Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. To ensure compliance with Title IX and other federal and state civil rights laws, Ohio University has developed internal policies that prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex (See Ohio University Policy 40.001 Equal Employment and Educational Opportunity;  03.004 Harassment; Ohio University Policy; and Ohio University Affirmative Action Policy).

Procedures for Reporting and Responding to Reports of Discrimination

The following procedures have been adopted by the University to receive, investigate, and resolve complaints of discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex. These procedures are designed to provide a supportive process for individuals who report discrimination or harassment and to ensure a fair process for individuals who are accused of discriminatory or harassing conduct. Internal investigation of allegations of institutional discriminatory treatment or systemic discriminatory practices are intended to ensure that Ohio University meets its commitment to an open and inclusive educational and employment environment. These procedures also describe the University’s efforts to conduct timely, thorough, and fair investigation as required by law.

Sexual harassment has been recognized as a form of discrimination in violation of Title IX. For emphasis, sexual harassment may be referred to specifically herein, and in addition to “discrimination” which refers generically and inclusively to all other forms of discrimination on the basis of sex.

Making Reports of Title IX Discrimination

All members of the University community are encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator at the Office for Institutional Equity if they are personally subjected to or if they observe conduct that may be in violation of Ohio University's policies which prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex. Reports of discrimination or harassment also may be brought to University Human Resources, to University Legal Affairs, and to a Dean, chair, department administrator or other supervisor.

The Office for Institutional Equity has primary responsibility for coordinating efforts for investigation, resolution, monitoring, coordinating, and centralized reporting.  Chairs, deans, department administrators, and supervisors have a management responsibility to identify and report discriminatory behaviors. Chairs, deans, department administrators and supervisors should be directly involved in resolving allegations of discrimination or harassment. Institutional Equity will investigate allegations of discrimination or harassment in consultation with the respondent’s supervisor, provided the supervisor is not an alleged perpetrator.  Chairs, Deans, department administrators and other supervisors are responsible for monitoring the respondent’s behavior and to take appropriate disciplinary action if he or she continues to violate university policy or procedure.

Any member of the University community who receives a complaint of discrimination or harassment from a student or other member of the University community against a member of the staff of the Office for Institutional Equity shall report the complaint to University Legal Affairs. 

These procedures apply to members of the campus community as defined by Ohio University’s policy prohibiting harassment (See Ohio University Policy 03.004 Harassment).

1)    Centralized Coordination, Monitoring, and Reporting

In some circumstances, investigation and disposition of complaints may be referred to other offices within the University, such as University Human Resources or Student Judiciaries. To assure University-wide compliance with this policy and with federal and state law, the Office for Institutional Equity must be advised of all reported incidents of discrimination or harassment and their resolution, regardless of where the complaint is brought, investigated, or resolved. The Office for Institutional Equity will monitor and coordinate the resolution of complaints by other offices with concurrent jurisdiction over Title IX discrimination or harassment. The Office for Institutional Equity will also use this information to prepare annual statistical reports for the campus community on the incidence of sexual harassment. No information that identifies individuals will be reported in the annual statistical reports. Annual reporting shall be made by The Office for Institutional Equity to the office of the President, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, to the Board of Trustees, and to the Office of Legal Affairs.

2)    Definitions

Sex Discrimination: Behaviors or actions that deny or create barriers to access to educational programs or activities because of a person’s sex.  Examples of the types of discrimination that are covered under Title IX include, but are not limited to, sexual harassment, failure to provide equal opportunity in educational programs and co-curricular programs including athletics, discrimination based on pregnancy, and employment discrimination.

Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that (a) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to limit a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an education program or to create a hostile or abusive educational environment, or (b) explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

Gender Discrimination or Gender Harassment: Includes discrimination or verbal/ physical harassment which is based on the person's gender but which is not sexual in nature. Ohio University’s policies prohibit gender-based harassment, which may include discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and harassment or discrimination on the basis of sex-stereotyping.

