The newly reorganized Cornell Office of Civil Rights (COCR) will bring the management of all reports related to Policy 6.4 - which outlines the university's means for addressing bias, discrimination, harassment and sexual and related misconduct - under one umbrella.
The COCR website, launched June 12, provides resources related to all of COCR's work, including prohibited discrimination and harassment, sexual misconduct and employee religious and disability accommodations.
"Fostering an inclusive and respectful campus culture, one where all parties can express themselves and engage with each other safely and civilly, is essential to Cornell's mission and purpose," President Michael I. Kotlikoff said. "This reorganization strengthens the university's commitment to creating such an environment - and to our values of equity, inclusion and civil rights."
Formerly the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX, COCR will now manage complaints against students for allegations of bias, discrimination and harassment, including conduct that violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This expansion augments the work the office was already and will continue doing, including handling complaints of protected-status bias, discrimination and harassment for faculty and staff; student and employee reports of sexual or related misconduct under Title IX; and employee reasonable accommodation requests.
"By centralizing all civil rights compliance work in one office, we hope to provide clarity to the Cornell community about where and how to report any incident of bias, discrimination or harassment," said Katie King, associate vice president of COCR. "While many members of the Cornell community refer to us as the Title IX Office, we do a lot more than Title IX compliance, and we want the office name to capture all the work we do. Our office facilitates accommodations for employees and responds to allegations of bias, discrimination and harassment encountered by all members of the community."
The reorganization of COCR is part of a broader effort to review and update university policies to reduce bias, discrimination and harassment, including the Student Code of Conduct, which will undergo a process of revision with community feedback and input during the 2025-26 academic year. Previously, student reports of bias, discrimination and harassment were handled by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) in Student and Campus Life, under the Student Code of Conduct.
"The Student Code of Conduct addresses individual and group conduct when there is a known respondent, whereas we have an obligation under Policy 6.4 and federal and New York state civil rights laws to address allegations of hostile environment regardless of whether we have identified the respondents," said Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student and campus life. "A centralized approach to civil rights compliance best allows us to meet this expectation."
Weill Cornell Medicine's Office of Institutional Equity will be renamed the Office of Civil Rights as well. Additional information about that change, including the official launch date and updated contact information, will be shared in the coming weeks.
COCR is responsible for the university's civil rights compliance, including administering investigation processes, enforcement and training. Its staff will review all reports, provide support and advise the university on appropriate responses, while continuing to partner with OSCCS, academic leadership and human resources.
"What's most impactful about this change is that it makes crystal clear where all our community members should bring concerns about bias and discrimination," said Christine Lovely, vice president and chief human resources officer. "These matters can be quite stressful and personal and knowing who to contact removes a potential barrier to reporting."
Anyone can report concerns regarding violations of Policy 6.4 at the COCR website, by email, by phone or by visiting the office. If the complainants provide their names, COCR staff will reach out to offer support, resources and possible next steps. King said staff members approach each situation individually and tailor the response in accordance with the law and the complainant.
COCR staff come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including social work, higher education and law, and King said they are all dedicated to realizing Cornell's commitment to civil rights for all students, staff and faculty.
"There are rights that you have when you come to Cornell, pursuant to Policy 6.4, that you may not have in other states or countries," King said. "Our staff members are focused on ensuring that all Cornell community members are aware of their rights and can easily access the processes available to them."
King said that reporting an incident does not necessarily mean there will be a formal investigation. "It means that you are providing us with information that we need to look at our environment, which will allow us to respond in an appropriate way," she said. "If we don't know something's happening, we can't do anything."
The clarity and efficiency of reporting processes is key to addressing and reducing bias, discrimination and harassment, King added. "You have to feel comfortable reporting and encouraged to report - and the first component of that is knowing where to go."
COCR is located in Day Hall, Suite 500, and contact information can be found on the office website.
