/Institutions/Coker-University/json/2025-2026/Student-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Coker-University/json/2025-2026/Student-Handbook.json

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.[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 option if a Formal Complaint is made

Helping a Complainant to Understand Resolution Options

 

If the Complainant indicates they wish to initiate the Administrative Resolution Process, the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will work with the Complainant to determine which resolution option they want to pursue. The Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will seek to abide by the wishes of the Complainant but may have to take an alternative approach depending on their analysis of the situation.

 

Upon receiving a complaint that falls under the Administrative Resolution Process, 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.

 

If the Complainant does not want any action taken, the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will consider that request, and in most circumstances no resolution process will be initiated (unless deemed necessary by the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator), though the Complainant can elect to initiate one later, if desired.

 

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 initiate a resolution process.

 

Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator Authority to Initiate the Administrative Resolution Process

 

The Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator has ultimate discretion as to whether to pursue an Administrative Resolution Process and may consult with appropriate University Employees, and/or conduct a violence risk assessment to aid their determination whether to initiate a complaint.

 

When the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator initiates a 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 initiate a complaint, alternative processes may be available and can be explored with the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator.

 

The process followed considers the Parties’ preference but is ultimately determined at the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator’s discretion. If at any point during the initial assessment or investigation the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator determines that reasonable cause does not support the conclusion that Respondent violated the Policy, the process will end, and the Parties will be notified.

 

The Complainant may request that the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator review the reasonable cause determination and/or re-open the investigation. This decision lies in the sole discretion of the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator, but the request is usually only granted in extraordinary circumstances.