(A) Purpose
The university is committed to maintaining a
safe, nondiscriminatory environment in which students and employees of the
university can work, learn, and participate in activities free from sexual
harassment. Title IX of the education amendments of 1972 and its associated
regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in any education
program or activity receiving federal funds. The conduct outlined in this rule,
committed against any students or employees of the university, are prohibited
conduct under federal law.
(B) Scope
This rule applies to acts committed by students,
employees, or visitors/vendors of the university regardless of gender identity
or expression or sexual orientation. This rule defines prohibited conduct as it
relates to sexual harassment under Title IX of the education amendments of
1972. Students and employees of the university may be victims of sexual
harassment by individuals unaffiliated with the university. For the purposes of
this rule, employees are full or part time faculty or staff members; students
are those who are enrolled in one or more programs at the university; and
visitors are those who are not obtaining a degree, attending classes, or
directly employed by the university. Student employees are considered students
for the purposes of this rule.
Formal complaints of sexual harassment filed by a complainant or
signed by the Title IX coordinator will be resolved in accordance with the
university's Title IX grievance procedures set forth in this rule. The Title IX
grievance procedures have been developed to provide an equitable process for
determining whether a violation of this rule has occurred, as well as to
remediate the effects, and prevent the occurrence of, prohibited conduct in
violation of this rule.
(C) Definitions
(1) "Actual knowledge"
refers to notice of sexual harassment or allegations of sexual harassment to
the Title IX coordinator or any official with authority (OWA).
(2) "Complainant" refers
to an individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could
constitute sexual harassment. Where the Title IX coordinator signs a formal
complaint, the Title IX coordinator is not a complainant or otherwise a party
in the matter.
(3) "Coercion" for the
purposes of this rule refers to the intimidation, threats of the physical or
psychological nature, or pressure used to force another to engage in sexual
acts.
(4) "Consent" for the
purposes of this rule, refers to permission or agreement to engage in sexual
activity. Consent can be given by words or actions as long as those words or
actions create mutually understandable permission and willingness to engage in
sexual activity. Consent must be active; silence cannot constitute consent nor
can consent to one form of sexual activity be implied as consent to another
form of activity. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and previous consent for
a sexual act cannot imply future consent. Consent for sexual activity is not
present if an individual:
(a) Is in a state of incapacitation (from
alcohol or drug use or mental or physical impairment) whereas another
individual knows or should have reasonably known of the incapacitation;
(b) Is coerced;
(c) Is subjected to the use of force or the
threat of force;
(d) Is unconscious or unaware the act is
being committed; or
(e) Is unable to consent due to
age.
(5) "Course of conduct,"
as it relates to stalking, means two or more acts, including, but not limited
to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties,
by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils,
threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person's
property.
(6) "Education program or
activity" refers to locations, events, or circumstances over which the
university exercised substantial control over both the respondent and the
context in which the sexual harassment occurred, including any building owned
or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the
university.
(7) "Formal complaint"
refers to a document filed by a complainant or signed by the Title IX
coordinator alleging sexual harassment against a respondent and requesting that
the university address the allegation of sexual harassment.
(8) "Incapacitation"
refers to the state of substantial impairment when an individual is unable to
make reasonable, rational decisions because they lack the capacity to give
knowing consent. For the purposes of this rule, incapacitation includes
individuals whose impairment results from physical or mental disabilities,
involuntary restraint, or the consumption of alcohol or other drugs.
Incapacitation cannot be used in a defense for behavior that violates this
rule.
(9) "Official with
authority" refers to an employee who has authority to institute corrective
measures for sexual harassment on behalf of the university. For the purposes of
this rule, OWAs include the Title IX coordinator, vice president of human
resources, senior executive director of academic affairs and student services,
assistant dean of students in the college of medicine, assistant dean of
student success in the college of pharmacy, and vice dean in the college of
graduate studies.
