In our recent article, When Students Study Abroad: A Title IX Guide for Higher Ed, we looked at how institutions can manage Title IX obligations when students are learning overseas. This companion piece turns the lens inward—on the international students and scholars who come to the U.S. and often face unique barriers in understanding and accessing Title IX protections.
How Campuses Can Bridge Cultural Gaps, Build Trust, and Strengthen Compliance
Across U.S. campuses, international students and visiting scholars bring essential perspectives and expertise—but they are arriving amid growing uncertainty.
Visa policies remain unpredictable, geopolitical tensions are high, and many students face heightened scrutiny at borders and within academic programs. In 2025, new international student arrivals to the U.S. dropped nearly 20 percent compared with the previous year.Inside Higher Ed reports that institutions are increasingly concerned about the chilling effect of global instability, misinformation, and shifting immigration rules on student safety and confidence.
In this environment, Title IX coordinators and administrators play a crucial role. International students often have limited support networks, unfamiliarity with U.S. legal norms, and fears that reporting misconduct could jeopardize their academic or immigration status. When these barriers intersect with cultural stigma or power imbalances, even well-designed Title IX processes can feel out of reach.
The challenge for campuses: ensuring that every student and scholar—not just those familiar with U.S. systems—can navigate Title IX processes with confidence and clarity.
Understanding the Unique Barriers for International Students in Title IX Reporting
1. Limited Support Networks
Far from family and familiar communities, many international students and scholars lack the trusted networks domestic students rely on. This isolation can increase vulnerability to misconduct and make it harder to know when or how to report an incident.
2. Fear of Consequences
Reporting can feel risky. Some fear being sent home, disappointing their families, being blamed, or damaging their academic or professional future. Shame and uncertainty about cultural perceptions of sexual misconduct often reinforce silence. Coordinators can help by normalizing help-seeking and clearly explaining protections against retaliation.
3. Cultural Differences in Boundaries and Behavior
Every culture defines boundaries, authority, and communication differently. Students new to U.S. settings may struggle to interpret social cues or distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Misunderstandings can discourage early intervention or reporting.
4. Confusion About Processes
Many students arrive with little understanding of Title IX policies or U.S. reporting systems. The fear of saying the wrong thing—or triggering disciplinary or immigration consequences—can lead to paralysis. Clear, multilingual communication about rights, confidentiality, and next steps is essential.
5. Financial and Academic Pressures
Reporting sexual harassment can carry perceived economic risks. Students worry that stepping away from a course, assistantship, or lab might jeopardize their scholarship or visa—or that they can’t afford legal representation. Coordinators should proactively explain available supportive measures, including academic flexibility and free or low-cost advocacy resources.
Practical Campus Strategies for Title IX and International Students
Transparent, Accessible, and Culturally Sensitive Policies
Ensure that all written materials—including Title IX notices, procedures, and reporting forms—are translated and easy to navigate. Participating in a complaint process in a non-native language can be intimidating; translated materials and trained interpreters improve understanding and trust.
Ongoing Orientation for International Students, Scholars, and Families
Orientation shouldn’t end after the first week. Offer recurring sessions that reinforce rights under Title IX, explain reporting options, confidentiality, and supportive measures, and clarify how law enforcement involvement works.
Education About Visas, Supportive Measures, and Local Resources
Visa reassurance, employment reassurance, and financial reassurance can make a crucial difference in whether someone decides to come forward. Provide clear information about how reporting interacts with visa and employment requirements. Title IX Coordinators may need to collaborate with the International Student and Scholar Services office on their campus.
Faculty and Staff Training on Reporting and Response
Faculty members often hear about incidents first. Equip them to respond compassionately, understand their reporting obligations, and connect individuals to the Title IX office appropriately.
Build Supportive Communities and Peer Networks
Schedule events and workshops for international students and scholars that foster belonging and clarify norms. A strong peer community can help students share experiences, understand boundaries, and feel empowered to report concerns early.
“Supporting international students under Title IX isn’t just about translating policies—it’s about translating trust. Institutions that invest in cultural awareness and clarity send a powerful message: you belong here, and your safety matters.”
— Adrienne Mathis, Executive Director, Title IX Solutions
Bridging Global and Domestic Contexts
The global context for higher education is shifting fast. With declining international enrollment and growing scrutiny of foreign scholars, campuses must do more than meet compliance checklists—they must build trust through cultural awareness and procedural transparency.
That’s how institutions protect their communities and strengthen their reputation as safe, inclusive places for global engagement.
Additional Resources
→ How to Help International Students Navigate Title IX – A one-page quick reference for coordinators and campus partners.
→ When Students Study Abroad: A Title IX Guide for Higher Ed – A companion article on managing Title IX obligations when students are learning overseas.
→ Title IX International Consulting Services – Learn more about how Title IX Solutions can help you navigate the challenges of responding to sexual harassment abroad.
Strengthen Your International Title IX Response
If your institution manages study abroad programs, international partnerships, or Title IX cases involving foreign nationals, our International Consulting Services can help. We partner with campuses to build culturally aware policies, coordinate cross-border responses, and train staff to handle complex international misconduct cases with clarity and care.
Adrienne Mathis is a nationally recognized Title IX expert and the Executive Director of Title IX Solutions. She has trained and advised hundreds of campus leaders, investigators, and coordinators across the country—and brings deep experience supporting study abroad programs, faculty training, and Title IX study abroad policies. Adrienne has led on-the-ground responses to complex cases abroad and regularly partners with institutions to strengthen prevention and response efforts both domestically and internationally. If your team is looking to improve study abroad safety or align international protocols, you can book a time to talk with Adrienne here.
Please Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. We recommend seeking independent legal advice concerning the issues presented in evaluating a particular incident.
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