What to Expect

Title IX staff will contact you to schedule a meeting to discuss the incident or concern, as well as your desired next steps.

Title IX staff will conduct an initial assessment to understand your desired outcome. Together, you will discuss what sorts of supportive measures you need, such as academic accommodations, changes to living arrangements, a no-contact order, or changes to work schedule. Arranging supportive measures does not require other parties to be involved.

Once supportive measures are arranged, Title IX staff will discuss different options you may pursue. This could involve an informal resolution—such as training, informational meetings, or education—with the accused. There could also be mediation, which requires all parties to agree to the terms. The matter may proceed to an investigation.

If you don’t wish to move forward, or if there isn’t enough information to conduct an investigation, the matter may be closed.

If the matter proceeds to a formal investigation, an investigator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will interview all parties involved. The investigator will gather evidence from all parties and interview witnesses the parties have identified. All parties will have an opportunity to review the evidence submitted. The investigator will prepare a draft investigative report summarizing the relevant evidence, which will be shared with all parties to review and provide a written response. The investigator will then issue a final investigative report to all parties. A hearing will be scheduled at least 10 days later.

A Hearing Panel will have at least three diverse and representative hearing officers. During the hearing process, all parties have the right to be represented by an advisor. They can choose to be physically present or to participate virtually with technology enabling participants to see and hear each other simultaneously.

All parties will have the opportunity to present their positions to the panel. In making a determination of responsibility, the panel can only rely on whatever relevant evidence is available through the investigation and presented in the hearing.

The panel will issue a written determination of responsibility based upon the preponderance of the evidence standard (proof that there is a greater than 50 percent chance that the allegation is true), including any disciplinary sanctions that are imposed on a respondent.

All parties have the right to appeal a determination of responsibility (within 10 days of receiving the hearing panel’s determination). Appeals are heard by an appeals panel. Appeals are confined to a review of the record and must state the basis for the appeal and include all relevant information to support the appeal.
 
See more details on the Title IX process.