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

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

XIII. Notice/Complaints of Prohibited Conduct

A report provides the University Notice of an allegation or concern about Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, and/or Other Prohibited Conduct and provides an opportunity for the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator to provide information, resources, and supportive measures. A Formal Complaint informs the University that the Complainant would like to initiate an investigation or other appropriate resolution procedures. A Complainant or individual may initially make a report and may decide at a later time to make a Formal Complaint. Reports or Formal Complaints of Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, and/or Other Prohibited Conduct may be made using any of the following options:

1. File a report or Formal Complaint with, or give verbal Notice to, the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator or to any member of the Title IX Team. Such a report or Formal Complaint may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number or email address, or by mail, to the office of the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator or any other Title IX Team member listed in the Policy.
2. Report online at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?CokerUniv&layout_id=200. Anonymous reports are accepted but the report may give rise to a need to try to determine the Parties’ identities. Anonymous reports typically limit the University’s ability to investigate, respond, and provide remedies, depending upon what information is shared. Measures intended to protect the community or redress or mitigate harm may be enacted. It also may not be possible to provide supportive measures to Complainants who are the subject of anonymous reports.

As used in the Policy, the term “Formal Complaint” means a document or electronic submission (such as by electronic mail or through an online portal provided by the University for this purpose) that contains the Complainant’s physical or digital signature or otherwise indicates that the Complainant is the person filing the complaint, and requests that the University investigate the allegations. If Notice is submitted in a format that does not meet this standard, the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator will contact the Complainant to determine whether the Complainant is requesting that the University initiate an investigation or other appropriate resolution procedures.¹

 

Reporting carries no obligation to file a Formal Complaint, and in most situations, the University is able to respect a Complainant’s request to not initiate an investigation or other appropriate resolution procedures. However, there may be circumstances, such as pattern behavior, allegations of severe misconduct, or a compelling threat to health and/or safety, where the University may need to initiate an investigation or other appropriate resolution procedures. If a Complainant does not wish to file a Formal Complaint, the University will maintain the privacy of information to the extent possible. The Complainant should not fear a loss of privacy by submitting a report that allows the University to discuss and/or provide supportive measures, in most circumstances.

¹As required by federal law, the University may not initiate a grievance process for allegations of Title IX Sexual Harassment without a Formal Complaint. For all other allegations of prohibited conduct under the Policy, a Formal Complaint is not required, and the the University may initiate its grievance process upon Notice of the alleged misconduct. Notice can be substituted in place of references to a Formal Complaint for allegations other than Title IX Sexual Harassment throughout the Policy.