The university has policies and processes in place to respond to reports of sexual and relationship violence. The director of Gender Equity (Title IX coordinator) will inform you prior to starting an investigation and will, to the extent possible, only share information with people responsible for handling the University’s response.
The university will not require you to participate in any investigation or disciplinary proceeding if you do not wish to participate. A survivor may serve as the complainant or as a witness in the investigation and Student Conduct Process. DePaul prohibits retaliation against anyone raising complaints or participating in a process related to Title IX.
The university has procedures that provide for a campus investigation of reports of sexual violence. Your campus director of Gender Equity (Title IX coordinator) can explain these procedures in detail and you can refer to them here.
If the report is made against a student at DePaul, upon the completion of an investigation, the matter will be referred to the Dean of Students for handling within the Student Conduct Process (SCP). Information about the SCP can be found here.
At the conclusion of the university’s investigation and conduct process, any employee or student found to have violated university policy against sexual violence will be subject to discipline. Sanctions imposed may include probation, suspension or dismissal. Discipline would be administered consistent with applicable collective bargaining agreements (for employees), university policies and legal requirements.
Disciplinary procedures for sexual and relationship violence will:
- Provide a prompt, fair and impartial process and resolution;
- DePaul uses a “more likely than not” standard in its SCP to determine if a violation occurred.
- Be conducted by officials who receive annual trauma informed training on sexual and relationship violence and how to conduct a hearing process that is fair and impartial;
- Provide the survivor/complainant and the referred student the same opportunity to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by the advisor of their choice, including an attorney;
- Simultaneously inform the survivor/complainant and the referred student in writing of:
- The outcome of the disciplinary proceeding;
- The university’s procedures for the accused to appeal the results of the disciplinary proceeding;
- Any change to the disciplinary results that occurs prior to the time such results become final; and
- When disciplinary results become final.
Response
The director of Gender Equity (Title IX coordinator) will remain mindful of your well-being, and will take ongoing steps to protect you from retaliation or harm, and work with you to create a safety plan. Retaliation against you, whether by students or employees, will not be tolerated. The university and director of Gender Equity (Title IX coordinator) will also:
- Provide interim measures requested by you, if they are reasonably available, regardless of whether you choose to report sexual violence to campus or local police;
- Assist you in accessing other available advocacy, academic support, counseling, disability, medical/health or mental health services, and legal assistance;
- Provide other security and support, which could include issuing a no-contact directive, helping arrange a change of campus-based living or working arrangements or course schedules (including for the referred individual pending the outcome of the investigation) or adjustments for assignments, tests or work duties; and
- Inform you of your right to report a crime to university or local police – and provide you with assistance if you wish to do so.
NOTE: If the university determines that the referred individual poses a serious and immediate threat to the campus community, a designated Campus Security Authority under the Clery Act may be called upon to issue a timely warning to the community. Any such warning will not include any information that identifies the reporting/affected party.
Because the university is under a continuing legal obligation to address the issue of sexual violence campus-wide, reports of sexual violence (including non-identifying reports) may also prompt the university to consider broader action – such as increased monitoring, supervision or security at locations where the reported sexual violence occurred; increased education, training and prevention efforts, including to targeted population groups; conducting climate assessments/surveys; and/or revising its policies and practices.