Report Sex Discrimination

Members of the GovState community who may have experienced sexual harassment have the right to choose whether or not to report the incident to the University or law enforcement, and, in most circumstances, have the right to choose whether or not to pursue a sexual harassment complaint through the GovState Title IX Grievance Procedures once the University receives a report.  GovState encourages reports because they allow the University to offer resources to individuals affected by sexual harassment and take corrective action as appropriate.

Student bystanders who witness possible sexual harassment are not required to submit a report about what they saw, but GovState strongly encourages them to do so.

GovState employees who are “Responsible Employees” under Policy 78 must submit a report when they have knowledge about possible sexual harassment.

Responsible Employees must submit their reports promptly once they learn about possible sexual harassment.

Individuals who personally experience sexual harassment and student bystanders are encouraged to report possible sexual harassment or retaliation as soon as possible in order to maximize GovState’s ability to respond promptly and effectively.  However, there is no time limit on reporting violations of Title IX or Policy 78. If the respondent is no longer a student or employee, GovState may not be able to take action against the respondent, but it will still provide support for the complainant (if the complainant is a then-current student or employee) and take corrective action as appropriate.

No report to the Title IX Coordinator, law enforcement, or any Responsible Employee will remain completely confidential and private.  If you want the opportunity to discuss an experience with sexual harassment in complete confidence, please reach out to an on- or off-campus Confidential Resource. Information about Confidential Resources is available HERE. 

Reports of sexual harassment made to Responsible Employees will be passed along to the Title IX Coordinator, and reports made to law enforcement may be shared with the Title IX Coordinator and vice versa.  Once the Title IX Coordinator and/or law enforcement receive a report, they may need to further share related information as necessary to carry out their duties under applicable law.  The Title IX Coordinator and the Title IX Office Team always keep information contained in reports confidential and private to the extent required by law.  Where the law allows the Title IX Office Team to share information related to reports and complaints, they do so only to the extent necessary to comply with their duties, including providing support for individuals affected by sexual harassment, resolving any complaints under the Title IX Grievance Procedures, and taking appropriate corrective action.

If you are a Responsible Employee, you should not attempt to fulfill your reporting obligation through an anonymous report.

For others with information to submit, you may submit an anonymous report through the Title IX Reporting Portal.  Please keep in mind that if you choose to submit an anonymous report, GovState will not be able to follow up with you for additional information or to arrange any supportive services for you.  This will limit GovState’s ability to support you as an individual and may limit GovState’s ability to respond promptly and effectively. 

Usually no, not unless you tell them.  Whether you are the complainant or the respondent, GovState’s primary relationship is with you, one of our students or employees, and not with any member of your family.  An exception to this would be if your family member is a witness and needs to be interviewed as part of a complaint resolution process under the Title IX Grievance Procedures.  Another exception would be if your family member is a GovState employee or student and, for some reason, was affected by any supportive measure, remedy, or corrective action instituted by the University.

If you are a Responsible Employee, you must provide the Title IX Coordinator will all relevant information you have, including the names of all individuals involved, if you know them.

Otherwise, you are not required to name the perpetrator of the possible sexual harassment.  However, without the name of the accused, GovState is limited in its ability to respond to allegations, offer supportive measures for the parties, and to seek sanctions.  Sometimes complainants are hesitant to report for fear of retaliation.  GovState vigorously enforces its prohibition against retaliation under Policy 78.

As a means of removing barriers to reporting, GovState will generally offer any student, whether the complainant or a bystander, who reports possible sexual harassment, limited immunity from being charged for policy violations related to the personal use of alcohol or other drugs, provided that any such violations did not and do not place the health and safety of another individual at risk. GovState may choose, however, to pursue educational or therapeutic remedies for those individuals.

If you believe you may have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment but are unsure of whether it was a violation of Policy 78 or Title IX, you should contact the Title IX Coordinator.  It is important that all good-faith accounts of possible sexual harassment be reported, in order to maintain the safety of the GovState community. The Title IX Coordinator will help clearly define acts that constitute sexual harassment and provide information regarding options.

Students and employees who, in good faith, report what they believe to be sexual harassment, or who cooperate in any investigation under the Title IX Procedures, will be protected from the effects of retaliation because such retaliation is prohibited under Policy 78.  If you believe you have been the victim of retaliation for reporting sexual harassment or cooperating in an investigation, you should immediately contact the Title IX Coordinator.