Can harassment occurring off-campus or online be investigated under Title IX?

• A. No
• B. Only if it involves in-person events
• C. Only if reported by a faculty member
• D. Yes, if it affects the education program or activity or involves the school environment and participants

Answer: (D)

Under Title IX, harassment off-campus or online can be investigated if it affects the education program or activity or involves the school environment and participants. This means the school must respond not only to on-site conduct but also to off-campus or online harassment when it disrupts or interferes with a student’s ability to participate in classes, clubs, sports, or other school-sponsored activities. It also covers harassment that occurs in spaces connected to the school environment, such as at a school-sponsored event held off campus or on platforms the school uses for coursework or communication. In short, if the online or off-campus harassment has a real impact on the education program or creates a hostile or disruptive school environment, it falls under Title IX and should be addressed. If the harassment is entirely outside the school context with no impact on education or the school environment, Title IX wouldn’t require a school investigation.