Equity and Interim Title IX Policies and Processes

Berklee, including Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia, BerkleeNYC, and Berklee Online, is a diverse community of individuals with different life experiences, viewpoints, and belief systems. A welcoming and inclusive culture is essential to maintaining Berklee’s role as a leader in music education, and Berklee highly values the dynamic environment that results when students, faculty, administrators, and staff from diverse backgrounds come together to learn, live, and work.

The Equity and Interim Title IX Policies prohibit acts of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct, including, but not limited to, sexual assault or harassment, domestic/dating violence, and stalking. Such acts undermine Berklee’s community values and are strictly prohibited. These policies and the institution’s commitment to fostering a safe, supportive, and diverse climate are a fundamental part of a Berklee community where all can study, live, and work together in an environment of equal opportunity, inclusiveness, and mutual respect.

All community members are encouraged to contact the Equity Office to report any instances of potential violations of either the Equity or the Interim Title IX Policy and receive additional information, options, and supportive measures.

Reporting does not obligate any community member to participate under either policy.

The Equity Policy and Process

Berklee’s Equity Policy and Process is intended to advance our goals of inclusion, respect, and equality for all community members. The Equity Office works to enforce and uphold this policy, which prohibits and addresses sexual misconduct, discrimination, and/or harassment based on protected characteristics. This policy also responds to alleged misconduct by third parties (i.e., visitors, independent contractors, and others who are neither students nor employees) where their conduct is directed toward or otherwise affects or may affect Berklee community members.

To File a Report
If you have experienced discrimination, identity-based harassment, or sexual violence while engaging with Berklee, we want to support you and ensure that you are able to fully access all of your educational opportunities. Students wishing to report an incident and/or seek support measures or accommodations may do so by:

• emailing equity@berklee.edu;
• submitting an anonymous form online (please know that we are limited in our ability to respond to or act on an anonymous report);
• contacting the chief equity officer and Interim Title IX Coordinator, Tracy Kennedy; or
• contacting the Deputy for Equity and Interim Title IX Intake and Support, Amanda Bedford.

If You Are the Subject of a Report 
If you are accused of a Title IX or equity policy violation during your time at the program, you have the right to access the support and resources of our Equity Office so that you may continue in your program without disruption to the extent possible. We can assist in identifying an advisor, connecting you with counseling, and other resources. We respond to allegations of equity policy violations informally or by a formal investigation, depending on the circumstances. We reserve the right to determine if a student is a threat to the Berklee community. In that instance, we may dismiss the student from the program immediately, pending further investigation. That decision is final.

Responsible Employees 
Please note that all Berklee employees, with the exception of licensed mental health clinicians who work in Berklee’s Counseling Services, are considered responsible employees. Responsible employees are required to report possible violations of the equity policy to the chief equity officer. For more information about our Responsible Employee policy, please visit https://www.berklee.edu/equity/responsible-employee. 

For more information about the equity team, the Equity Policy and Process, and available support, resources, and accommodations, please visit berklee.edu/equity.

Interim Title IX Policy and Process

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities.

Which Policy Applies?

The Department of Education’s Interim Title IX Regulations, published May 19, 2020, require that specific processes apply under a narrower set of circumstances than may be covered by the Equity Policy. The changes required by the Regulations are summarized here.

Only cases meeting the Interim Title IX criteria set forth below will follow the Interim Title IX Policy. Cases that do not meet these criteria may be handled through the Equity Policy. Neither policy is more important or more serious than the other. Differences between the two are simply a reflection of federal regulations that apply only to a specifically identified set of cases.

This Interim Title IX Process Chart (PDF) provides an overview of the circumstances under which the Interim Title IX Policy or the Equity Policy may apply.