“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance…”

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Title IX and Preventing Sexual Harassment

This site is a resource for students, employees, and third parties to learn more about TSU's Title IX Sexual Harassment/Discrimination Policy (ADD LINK) and the protections under the 2020 Title IX regulatory changes. If you have experienced or witnessed an act of sexual harassment, discrimination, or dating/partner violence, you are encouraged to report the incident to TSU’s Title IX Coordinator.

Learn about the Grievance Process

TSU’s Title IX Coordinator is:
Cynthia S. Buckley, Ed.D.
Interim Vice President
Department of Human Resources and Payroll Services
Room HH127B, 3100 Cleburne Street,
Houston, TX 77004
O (713) 313-7037
F (713) 313-4347

Immediate Assistance

If you are in an emergency situation, make sure you are in a safe place and call 911. For non-emergencies, contact TSU’S Title IX Coordinator, the Department of Public Safety (24/7 on-call at 713-313-7000), or local law enforcement.

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Policy

TSU’s policy is to provide an educational, employment, and business environment free of sexual violence, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communications constituting Sexual Harassment as prohibited by state and federal law. Discrimination under this Policy is an unequal treatment of a student based on the student’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, or pregnancy. This Policy prohibits Sexual Harassment and Discrimination in any university education program or activity, which means all academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs.

Sexual Harassment

The 2020 Title IX Regulations define sexual harassment broadly to include any of three types of misconduct that—on the basis of sex—jeopardize the equal access to education and the educational programs/activities that Title IX is designed to protect. These three types of misconduct are:

  1. Any instance of quid pro quo harassment by a school's employee;
  2. any unwelcome conduct that a reasonable person would find so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it denies a person equal educational access;
  3. any instance of sexual assault (as defined in the Clery Act), dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). For definitions of sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking, please see the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy. (ADD LINK)

TSU’s Title IX Team

The University has a designated Title IX Coordinator who can answer questions and assist you with reporting options and resources. The TSU Title IX Coordinator is:

Dr. Cynthia Buckley
Title IX Coordinator
Phone: 713.313.7037
Email: cynthia.buckley@powerorigin.net
Location: HH127B

Along with the Title IX Coordinator, TSU has a dedicated Title IX team. This team works together to ensure TSU’s compliance with Title IX.

Melissa Flores, J.D.
TSU Title IX Partner HEC Partners, LLC
Phone: 801.557.1657
Email: melissa.flores@powerorigin.net
Location: Remote

Title IX Compliance Partner
Robert Bienkowski
TSU Title IX Partner
HEC Partners, LLC
Email: robert.bienkowski@powerorigin.net
Location: Remote

Dr. Dwalah Brown-Fisher
Senior Women Administrator and Title IX Liaison
Phone: 713.313.7621
Email: dwalah.brown-fisher@powerorigin.net
Health and Physical Education Room 151

Ka’Shonda Hurst Sr.
Employee Relations Specialist
Phone: 713.313.7881
Email: kashonda.hurst@powerorigin.net
Hannah Hall, Suite 125

  Title IX Advisors

Reporting

Notice or complaints of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation in violation of this Policy may be made using any of the following options:

  1. File a complaint with, or give verbal notice to the Title IX Coordinator or an Official with Authority or Mandatory Reporter. Such a report may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) through various methods, including telephone (713.313.7037), email ( TitleIX@TSU.edu), or by discussing your concerns with any Official with Authority or Mandatory Reporter.
  2. Report online, using the reporting form. Anonymous reports are accepted and can give rise to an investigation. TSU offers supportive measures to both Complainants and Respondents. However, it can be impossible to provide supportive measures when the name of the Complainant is not shared in the report. TSU respects a Complainant’s requests to not file a formal complaint, unless there is a compelling threat to health and/or safety. At which time, the Title IX Coordinator may independently open an investigation.

Formal Complaint

A formal complaint is a document filed and signed by the Complainant or signed by the Title IX Coordinator alleging a policy violation by a Respondent and requesting that TSU investigate the allegation(s). A complaint may be filed with the Title IX Coordinator in person, by mail, or by electronic mail, by using the contact information in the section immediately above, or as described in this section. As used in this paragraph, the phrase “document filed by a Complainant” means a document or electronic submission (such as by electronic mail or through an online portal provided for this purpose) that contains the Complainant’s physical or digital signature, which can include the Complainant’s name on the email, or otherwise indicates that the Complainant is the person filing the complaint.

Contacting Law Enforcement

Texas Southern University (TSU) encourages reports of criminal behavior be made with local law enforcement in addition to contacting the Title IX Coordinator. Law enforcement agencies can provide you with a wide range of services.

Provide access to:

  • Initiate a criminal investigation
  • Protective measures
  • Victim advocate services
  • Counseling

Additional services:

  • Respond to concerns for personal safety
  • Share personal safety strategies
  • Access to medical services
  • Explain how to obtain an order of protection or injunction against harassment
  • Answer questions about the criminal process

A criminal investigation also affords additional rights to victims (INSERT LINK TO CAMPUS SaVE NOTICE). Working with local law enforcement complements an administrative investigation. TSU can only influence the employment and enrollment status of an individual. Local law enforcement can make sure that community members, vendors, students, or employees do not continue harmful behavior in the community setting. TSU will enforce any court orders and collaborate with local law enforcement during investigations. In most cases, an administrative investigation will be completed prior to a criminal investigation.

For emergencies or to report a crime in progress at TSU, Call 9-1-1 or call the TSU Department of Public Safety at 713-(313-7000) or email tsudps@powerorigin.net. 

For off-campus emergencies call 9-1-1. Always make sure you are in a safe place before contacting Public Safety or the local police.

For non-emergency and general public safety-related assistance call 713-(313-7000). 

TSU encourages anyone who experiences sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, sexual assault, or harassment  to work with the Title IX Coordinator and TSU law enforcement to seek relief, remedies, and support.

Retaliation

TSU’s Title IX Sexual Harassment policy strictly prohibits retaliation for engaging in protected activities.

Protected activity under this policy includes reporting an incident that may violate policy, participating in the grievance process, supporting a Complainant or Respondent, assisting in providing information relevant to an investigation, and/or acting in good faith to oppose conduct that constitutes a violation of this policy. 

It is prohibited for TSU or any member of TSU’s community to take materially adverse action by intimidating, threatening, coercing, harassing, or discriminating against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by law or policy, or because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this policy and procedure. 

  1. The exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment do not constitute retaliation.
  2. Charging an individual with a code of conduct violation for making a materially false statement in bad faith in the course of a grievance proceeding under this policy and procedure does not constitute retaliation. An unsubstantiated determination regarding responsibility, alone, is not sufficient to conclude that any party has made a materially false statement in bad faith.

Acts of alleged retaliation should be reported immediately to the Title IX Coordinator. TSU is prepared to take appropriate steps to protect individuals who fear that they may be subjected to retaliation for engaging in a protected activity.