Inquiry: A request from a member of the University community for information about the policy or the procedures for resolving a situation that involves discrimination or harassment.  An inquiry may also refer to an informal notification that discrimination or harassment may have occurred and/or request for information about where or how to bring a complaint. 

Complaint: A description of facts that allege violation of the University’s policy against discrimination or harassment. The Office for Institutional Equity may request that a complaint be made in writing.

Complainant: Student(s) or employee(s) of Ohio University who alleges that she or he has been subjected to discriminatory practices or harassing behavior.  A third-party complainant is a person who brings a complaint on behalf of another member(s) of the campus community who has allegedly been the subject of discrimination or harassment. Complainants may be individuals or groups of individuals who have been impacted by discrimination or harassment.

Respondent(s): Person or persons who are members of the campus community who allegedly discriminated against or harassed another person or persons. Respondents may be individuals, groups, programs, academic or administrative units, or the institution.

Witnesses: Persons who have information about the alleged harassment that will tend to prove, disprove, or otherwise illuminate an investigation of a complaint

Investigation:  A fact finding inquiry by the Office for Institutional Equity that attempts to determine whether behavior in violation of policy prohibiting discrimination or  harassment occurred, and to make recommendations for resolution of the discriminatory or harassing conditions. The Office for Institutional Equity shall investigate any good faith complaint that contains information that, if true, constitutes a violation of University policy against discrimination or harassment.

3)    Time Limitations

Reports of discrimination or harassment should be brought as soon as possible after the alleged conduct occurs, optimally within 180 days. Prompt reporting will enable the University to investigate the facts, determine the issues, and provide an appropriate remedy or disciplinary action.

a)    Reports of discrimination or harassment brought within 180 days after the alleged conduct occurs shall be accepted and an incident note will be made part of the file. Complaints stating facts that, if true, would constitute a violation of University policy will be investigated.

b)    Reports of discrimination or harassment brought more than 180 days but less than two years after the alleged conduct occurs shall be accepted and an incident note will be made part of the file. The complaint will not be investigated and no findings of fact will be reported and no recommendations for resolution will be made

c)    Reports of discrimination or harassment brought more than two years after the alleged conduct occurred will not be accepted, noted, or investigated. Neither findings of fact nor recommendations for resolution will be made

d)    Evidence of discrimination or harassing behaviors that occurred more than 180 days after the alleged conduct occurred may be considered as part of a pattern of conduct when a report of new discriminatory or harassing behavior (less than 180 days) has been brought.

4)    Options for Resolution

Individuals making reports of discrimination or harassment shall be informed about options for resolving potential violations of the policies which prohibit discrimination or harassment. These options include informal dispute resolution, referral to other University offices or programs, formal investigation by Office for Institutional Equity, and availability of resources outside the University process. The university shall respond, to the greatest extent possible, to reports of discrimination or harassment brought anonymously or brought by third parties not directly impacted by the discrimination or harassment. However, the response to such reports may be limited if information contained in the report cannot be verified by independent facts.

Complainants and other individuals bringing reports of discrimination or harassment shall be informed about the range of possible outcomes of the report, including interim protections, remedies for the individual harmed by the discrimination or harassment, and disciplinary actions that might be taken against the accused as a result of the report, including information about the procedures leading to such outcomes.

Retaliation: An individual who is subjected to retaliation (e.g., threats, intimidation, reprisals, or adverse employment or educational actions) because he or she (a) made a report of discrimination or harassment in good faith, (b) assisted someone with a report of discrimination or harassment, or (c) participated in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a report of discrimination or harassment, may make a report of retaliation under these procedures. The report of retaliation shall be referred by the Office for Institutional Equity to the appropriate academic or administrative supervisor and to the University Office of Legal Affairs.

