Sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence can be a complex and painful experience that can require many different types of support including medical, legal, psychological, and academic resources. Useful resources are available to all of TSU’s students, and may be located on campus, within the community, or nationally based.
Jurisdiction under TSU’s Title IX Sexual Harassment/Discrimination policy is limited to:
- TSU education program and activities,
- conduct that takes place on the campus or on property owned or controlled by TSU, at TSU-sponsored events, or in buildings owned or controlled by TSU’s recognized student organizations,
- conduct/actions that take place against a Complainant in the United States,
- conduct by Respondents who are members of the TSU community (students, employees, or third parties), and
- off-campus conduct when the effects of such misconduct effectively deprives the Complainant’s access to TSU’s educational program.
What happens when the Respondent is not a member of the TSU community?
In situations where the Respondent is not a member of the TSU community, the Title IX Coordinator will still offer the Complainant supportive measures and resources. Supportive measures include, but are not limited to:
- Referral to the Employee Assistance Program
- Referral to community-based service providers
- Safety planning
- Providing campus safety escorts
- Trespass orders, when applicable
- Class withdrawals, or leaves of absence
- Any other actions deemed appropriate by the Title IX Coordinator
Additional resources may include, but are not limited to:
- Contact information for community-based support services
- Assistance in reporting conduct to local law enforcement
- Honoring restraining orders, protective orders, and stalking injunctions issued by civil and criminal courts of law.
What about conduct/behaviors that occur off-campus but where both the Complainant and Respondent are members of the TSU community?
In these situations, the Title IX Coordinator will address the notice/complaint to determine whether the conduct/behavior occurred in the context of TSU employment or an educational program or activity and/or if the conduct/behavior has continuing effects on campus or in an off-campus sponsored program or activity. A continuing effect on campus or in an off-campus sponsored program or activity includes:
- Any action that would constitute a criminal offense as defined by law;
- Any situation in which it is determined that the Respondent poses an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of any student or other individual;
- Any situation that significantly impinges upon the rights, property, or achievements of oneself or others or significantly breaches the peace and/or causes a disruption; and/or
- Any situation that is detrimental to the educational interests or mission of TSU.
What about if the conduct alleged in the Title IX complaint is determined not to meet the Title IX definition of sexual harassment/discrimination?
In the event the conduct alleged in the Title IX complaint is determined to not meet the regulatory definition of sexual harassment/discrimination, but does fall within the jurisdiction of TSU, the Title IX Coordinator will refer the complaint to the appropriate conduct body, which means judicial conduct for code of conduct issues and Human Resources for employee conduct issues.