- Laurel Ridge Community College
- Liberty University
- Longwood University
- Marine Corps University
- Mary Baldwin University
- Marymount University
- Mountain Empire Community College
- Mountain Gateway Community College
- New River Community College
- Norfolk State University
- Old Dominion University
- Patrick & Henry Community College
- Paul D. Camp Community College
- Piedmont Virginia Community College
- Radford University
- Randolph College
- Randolph-Macon College
- Rappahannock Community College
- Regent University
- Richard Bland College
- Roanoke College
- Sentara College of Health Sciences
- Shenandoah University
- Southside Virginia Community College
- Southwest Virginia Community College
- Sweet Briar College
- Tidewater Community College
- Union Presbyterian Seminary
- University of Lynchburg
- University of Management and Technology
- University of Mary Washington
- University of the Potomac
- University of Richmond
- University of Virginia
- University of Virginia’s College at Wise
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia Highlands Community College
- Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
- Virginia Military Institute
- Virginia Peninsula Community College
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Virginia State University
- Virginia Union University
- Virginia University of Lynchburg
- Virginia University of Science & Technology
- Virginia Wesleyan University
- Virginia Western Community College
- Washington and Lee University
- Wytheville Community College
The Threat of False Allegations
One of the most significant issues with Title IX is that many students and school employees find themselves being accused of things they never did or that are misconstrued. When sexual activity is involved, fake or exaggerated claims may arise due to factors such as the following:
- A desire to seek revenge
- Wanting to get an upper hand in a related legal matter
- Regret after a sexual encounter
- Misunderstanding consent
- Feeling peer pressure to engage in sexual acts
- Administrative overreach
Contact the KJK Student & Athlete Defense Team for a Confidential Consultation
If you’re facing serious accusations of violating Title IX, you need skilled legal representation. KJK Student & Athlete Defense has represented thousands of students and staff members in Title IX proceedings, special education matters, campus misconduct cases, and other education-related legal issues. Our law firm is one of the few that focuses on education law, and we are respected within the legal community for this feature and our advocacy, a fact underscored by one of our attorneys receiving the Lawyer of the Year award in the Education category for 2026 by Best Lawyers.
We can discuss how we can help with your Title IX matter during a confidential consultation. Contact us today to get started.
Peer Advice
A Client’s Tips For Facing A Title IX Investigation
I OFFER THE FOLLOWING TIPS
For students who may be involved in a Title IX or related matter, I offer the following tips. First, I recommend that you call a Title IX lawyer before you make any other move. Following that step, one should consider staying away from public statements on the matter. I also recommend that this public silence be countered with engagement in therapy and frequent self-care. Similarly, reach out to the appropriate contact at your school to coordinate supportive measures so that you may continue with your academics. Establishing a list of hobbies and rituals to ground myself was incredibly helpful throughout the ups and downs of the case.
See What Our CLients are Saying about our title ix attorneys
Testimonials
We will be forever grateful to you for engaging with us to assist our son...
Kristina and Susan are very competent ...
Susan Stone and Kristina Supler represented our male college freshman...
against a false Title IX claim of non-consensual sexual intercourse. Current Title IX laws are strongly slanted in the accuser’s favor, and our son was denied due process by the university. This legal team expertly highlighted the accuser’s false accusations, while exposing the university’s many inconsistencies. They were there when we needed them – quick to take our phone calls or respond to our questions and concerns. Without their expert legal advice, our son would have likely been another silent and unfortunate victim of current Title IX university policies. We give Susan and Kristina the highest of recommendations!
I was a member of a fraternity at a public university...
that was kicked off campus for reported hazing. My involvement with the fraternity was unaware of any misdeeds being done, and was shocked when the school charged me with failure to report hazing. That’s when I contacted Susan and Kristina, who were extremely helpful and wonderful to work with. Thanks to them they helped guide me through collecting proof of my innocence, which ended up leading to the result we wanted of no charges against me. I highly recommend their service to anyone who might need it!
You are the utmost professional counselor...
Services
K-12 Student DefenseKJK’s Student & Athlete Defense practice group is here to protect your child’s future. Defending students of all ages, our team is here to make sure your family is given fair treatment when it comes to disciplinary actions issued by your school district.
Title IX
Blog
Student Rights in a Post-Department of Education Era: What Families Should Expect Moving Forward
We save futures – and despite the uncertainty associated with President Trump’s decision to dismantle the Department of Education – our commitments remain the same. The better question, however, is how attorneys who represent students will ensure that students...
Ohio’s Suspension and Expulsion Laws: What Every Parent Needs to Know
As a parent, your child’s education is one of your top priorities. However, navigating the complexities of school discipline can be daunting, especially when considering potential suspension and expulsion. Understanding the procedural protections to which your...
Understanding Title IX Penalties: What You Need to Know
Understanding Title IX Penalties What are Title IX penalties? Students found responsible for Title IX violations face a wide array of penalties, ranging in severity depending upon the nature of the sexual misconduct. Because sanctions for Title IX violations can...