(10) "Reasonable person"
means a reasonable person under similar circumstances and with similar
identities to the victim.
(11) "Respondent"
refers to the person alleged to have engaged in conduct that could constitute
sexual harassment as defined in this rule. A respondent is presumed not
responsible for the alleged conduct until a determination is made in accordance
with this rule.
(12) "Retaliation"
refers to intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination against any
individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured
by Title IX or because an individual made a report or complaint, or
participated or refused to participate in any Title IX grievance
process.
(13) "Sexual
harassment," for the purposes of this rule, refers to conduct on the basis of
sex which occurs within the university's education program or activity against
a person in the united states, and satisfies one or more of the
following:
(a) "Sexual harassment by quid pro quo" is an
employee of the university conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or
service of the university on an individual's participation in unwelcome sexual
conduct;
(b) "Sexual harassment by hostile
environment" is unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so
severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a
person equal access to the university's education program or activity;
or
(c) Conduct that meets any of the following
definitions:
(i) "Sexual assault" includes conduct that
meets any of the following definitions:
(a) "Rape" means the carnal knowledge of a
person, without the victim's consent, including instances where the victim is
incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her
temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity. "carnal knowledge" means
the slightest penetration of vagina by the penis.
(b) "Sodomy" means non-consensual oral or
anal sexual intercourse with another person, including instances where the
victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of
his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.
(c) "Sexual assault with an object" means
use an object or instrument (other than a person's genitalia) to unlawfully
penetrate, however slightly, the genital or anal opening of the body of another
person, without the victim's consent, including instances where the victim is
incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her
temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.
(d) "Fondling" means the touching of the
private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification,
without the victim's consent, including instances where the victim is incapable
of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or
permanent mental or physical incapacity.
(e) "Incest" means sexual intercourse
between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein
marriage is prohibited by law.
(f) "Statutory rape" means sexual
intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of
consent.
(ii) "Dating violence" means an act of
violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a
romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a
relationship shall be determined by the length of the relationship, the type of
relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in
the relationship.
(iii) "Domestic violence" refers to felony
or misdemeanor crimes committed by a current or former spouse or intimate
partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in
common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim
as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of
the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction
receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim
who is protected from that person's acts under the domestic or family violence
laws of the jurisdiction.
(iv) "Stalking" refers to engaging in a
course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable
person with similar characteristics under similar circumstances
to:
(a) Fear for the person's safety or the
safety of others; or
(b) Suffer substantial emotional
distress.
(D) Body of rule
(1) Jurisdiction. To
meet the jurisdictional conditions of Title IX, alleged conduct must occur in
the university's education program or activity or within the scope of
employment against a person in the United States. This includes alleged conduct
which occurs on campus or as part of the university's operations, including
computer and online platforms owned and operated by, or used in the operations
of the university.
(a) Complaints of alleged conduct that does not fall under
the jurisdiction conditions set forth in paragraph (D)(1) of this rule will be
dismissed for the purposes of Title IX. In situations where a complaint is
dismissed under Title IX, the parties will be notified in writing and given a
period of five business days to appeal the dismissal, in writing, to the vice
president for human resources and diversity (or designee). Allegations
dismissed under Title IX may still constitute a violation of other university
rule and may be addressed using separate conduct processes.
(b) The university may dismiss a formal complaint or any
allegations therein, if at any time during the grievance process, prior to
reaching an informal or formal resolution:
(i) The complainant notifies the Title IX
coordinator in writing that the complainant would like to withdraw the formal
complaint or any allegations it contains;
(ii) The respondent is no longer enrolled or
employed by the university; or
(iii) Specific circumstances prevent the
university from gathering evidence sufficient to reach a determination as to
the formal complaint or allegations it contains.
