I. Initial Assessment
The Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator conducts an initial assessment, typically within five (5) business days of receiving Notice or a Formal Complaint.1 The initial assessment typically includes:
- Assessing whether the reported conduct may reasonably constitute a Policy violation.
- Determining whether the University has jurisdiction over the reported conduct.
- Offering and coordinating supportive measures for the Parties.
- Notifying the Complainant, or the person who reported the allegation(s), of the available resolution options
- Determining whether the Complainant wishes to file a Formal Complaint.
- Notifying the Respondent of the available resolution options if a Formal Complaint is made.
Helping a Complainant Understand Resolution Options
If the Complainant indicates they wish to file a Formal Complaint, the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will work with the Complainant to determine which resolution option they prefer. The Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will seek to abide by the Complaint’s wishes but may have to take another approach depending upon their assessment of the situation.
If the Formal Grievance Process is pursued, the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will initiate an investigation. If any party indicates that they want to pursue an Informal Resolution option, the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will refer the matter to the appropriate individuals(s) if the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator determines Informal Resolution is available and the other Parties consent to participate. Informal Resolution cannot be used to resolve a Formal Complaint of Title IX Sexual Harassment involving an Employee Respondent and a Student Complainant.2
If the Complainant does not want any action taken, the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will consider that request. Typically, allegations of Student-on-Student and Employee-on-Employee misconduct will not prompt the Formal Grievance Process unless deemed necessary by the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator, though the Complainant can elect to pursue the formal process in the future. The Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator may need to refer allegations of Employee-on-Student misconduct to the Formal Grievance Process regardless of the Complainant’s wishes, depending on the nature of the allegations.
The Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator may consider elements such as patterns of behavior, predation, threats, violence, use of weapons, or involvement of minors in determining whether to sign a Formal Complaint.
Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator Authority to Initiate a Complaint
The Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator has ultimate discretion as to whether a Formal Complaint is made and may consult with appropriate University Employees, and/or conduct a violence risk assessment to aid their determination whether to sign a Formal Complaint on behalf of the Complainant.
If a Complainant is not participating or attempting to participate in the University’s Education Program or Activity at the time of making a Formal Complaint, they can request that the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator sign a Formal Complaint. When the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator signs a Formal Complaint, they do not become the Complainant. The Complainant is the person who experienced the alleged misconduct. If the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator declines to sign a Formal Complaint, alternative processes may be available and can be explored with the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator.
1 If circumstances require, the Director of Human Resources or Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will designate another person to oversee the resolution process should an allegation be made about the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator or the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator be otherwise unavailable, unable to fulfill their duties, or have a conflict of interest.