Title IX | Tuskegee University

Title IX Compliance

All Title IX reports are reviewed by Tuskegee University’s Title IX Office

Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states:

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.

Some key issue areas in which recipients have Title IX obligations are: recruitment; admissions; counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment, which encompasses sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; treatment of LGBTQI+ students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment. Also, no recipient or other person may intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX or its implementing regulations, or because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in a proceeding under Title IX. For a recipient to retaliate in any way is considered a violation of Title IX. The Department’s Title IX regulations (Volume 34, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 106) provide additional information about the forms of discrimination prohibited by Title IX.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

Tuskegee University (TU) prohibits discrimination based on sex in employment and education programs and activities. This policy applies to all students and employees and to conduct occurring in locations, events, or circumstances over which TU exercises substantial control over both (1) the respondent, and (2) the context in which the conduct occurs, including on school grounds, any building owned or controlled by a student organization officially recognized by TU; and through technology resources provided by TU or impacting a student or employee at a location owned, leased or controlled by TU or a recognized student organization.

TU will process all sex discrimination reports it receives, including reports of sexual harassment and sexual violence, to determine whether the conduct alleged in the report, if proved, would constitute sexual harassment as defined in applicable regulation.¹ This includes complaints of sexual assault or harassment made by students and employees, and against students, employees. TU reserves the right to address potential disciplinary infractions that fall outside of the Title IX’s scope under its student, employee and faculty codes of conduct. TU will take appropriate action should it receive a formal complaint, as defined in applicable regulation¹, that any contractor, vendor, partner, or other affiliate has engaged in sex-based misconduct, up to and including termination of the business relationship.

A. TITLE IX OFFICE

Reports of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, as defined by applicable regulation¹ and other conduct prohibited under this policy and inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its regulations should be directed to the TU Title IX Office:

Title IX Contact Information

1200 W. Montgomery Rd.
Tuskegee, AL 36088

To schedule an appointment to make an in-person report, contact the Title IX Office at [email protected].

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Emails & Texts from Maxient maxient logo

The Title IX Office at Tuskegee University utilizes a third-party email software called Maxient. It is a secure, web-based application that manages communication from our office, including meeting requests and follow-ups involving conduct and non-conduct issues.

Students receiving an email from Maxient will see a link to the correspondence sent from Tuskegee University.

Within the email’s text, students will be given a link to a log-in screen, by which they can access the correspondence letter or notice our office has sent.

Maxient also allows Tuskegee University to send text messages to students if their cell phone number is on file. This means that our office can send individual texts to students with a link to the communication sent via Maxient.

If you receive an email or text from Maxient, this is a legitimate email from the university, and not part of a phishing scam. Questions? Email [email protected]

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The Title IX Office coordinates the University’s compliance with Title IX and University policies related to sexual misconduct. The Title IX Office oversees the University’s centralized responses to ensure compliance with Title IX and the 2013 Amendments to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA as amended). Responsibilities also include receipt and review of reports and formal complaints, investigating or overseeing the investigation of complaints of alleged sex discrimination or harassment; ensuring that consistent standards and practices apply to all investigations; being available to meet with students and employees who believe a violation of this policy has occurred; and assisting campus security or law enforcement as needed. For further information concerning Title IX, students and employees may contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights at (800) 421-3481 or [email protected].

Responsibilities of the Title IX Office

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Communicating with members of the University community regarding Title IX and VAWA, as amended, and providing information about how individuals may exercise their rights under this policy;
Reviewing applicable University policies to ensure institutional compliance with Title IX and VAWA;
Monitoring the University’s administration of its policies, including this Title IX Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct, Relationship (Dating) Violence and Stalking policy and all related record keeping, timeframes, and other procedural requirements;
Conducting training regarding Title IX, VAWA, statements of policy, and prohibited conduct as defined in this policy and related policies;
Responding to reports and formal complaints regarding conduct that violates this policy of which the Title IX Office or any TU official who has authority to institute corrective measures on behalf of TU has actual knowledge; and
For any report of which the Title IX Office or University Official with authority to institute corrective action has actual knowledge, the Title IX Office explains, oversees and implements supportive measures with assistance from other University departments and personnel as appropriate. For any formal complaint, the Title IX Office investigates the complaint or oversees the investigation of alleged misconduct, directs the provision of any additional supportive measures for the complainant or respondent during the investigation, and monitors any related appeal.

