Sacred Heart University

95/ 100

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private, Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut. Sacred Heart was the first Catholic university in the United States to be staffed by the laity. Sacred Heart is the second-largest Catholic university in New England, behind Boston College, and offers more than 80 degree programs to over 8,500 students at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.

Fairfield, Connecticut
Religiously-Affiliated Institution

Conference: Northeast Conference

Eligible for Title IX Exemption

Title IX prohibits educational institutions that receive any form of federal funding from excluding, separating, or denying benefits to students on the basis of sex in its educational programs or activities. However, in the 1975 explanation of Title IX released by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), there is no explanation of or definition for sex . This has led to confusion in recent years over who, exactly, is protected by Title IX. Some, including institutional representatives, interpret sex as a gender assigned at birth, legally allowing them to dismiss and discriminate against students based on due to their gender identity, gender expression, and/or sexual orientation . Institutions may claim a religious exemption to Title IX regulations by submitting a written statement to the US Office of Civil Rights (OCR). As of January 15, 2020, an institution’s exempt status is “not dependent upon its submission of a written statement to OCR”; Rather, writing in to the office and proving that an institution is controlled by a religious institution and that their religious tenets conflict with Title IX, is an assurance of exemption, implying that religious institutions are already exempt. (Click here for Athlete Ally's Addendum on Religiously Affiliated Institutions.)

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Score Breakdown

25/25

Nondiscrimination Policy

5/15

Trans Inclusion Policy

15/15

Sexual Harassment Policy

10/10

Fan Code of Conduct

15/15

Annual Partnership / Collaboration

10/10

LGBTQ Educational Resources

5/5

Pro-LGBTQ Trainings for Staff

5/5

Pro-LGBTQ Trainings for Athletes


Date of Last Audit

January, 2024

Site Last Updated

May, 2024

  • Learn how Sacred Heart University was scored on their Nondiscrimination Policy
  • Learn how Sacred Heart University was scored on their Trans Inclusion Policy
  • Learn how Sacred Heart University was scored on their Sexual Harassment Policy
  • Learn how Sacred Heart University was scored on their Fan Code of Conduct
  • Learn how Sacred Heart University was scored on their Annual Partnership / Collaboration
  • Learn how Sacred Heart University was scored on their LGBTQ Educational Resources
  • Learn how Sacred Heart University was scored on their Pro-LGBTQ Trainings for Staff
  • Learn how Sacred Heart University was scored on their Pro-LGBTQ Trainings for Athletes

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Staff Correspondent

Meet Our Team
AJ Kurtz

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