(2) Reporting. The
university supports and encourages the campus community to report any and all
instances of gender-based violence to the following resources:
(a) Title IX coordinator. Reports of sexual harassment
should be made to the Title IX coordinator, whose contact information can be
found at https://www.neomed.edu/diversity/title-ix/. Reports may be made at any
time, including during non-business hours. The Title IX coordinator, or
designee, will respond to the report with a request for an intake meeting
within twenty-four business hours after addressing immediate supportive
measures/safety.
(b) Law enforcement. Reports may be made to the NEOMED
police department at 330-325-5911 or to the Portage county sheriff's office at
330-296-5100 if a person believes the sexual harassment he/she experienced may
constitute a crime. A report can be made to both law enforcement and university
employees designed in this rule. Reports made to the NEOMED police department
are not confidential.
(c) Other reporting sources. Reports made to officials with
authority are not confidential. These individuals are required to inform the
Title IX coordinator of any such report made to them:
(i) Vice president of human
resources;
(ii) Senior executive director of academic
affairs and student services;
(iii) Assistant dean of students in the
college of medicine;
(iv) Assistant dean of student success in
the college of pharmacy; and
(v) Vice dean in the college of graduate
studies.
(d) Confidential reports. Reports made to one of the
licensed counselors in the center for student wellness and counseling services
(CSWCS) are confidential and will not be reported to the Title IX
coordinator.
(e) Anonymous reports. Anonymous reports will
be accepted; however, in these instances, the university's ability to provide
supportive measures or investigate the alleged conduct may be compromised. The
university will address anonymous complaints to the extent possible.
(f) Consolidation of formal complaints. The
university may consolidate formal complaints as to allegations of sexual
harassment against more than one respondent, or by more than one complainant
against one or more respondents, or by one party against the other party, where
the allegations of sexual harassment arise out of the same facts or
circumstances.
(g) False complaints. Intentionally filing a
false complaint of sexual harassment is a violation of this rule and could
constitute a criminal act. Evidence of this nature will be referred to the
university's general counsel.
(h) Retaliation. Neither the university nor
any other person may retaliate against an individual for the purpose of
interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX or because an
individual made a report or complaint, or participated or refused to
participate in any Title IX grievance process. Retaliation should be reported
promptly to the Title IX coordinator. Evidence of retaliation is grounds for
disciplinary action.
(i) Limited amnesty. Individuals who make a
report of sexual harassment or participate in any sexual harassment grievance
procedure may not be subject to disciplinary action by the university for
behavior that is otherwise considered a violation of the student conduct code
or terms of employment. This includes the personal consumption of alcohol or
drugs at or near the time of the incident, provided that any such violations
did not place the health or safety of any other person at risk.
(j) Minors. Upon receipt of a report of
alleged sexual harassment or sexual violence committed by or upon a minor in a
university affiliated program or activity, the Title IX coordinator or designee
shall:
(i) Complete an immediate safety assessment
to restore a safe environment;
(ii) Determine whether local law
enforcement and/or children and family services have been notified and decide
whether such notification is required or appropriate;
(iii) Notify the parents or guardians of
the minor(s) involved; and
(iv) The Title IX coordinator or designee
will review this rule with the guardian(s), provide available on and off campus
resources to the minor, and explain the process to submit a formal complaint.
(3) Supportive
measures
(a) Supportive measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive
individualized services offered by the Title IX coordinator as appropriate and
as reasonably available, without fee or charge, to the complainant or
respondent. Supportive measures may be offered before or after the filing of a
formal complaint, or where no formal complaint has been filed.
(b) Supportive measures are designed to
restore or preserve equal access to the university's education program or
activity.
(c) Supportive measures may include, but are
not limited to:
(i) Mutual no contact
directives;
(ii) Counseling and health
services;
(iii) Course-related
adjustments;
(iv) Modifications of work or class
schedules;
(v) Campus escort services;
(vi) Academic support;
(vii) Consideration of leave requests; and
(viii) Designated hours for use of shared
facilities.