Temporary Measures: Ohio University may at any point in the complaint process elect to place the respondent on investigative leave, reassignment, or authorize other types of temporary measures while an investigation is pending. The University also reserves the right to issue stay-away orders or no contact provisions to any or all the parties involved in the procedures.

a)    Procedures for Informal Resolution

The Ohio University campus encourages informal resolution options when the parties desire to resolve the situation cooperatively, or when inappropriate behavior does not rise to the level of ‘severe and pervasive’, but nonetheless is adversely affecting the workplace.  Informal resolution may include an inquiry into the facts, but typically does not rise to the level of an investigation.

Informal resolution includes options such as referral to another campus office or program, mediation, separation of the parties, referral of the parties to counseling programs, or conducting targeted educational and training programs. Situations that are resolved through informal resolution are subject to follow-up after a period of time to assure that resolution has been implemented effectively. Steps taken by the Office for Institutional Equity to help the parties achieve informal resolution will be documented.

Some reports of discrimination or harassment may not be appropriate for informal resolution, but may require a formal investigation at the discretion of the Director of the Office for Institutional Equity.

b)    Procedures for Formal Investigation

In response to reports of discrimination or harassment in cases where informal resolution is inappropriate (such as when the facts are in dispute in reports of serious misconduct, or reports involve individuals with a pattern of inappropriate behavior or allege criminal acts such as stalking, menacing, sexual assault, or physical assault) or in cases where attempts at informal resolution are unsuccessful, the Office for Institutional Equity may conduct a formal investigation. In such cases, the individual making the report shall be encouraged to file a written complaint. Within five business days of receipt of a formal complaint, the Title IX Officer shall meet with the complainant to discuss a plan for investigation of the complaint. In cases where there is no written complaint, such as situations that involve a third party complaint, the Director of the Office for Institutional Equity, may initiate an investigation after making a preliminary inquiry into the facts, and will inform the person(s) who were allegedly harmed by discrimination or harassment of the decision to initiate an investigation in writing within three business days of the decision to investigate.  

Investigations of reports of discrimination or harassment shall incorporate the following standards:

1.    The individual(s) accused of conduct violating the University policy prohibiting harassment shall be provided a copy of the written complaint or otherwise given a full and complete written statement of the allegations, and a copy of Ohio University’s policies which prohibit discrimination or harassment within three business days of receipt of the complaint. If the individual(s) accused cannot be located, attempts at notification shall be documented,

2.    The individual(s) conducting the investigation shall be familiar with the policy prohibiting discrimination or harassment and have training and/or experience in conducting investigations.

The investigation generally shall include interviews with the parties if available, interviews with other witnesses as needed and a review of relevant documents as appropriate. Disclosure of facts to witnesses shall be limited to what is reasonably necessary to conduct a fair and thorough investigation. Participants in an investigation shall be advised that maintaining confidentiality is essential to protect the integrity of the investigation and will be advised to refrain from discussing the pending investigation. 

3.    At any time during the investigation, the investigator may recommend that interim protections or remedies for the complainant or witnesses be provided by appropriate University officials. These protections or remedies may include separating the parties, placing limitations on contact between the parties, or making alternative working or student housing arrangements. Failure to comply with the terms of interim protections may be considered a separate violation of the policy prohibiting harassment.

4.    The investigation shall be completed as promptly as possible and in most cases within 45 working days of the date the written complaint was received.

5.    Generally, an investigation will result in a written report that, at a minimum, includes a statement of the allegations and issues, a summary of the information considered, findings of fact, and a determination by the investigator as to whether University policy has been violated.  For allegations of discrimination or harassing behavior, there are three possible findings:

(a)  Substantiated:   It is more likely than not that the allegation is true.

(b)  Unsubstantiated: It is not possible to determine whether the allegation is true or untrue. There is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove that the allegation is true.

(c)  Unfounded: It is more likely than not that the allegation, while made in good faith, is untrue. A finding that the allegations are unfounded does not indicate that the complaint was improper or knowingly false.

6.    No person shall make an allegation that he or she knows to be untrue or knowingly provide false information during the course of an investigation.  Making a false complaint or giving false information is a violation of this Policy and may be a basis for discipline, including expulsion or termination. Evidence of false complaints or false information shall be referred by the Office for Institutional Equity to University Judiciaries or University Human Resources and to the Office for Legal Affairs.

