Laura Rugless, Vice President and Title IX and Title VI Coordinator
The Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance, or OCR, serves as Michigan State University’s central civil rights compliance office. In this role, OCR is responsible for upholding a broad range of civil rights protections related to discrimination; harassment based on protected identity, retaliation, sexual and relationship misconduct; and accessibility.
Through its four branches— ADA and Digital Accessibility; Investigation, Support, and Resolution, or ISR; Office of the Vice President (OVP)/Business and Compliance Services; and Prevention, Outreach, and Education, or POE—OCR plays a vital role in protecting individual rights and fostering an inclusive and respectful campus culture through the implementation of MSU’s civil rights policies:
- Anti-Discrimination Policy (ADP)
- Digital Accessibility Policy
- Disability and Reasonable Accommodation
- Mandatory Reporting for Relationship Violence, Sexual Misconduct and Stalking
- Pregnancy, Childbirth and Pregnancy-Related Conditions for Students and Employees
- Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct and Title IX (RVSMTIX) Policy
OCR advances the civil rights identified within these policies by:
- Educating and supporting all university community groups regarding how to prevent, identify, appropriately respond to, and report discrimination, harassment, relationship violence, sexual misconduct, stalking, and retaliation;
- Conducting impartial, fair, and equitable investigations to ensure compliance with MSU’s Anti-Discrimination, Mandatory Reporting, and RVSM policies and provides supports to all individuals involved in the process; and
- Leading the university’s efforts to maintain accessible programs, services and activities, and to remove barriers to access as set forth in the Disability.
OCR is committed to advancing civil rights at MSU and creating an environment where all Spartans can thrive. To learn more, visit
civilrights.msu.edu, email OCR@msu.edu, or call 1-517-355-3960.