Title IX

Sexual Harassment & Misconduct Compliance Overview

MGH Institute of Health Professions is committed to creating and maintaining a community in which all its members including students, faculty, staff and visitors can live and work together in an environment free from discrimination.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

MGH Institute of Health Professions is committed to ensuring a welcoming academic community for all. Our inclusive environment is enriched by our differences including age, color, disability, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, national and ethnic origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, status as a parent, socio-economic background, veteran or active military status.

The Institute prohibits discrimination in admissions, financial aid, employment and administration of its programs and activities.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Title IX is an all-encompassing federal law that prohibits discrimination based on the gender of students and employees of educational institutions which receive federal financial assistance. The United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is in charge of enforcing Title IX.   

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 provides that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participating in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Harassment based on sex or gender, which includes sexual assault, is a form of sex discrimination. 

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Education issued final regulations under Title IX which narrow the previous federal definition of sexual harassment under Title IX, provide a new protocol for educational institutions when responding to allegations of sexual harassment as defined under Title IX, and provide new procedural requirements in institutional grievance processes to adjudicate formal complaints of sexual harassment violations under Title IX.

Title IX Coordinators

The Institute’s primary concern is ensuring the safety of students, employees, and visitors and providing access to services. While compliance with this law is the responsibility of all members of the Institute community, any person who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based upon gender may discuss their concerns informally or file a formal complaint of possible violations of Title IX with the following Title IX Coordinators:

Luella Benn, Assistant Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator for Students
34 1st Avenue
Boston, MA 02129
Phone: (617) 643-9346
Email:jbgormley [at] mghihp.edu (subject: Title%20IX) ( )lbenn [at] mghihp.edu (subject: Title%20IX) (lbenn[at]mghihp[dot]edu)

Sarah H. Welch, Associate Vice President of Human Resources/Title IX Coordinator for Faculty and Staff
Bldg. 34, 1st Avenue
Boston, MA 02129
Phone: (617) 643-6316
Email:  SHWelch [at] mghihp.edu (SHWelch[at]mghihp[dot]edu)

Faculty, Staff, and Students: Refer to Institute’s Title IX – Sexual Harassment & Misconduct Compliance Overview.

The Title IX Coordinators provide support for training, education and communication of Title IX policies and procedures as well as overseeing the use of complaint procedures. In addition, individuals may consider other resources such as the IHP’s Employee Assistance Program and either or both of the following government agencies:

  • The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 1 Congress Street, 10th Floor, Boston MA 02114, 617-565-3200  
  • The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), 424 Dwight Street, Room 220, Springfield MA 01103, -413-739-2145 or One Ashburton Place, Room 601, Boston MA 02108, 617-727-3990.

EEOC and MCAD complaints must be filed within 180 days and six months, respectively, of the alleged harassment.  

View Title IX Training