7.    The report also may contain a recommendation for actions to resolve the complaint, including but not limited to educational programs, counseling/coaching, mediation, remedies for the complainant, and a referral to disciplinary procedures, as appropriate.

8.    The report may be used as evidence in other related procedures, such as subsequent complaints, grievances and/or disciplinary actions.

9.    The complainant and the respondent shall be informed in writing within ten days of the completion of the investigation and the outcome of the investigation. The complainant shall be informed of the findings and of actions taken or recommended to resolve the complaint, if any, that are directly related to the complainant, such as an order that the accused not contact the complainant. The complainant may be notified generally that the matter has been referred for disciplinary action, but shall not be informed of the details of the recommended disciplinary action without the consent of the respondent. The respondent shall be informed of the findings and of actions taken or recommended to resolve the complaint and shall be notified generally of referrals for disciplinary action and recommended disciplinary action.

10. Complainant and respondent(s) may request a copy of the investigative report pursuant to University policy governing privacy and access to personal information and pursuant to Paragraph B, below.

11. Regardless of the method of resolution or the outcome, Complainant is at all times free to pursue a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the United States Department of Education (Office for Civil Rights), the United States Department of Labor (Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs), or by consulting a labor/employment attorney at her or his own expense.

5)    Privacy

The University shall protect the privacy of individuals involved in a report of discrimination or harassment to the extent allowed by state and federal law and University policy. A report of discrimination or harassment may result in the gathering of extremely sensitive information about individuals in the University community. The University may be required to disclose personal information in accordance with Ohio Public Records law.  

a)    Confidentiality of Reports of Discrimination or Harassment

The Office for Institutional Equity attempts to balance the needs of the parties for privacy with the institutional responsibility of ensuring a safe educational environment and workplace. Confidentiality is an aspiration, but is not always possible or appropriate. An individual's requests regarding the confidentiality of reports of discrimination or harassment will be considered in determining an appropriate response; however, such requests will be considered in the dual contexts of the University's legal obligation to ensure a working and learning environment free from discrimination or harassment and the due process rights of the accused to be informed of the allegations and their source. Some level of disclosure may be necessary to ensure a complete and fair investigation.

b)   Confidential Resources

There are confidential resources available on campus, including counselors and psychologists in the employee assistance program, and student health services. Because content of discussions with confidential resources is not reported to an office of record, such discussions do not serve as notice to the University to address the alleged discrimination or harassment.

6)    Annual Reporting

The office of the Title IX Compliance Coordinator is responsible for maintaining records relating to discrimination or harassment reports, investigations, and resolutions. Records shall be maintained in accordance with University records policies, generally six years after the date the complaint is resolved. Records may be maintained longer at the discretion of the Title IX Compliance Coordinator (Director of the Office for Institutional Equity) in cases where the parties have a continuing affiliation with the University. All records pertaining to pending litigation or a request for records shall be maintained in accordance with instructions from University legal counsel. Requests for information should be directed to the Office of Legal Affairs.

7)    Consensual Relationships

Faculty, administrators, and supervisory staff who evaluate academic performance or job performance place themselves at risk by entering into romantic or close social relationships with subordinates or students. Faculty and staff who choose to engage in such relationships should be sensitive to the constant possibility that they may unexpectedly be placed in a position of responsibility for the student's instruction or employee’s evaluation.

Faculty, administrators, and supervisory staff should be aware that romantic or close social involvement with any student or subordinate employee could be subject to formal action if a complaint of inappropriate behavior is initiated. Even when both parties have consented to the development of such relationships, they can raise serious concerns about the validity of the consent, conflicts of interest, and unfair treatment of others; it is the faculty member or supervisor who may be held accountable for unprofessional behavior.

Updated March 2009

Link to: Ohio University Title IX Coordinator Duties and Responsibilities