Title IX and Sexual Violence in Higher Education: A Mapping Review and Assessment of Policy Implementation and Effectiveness

Sexual violence is a prevalent problem within U.S. institutions of higher education (IHEs). Federal Title IX law and guidance has long required IHEs to establish policies and procedures to address sexual violence when it occurs. The goal of this review was to elucidate how IHEs respond to sexual violence in the context of Title IX. We begin with a summary of the evolving legal landscape of Title IX related to sexual violence in IHEs, including foundational case law and U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights guidance and rulemaking. Next, we conducted a mapping review of 102 peer-reviewed, empirical research articles focused on Title IX and sexual violence in IHEs at five levels of IHE social ecology, including institutional policy and data, Title IX practitioners, campus-based formal support providers, faculty/staff, and victim/survivors. Our review of this literature answered two research questions: 1) How are IHEs implementing Title IX law and guidance? and 2) How effective are those efforts at addressing sexual violence? Our summary of the evidence found that Title IX-related sexual violence response in IHEs has largely failed survivors. We also identified essential future research directions and changes needed to better support victim/survivors of campus sexual violence.