Protections Against Retaliation

The following information is the same for both the Title IX Sexual Misconduct process and the Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct process. Any areas that may be different will be specifically noted.

Retaliation against an individual who reports a potential violation in good faith under this regulation, assists someone with a report of a violation or participates or refuses to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or other resolution of a complaint made under this regulation is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.

Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, threats, intimidation, coercion, discrimination, reprisals, or adverse actions related to an individual's employment or education. In addition, charges against an individual for University Code of Student Conduct violations that do not involve sex discrimination or sexual harassment but arise out of the same facts or circumstances as a report or complaint of sex discrimination, or a report or Formal Complaint of Title IX Sexual Misconduct, for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX, constitutes retaliation.

The exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment does not constitute retaliation prohibited employment; ineligibility for re-hire; other coaching, conduct or corrective actions as described in System under this regulation.

The university will take appropriate steps to ensure that an individual who, in good faith, reports, complains about, or participates or refuses to participate in an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or other resolution pursuant to this regulation will not be subjected to retaliation. Individuals who believe they are experiencing retaliation are strongly encouraged to lodge a complaint with the university using the same procedure outlined in this regulation.

Individuals who are found to have retaliated under this regulation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, expulsion from the university, or being barred from the university premises and events.

An individual found to have knowingly and in bad faith provided materially false information may be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including, dismissal or separation from the university. A determination regarding responsibility alone is not sufficient to conclude that any party or Witness made a materially false statement in bad faith.