(4) Resources and
support
(a) Confidential resources
(i) The CSWCS is an
on-campus confidential resource and can be reached at 330-325-6757. Making a
report to CSWCS licensed counselors will not result in a report to law
enforcement or other university personnel, including the Title IX coordinator.
(ii) Off-campus,
twenty-four/seven local crisis resources include townhall II, which can be
reached at 330-678-4357(help), and coleman professional services, which can be
reached at 330-296-3555.
(b) Treatment. Any person who has experienced
an act of sexual violence is encouraged to go to the nearest emergency room or
hospital for evaluation, treatment, and counseling. St. Thomas hospital in
Akron, Ohio, offers specialized services for victims of sexual violence. Though
a person who has experienced an act of sexual violence may choose whether to
notify law enforcement authorities about the offense, filing a police report
near in time will:
(i) Ensure the person receives necessary
medical treatment and tests at no expense;
(ii) Provide an opportunity for the
time-sensitive collection of evidence helpful in the prosecution, such as
collecting soiled clothes and advising the person to refrain from bathing or
douching, washing his/her face, urinating, drinking liquids, eating, or
brushing his/her teeth; and
(iii) Assure that the person has access to
free confidential counseling from counselors specifically trained in the area
of sexual assault crisis intervention.
(c) Advisors of choice. Both parties are
permitted to be accompanied to any and all meetings and interviews related to
the Title IX grievance process by an advisor that the party chooses. This can
include but is not limited to: a parent, friend, lawyer, or colleague. A party
can request to the Title IX coordinator that an advisor of choice be assigned
to them, and the university will provide a trained advisor to the party free of
charge. Advisors of choice are mandatory during the formal resolution live
hearing process but are optional at other stages.
(5) Procedures for
resolving formal complaints of sexual harassment
(a) Informal resolution
(i) Informal resolution is only available in
situations where a formal complaint has been filed by the complainant.
(ii) After a formal complaint is filed, the
respondent will be provided notice of the allegations of sexual harassment
potentially constituting a violation of this rule. The respondent will be given
a minimum of three days to prepare for any informal resolution.
(iii) In order to proceed with an informal
resolution, both parties must provide voluntary, written consent to the
informal resolution process. In situations where neither party, or only one of
the parties, agrees to an informal resolution, the Title IX coordinator will
proceed with the formal resolution process.
(iv) In situations where the respondent is
an employee of the university and the complainant is a student of the
university, there is no option for informal resolution and the Title IX
coordinator will proceed with the formal resolution process.
(v) Any informal resolution will be
conducted through a facilitator in a manner designed to provide a prompt, fair,
and impartial resolution.
(vi) Both parties have the right to be
accompanied at any meetings as part of the informal process by an advisor of
choice.
(vii) The complainant and respondent are
not required to address the formal complaint directly with one another if they
choose to pursue an informal resolution.
(viii) Both parties have the right to
discontinue the informal resolution and initiate the formal resolution process
at any time prior to both parties signing an informal resolution agreement.
(ix) Both parties have the right to request
an informal resolution prior to any hearings as part of the formal resolution
process; however, both parties must agree, in writing, to proceed with an
informal resolution.
(x) Both parties will be asked to sign an
informal resolution agreement within three business days of the conclusion of
the informal resolution. If one or both of the parties does not sign the
informal resolution agreement within the specified timeframe, the Title IX
coordinator will proceed with the formal resolution process.
(xi) The case will be closed once both
parties have signed an informal resolution agreement. There are no bases to
appeal an informal resolution.
(b) Formal resolution
(i) Formal resolution is only available in
situations where a formal complaint has been filed by the complainant or signed
by the Title IX coordinator.
(ii) Any formal resolution will be conducted
in a manner designed to provide a prompt, fair, and impartial resolution. Most
formal resolutions will be resolved within a ninety-day window. The Title IX
coordinator will notify the parties if this time frame will not be met and
provide sufficient reasoning.
(iii) Both parties have the right to be
accompanied at any meetings, interviews, or hearings as part of the formal
process by an advisor of choice.
