U.S.A. Title IX not applicable to on-line

A recent court decision has determined that the U.S.A. Title IX, a measure designed to protect students from sexual harassment, is not applicable to international students who study on-line. The ruling may open the way to questions about the appropriateness of other U.S.A. laws imposed in different course contexts. As one example, branch campuses at Education City in Doha, Qatar, assert that all U.S.A. laws are applicable, including the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA) and Clery Act, for all students regardless of nationality. While the Title IX case related to on-line courses may be a narrow decision, it highlights both jurisdictional as well as cultural standards across national borders.