B. REPORTING VIOLATIONS AND FILING A COMPLAINT

Reporting a violation. Any person may report a violation (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim) by using the contact information listed for the Title IX Office, and such a report may be made in person during business hours or at any time (including during non- business hours) by using the above-listed telephone number, email address, or by mail to the listed office address. Third party (including ‘‘bystander’’) reporting, and anonymous reporting (by the person alleged to be the victim or by a third party) triggers response obligations.¹²

What to expect. Upon receipt of a report, the Title IX Office will meet with the reporter, provide a copy of the Title IX policy, and explain:

The importance of seeking immediate medical attention for sexual assaults;
The importance of preserving evidence;
The process of filing a formal complaint;
The availability supportive measures even if no formal complaint is filed;
The availability of supportive measures for the complainant and respondent before or after the filing of a formal complaint;
The obligation to keep supportive measures confidential unless confidentiality impairs TU’s ability to provide them;
The right to report a crime to campus or local law enforcement;
The right to not report a crime to law enforcement or file criminal charges;
The right to simultaneously file both a criminal complaint with campus security or local law enforcement and a formal institutional Title IX complaint;
The right to assistance from TU officials with filing a criminal complaint if assistance is requested;
If a formal complaint is filed, initial review by the Title IX Office or a designee to determine whether, if true, the allegations would constitute a violation of Title IX;
Options for informal and formal resolution if a complaint proceeds beyond the initial review process;
Available health care, victim advocacy, mental health, and legal assistance resources and counseling services available both on and off campus, including the campus health center, other campus resources and sexual assault resource centers, and non-campus resources, including health and crisis assistance.
Even if a complainant asks TU not to take any action, the University may be obligated to investigate the complaint; and
Prohibitions against retaliation.

Complaints by the Title IX Office. The Title IX Office is officially authorized to initiate a formal complaint. The Title IX Office may, under some circumstances, initiate a formal complaint whether or not the person alleged to be a victim wishes to participate. Such a conclusion can only be reached by the specially trained Title IX Office, and only when specific circumstances justify that action. The Title IX Office will only initiate a formal complaint against a person's wishes if doing so is not clearly unreasonable in light of the known circumstances. The reasons for the decision must be documented.

Temporary removal on an emergency basis. TU is authorized to remove a person from its education programs or activities on an emergency basis, with or without a pending grievance process. In this event, the person must be given post-removal notice and an opportunity to challenge the removal.

Confidentiality. TU will make reasonable efforts to preserve the privacy of all involved parties and will only disclose information regarding reports or complaints under this policy on a need to know basis, primarily to persons who are responsible for investigation, evaluation and reporting requirements. TU cannot require the parties to maintain confidentiality.

C. TRAINING

Title IX training is available to all students and employess.(See training link below). Any individual serving as Title IX Office, investigator, or decision-maker, and persons designated by TU to facilitate the formal resolution process must not have a conflict of interest or bias for or against complainants or respondents generally or an individual complainant or respondent. Title IX Office, investigators, decision-makers, and any person who facilitates a formal resolution process must receive training on the following:

The definition of sexual harassment in §106.30;
The scope of the University's education programs and activities;
How to conduct an investigation and grievance process, including hearings, appeals, and informal resolution processes;
The presumption that the respondent is not responsible for the alleged conduct; and
How to serve impartially, including by avoiding prejudgment of the facts at issue, conflicts of interest, and bias.
Decision-makers must also receive training on:
Any technology to be used at a live hearing; and
issues of relevance of questions and evidence, including when questions and evidence about the complainant's sexual predisposition or prior sexual behavior are not relevant.

All training provided by the Title IX Office must be gender neutral and free of any sex bias or sex stereotyping. Any materials used to train Title IX Office, investigators, decision-makers, and any person who facilitates a formal resolution process must not rely on sex stereotypes and must promote impartial investigations and adjudications of formal complaints of sexual harassment.

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