(iv) There is the presumption that the
respondent is not responsible for the alleged conduct until a determination
regarding responsibility is made at the conclusion of the formal resolution
process.
(v) After a formal complaint is filed, the
respondent will be provided notice of the allegations of sexual harassment
potentially constituting a violation of this rule, along with a minimum of
three days to prepare for any initial interview.
(vi) A formal investigation into the
allegations will include interview(s) with the complainant, interview(s) with
the respondent, and interviews with any witnesses believed to possess relevant
evidence regarding the allegations.
(vii) Both parties will have an
opportunity to examine a draft version of the investigatory report and any
relevant evidence collected throughout the investigation and will have a period
of ten business days to submit a written response.
(viii) The investigator(s) will compile a
final investigatory report, which will be provided to both parties and their
advisors of choice no less than ten business days prior to any hearings on the
matter.
(ix) Live hearings will take place via video
conference and will be closed to the public. During the live hearing, both
parties will have the opportunity to cross-examine one another, as well as any
witnesses, through an advisor of choice. If either party does not have an
advisor of choice, an advisor will be provided by the university at no cost for
the sole purpose of conducting the cross-examination.
If a party or witness does not submit to cross-examination at
the live hearing, a decision-maker may consider any statements made by that
party or witness when reaching a determination regarding responsibility, so
long as the statements are otherwise permitted under Title IX
regulations.
(x) The preponderance of the evidence standard will be
applied in any formal resolution process initiated by a formal complaint of
sex-based harassment. A "preponderance of the evidence" is met if it is
determined to be more likely than not, based on the evidence available, that
the respondent's behavior violated the sexual harassment under this
rule.
(xi) At the conclusion of the live hearing, the decision
maker(s) issue a written decision, which shall include the following:
(a) A statement of the allegations made to
support a claim of sexual misconduct;
(b) A description of the procedures followed
throughout the process, starting from the formal complaint through the
determination;
(c) The findings of fact to support the
determination;
(d) A conclusion regarding whether the
university rule was violated based on the factual findings;
(e) A statement of the result as to each
allegation, including the rationale for the statement and a determination of
responsibility;
(f) A statement of any disciplinary
sanctions imposed upon the respondent or remedies put in place in to restore or
preserve; and
(g) The procedure and available bases for
appeal.
(c) Appeals. Only formal resolutions may be
appealed. Both parties have the right to submit a written appeal within five
business days of receiving the written decision. Appeals should be submitted to
the vice president for human resources and diversity or designee. Appeals can
only be made on any one of the following grounds:
(i) Procedural irregularity that affected
the outcome of the matter;
(ii) New evidence that was not reasonably
available at the time the determination regarding responsibility or dismissal
was made, that could affect the outcome of the matter; and
(iii) The Title IX coordinator,
investigator(s), or decision-maker(s) had a conflict of interest or bias for or
against complainants or respondents generally or the individual complainant or
respondent that affected the outcome of the matter.
(6) Disciplinary
sanctions
Sanctions may only be imposed as the result of disciplinary
proceedings and may not be imposed prior to informal resolution or a finding of
responsibility at the conclusion of the formal process. Possible sanctions
include:
(a) Suspension from or termination of further
employment;
(b) Suspension or dismissal from further
matriculation;
(c) Adjustments to work, living or learning
situations;
(d) No-contact directives;
(e) Educational intervention; or
(f) Restrictions from participating in co-curricular
activities.
(7) Emergency removal and
administrative leave. The university may remove a respondent from the
university's education program or activity on an emergency basis. Prior to
removal, the university will conduct an individualized safety and risk analysis
and must determine that an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of
any student, employee, or other individual arising from the allegations of
sexual harassment justifies removal. The university will provide notice of an
emergency removal and give the respondent an opportunity to challenge the
emergency removal decision immediately following the removal.
The university may place a non-student employee respondent on
administrative leave while a grievance process is pending.