Letter From Director James L. Bennett

JB Pritzker, Governor
James L. Bennett, Director

June 2020

Dear Administrator:

According to state law, all institutions of higher education covered by the Illinois Human Rights Act are required to inform their student bodies of the illegality of sexual harassment. According to the law, Public Act 96-574, every institution is required to post in a prominent and accessible location a poster outlining sexual harassment laws and policies. In order to meet the posting requirements, one of the following options must be selected via the Illinois Department of Human Rights website. The posting options are:

• Post and keep posted at each campus in common area locations easily accessible to all students including, but not limited to, residence halls, administration buildings, student unions, cafeterias, and libraries; or
• Post annually at each campus in common area locations easily accessible to all students including, but not limited to, residence halls, administration buildings, student unions, cafeterias, and libraries, with an electronic copy of the sexual harassment laws and policies also sent to each student at the time registration materials are emailed; or
• On campuses that provide for online registration of student classes, such information pertaining to sexual harassment laws and policies may be included with the registration materials so that students must review and acknowledge receipt prior to registering.

In order to ensure that compliance is complete and uniform, the Illinois Department of Human Rights provides electronically on its website posters and the language to be sent electronically or downloaded and printed. All postings and information necessary for full compliance are available for download on the Department's website.

Please be sure to fill out and return the SURVEY by August 3, 2020. Please note that the failure to fill out and return this survey by August 3, 2019, may result in the Department initiating a preliminary investigation to determine whether the institution is in compliance with this law.

I believe that we share a common goal in making sure that students have the ability to learn in an environment that is free of sexual harassment, because sexual harassment, as our materials read, is "never okay." This law helps to inform students of their rights and of the help available should they have a need. If you require additional assistance or would like to continue receiving updates from IDHR, please email IDHR.SURVEY@illinois.gov.

Thank you!

James L. Bennett, Director
Illinois Department of Human Rights

555 W Monroe, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60661, TTY (866) 740-3953
524 S 2nd Street, Suite 300, Springfield, IL 62701, (217) 785-5100
2309 West Main Street, Marion, IL 62959 (618) 993-7463
www.illinois.gov/dhr