Definitions
A voluntary informal resolution process where a decision-maker makes a finding on each of the alleged policy violations in a Formal Complaint and a finding on sanctions.
The individuals selected by the Complainant and the Respondent, or if a Party does not have their own Advisor, selected by the University, to conduct all cross-examination and other questioning on behalf of a Party at a hearing; an Adviso may, but is not required to, be an attorney.
Methods of providing Notice to a Party other than in person or by email to the Party's University email account; these include email to another email account specified by the Party, or a Party's designation of an address to which Notice may be mailed via U.S. Mail; a Party seeking to designate an Alternate Method of Notice must provide such designation in writing to the Title IX Coordinator.
"Complainant" means an individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment.
Consent to sexual activity is knowing and voluntary. Consent to sexual activity requires of all involved persons a conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. Each person engaged in the sexual activity must have met the legal age of consent. It is the responsibility of each person to ensure they have the consent of all others engaged in the sexual activity. Consent must be obtained at the time of the specific activity and can be withdrawn at any time. Consent, lack of consent, or withdrawal of consent may be communicated by words or non-verbal acts.
An individual or committee of three (3) individuals appointed by the Chancellor (or Designee) to hear appeals of an Emergency Removal decision by the Title IX Coordinator.
For Staff, Student(s) or Student Organization Respondents, a trained, senior-level administrator appointed by the Chancellor (or Designee) to hear all appeals stemming from the Title IX Resolution Process. For Faculty Respondents, the Chancellor (or Designee).
A group of two (2) trained Equity Resolution Hearing Panelist Pool members who, together with the Hearing Officer, serve as the Hearing Panel for a specific Formal Complaint. A good faith attempt will be made for the Hearing Panel to include at least one faculty member and one administrator or staff member. The Hearing Officer shall serve as the Chair of the Hearing Panel.
A group of at least five (5) faculty and five (5) administrators and/or staff selected by the Chancellor (or Designee) to serve as hearing panel members in the Hearing Panel Resolution process. The faculty hearing panel members selected by the Chancellor (or Designee) shall be selected from a list of no less than ten (10) faculty members proposed by the faculty council/senate. Selection of hearing panel pool members shall be made with an attempt to recognize the diversity of the University community. Hearing Panel members from one University may be asked to serve on a hearing panel involving another University.
Formal Complaint means a written document filed by a Complainant or signed by the Title IX Coordinator alleging sexual harassment against a Respondent and requesting that the University investigate the allegation of sexual harassment. The phrase “document filed by a Complainant” means a document or electronic submission (such as by electronic mail or an online portal provided for this purpose by the University) that contains the Complainant’s physical or digital signature, or otherwise indicates that the Complainant is the person filing the Formal Complaint.
A trained individual appointed by the Chancellor (or Designee) to preside over a hearing and act as a member of the Hearing Panel, and to rule on objections and the relevancy of questions and evidence during the hearing.
Resolution of a Formal Complaint by an Equity Resolution Hearing Panel recommending or making a finding on each of the alleged policy violations and sanctions, if applicable.
The Hearing Panelist Pool Chair is selected by the Chancellor (or Designee). The Pool Chair randomly selects and coordinates the hearing panel members to serve on the Hearing Panel for a specific Formal Complaint. The Pool Chair may serve as a panel member for a specific Formal Complaint.
A state in which rational decision-making or the ability to consent is rendered impossible because of a person’s temporary or permanent physical or mental impairment, including but not limited to physical or mental impairment resulting from drugs or alcohol, disability, sleep, unconsciousness or illness. Consent does not exist when the Respondent knew or should have known of the other individual’s incapacitation. Incapacitation is determined based on the totality of the circumstances. Incapacitation is more than intoxication but intoxication can cause incapacitation.
- Lack of awareness of circumstances or surroundings (e.g., an inability to understand, either temporarily or permanently, the who, what, where, how and/or why of the circumstances; blackout state)
- Inability to physically or verbally communicate coherently, particularly with regard to consent (e.g., slurred or incoherent speech)
- Lack of full control over physical movements (e.g., difficulty walking or standing without stumbling or assistance)
- Physical symptoms (e.g., vomiting or incontinence).
A voluntary resolution process using alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation, facilitated dialogue, administrative resolution, or restorative justice.
Investigators are trained individuals appointed by the Title IX Coordinator (or designee) to conduct investigations of the alleged violations of the University’s Title IX Policies.
The Complainant and the Respondent are collectively referred to as the Parties.
The Record of the Case in the Section 600.030 Process includes, when applicable: All Notices to the Parties; investigative report; recordings of Party and witness interviews; exhibits used at a hearing or at the Academic Medical Center (AMC) Meeting; recordings of meetings between the AMC decision-maker and Parties and witnesses, if any; the hearing record (an audio or audiovisual record of the hearing); any determination of dismissal of all or part of a Formal Complaint; the determination on each of the alleged policy violations and sanctions by either the Hearing Panel or decision-maker; and the decision on the appeal, if any, including the request for appeal, any additional evidence submitted for the appeal, and written arguments of the Parties.
Any verbal or written communication or notice of an alleged violation of the University’s Title IX Policies.
Respondent means an individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment.
Hearing process rules to which Parties and their Advisors must adhere during any Hearing under this policy.
Sexual harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:
- “Quid Pro Quo” - An employee of the University conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the University on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
- “Hostile Environment” - Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s education program or activity;
- “Sexual assault” - Any sexual act that constitutes rape, sodomy, sexual assault with an object, fondling, incest, and statutory rape, as defined below:
(i) “Rape” is the carnal knowledge of a person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of their age or because of their temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity. There is “carnal knowledge” if there is the slightest penetration of the vagina or penis by the sex organ of the other person. Attempted Rape is included.
(ii) “Sodomy” is oral or anal sexual intercourse with another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of their age or because of their temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.
(iii)“Sexual Assault with an Object” is using an object or instrument to unlawfully penetrate, however slightly, the genital or anal opening of the body of another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of their age or because of their temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity. An “object” or “instrument” is anything used by the offender other than the offender’s genitalia.
(iv) “Fondling” is the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of their age or because of their temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.
(v) “Incest” is sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by Missouri law.
(vi) “Statutory Rape” is sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent as defined by Missouri law. - “Dating Violence” - The term “dating violence” means violence committed by a person-- (A) who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and (B) where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors: (i) The length of the relationship, (ii) The type of relationship, and (iii) The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
- “Domestic violence” - The term “domestic violence” includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of Missouri, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person's acts under the domestic or family violence laws of Missouri.
- “Stalking” - The term “stalking” means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to--(A) fear for their safety or the safety of others; or (B) suffer substantial emotional distress.
A person having once been admitted to the University who has not completed a course of study and who intends to or does continue a course of study in or through one of the Universities of the University System. For the purpose of these rules, student status continues whether or not the University’s academic programs are in session.
A recognized student organization which has received Official Approval in accordance with Section 250.010 of the Collected Rules and Regulations. Three members of the organization may represent the student organization as the Party.
An individual selected by a Party to accompany the Party to all meetings and interviews to provide support for the Party throughout the Title IX Process. A Support Person may not attend a hearing under the Title IX process unless also serving as a Party’s Advisor.
The Title IX Coordinator is a trained administrator designated by the Chancellor (or Designee) to respond to reports of sexual harassment; and to receive and assist with the Title IX process for Formal Complaints alleging violation of the University’s Sexual Harassment in Employment/Education Policy. All references to “Title IX Coordinator” throughout this policy refer to the Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Coordinator’s designee.
The University’s Title IX Policies include this Policy and the Sexual Harassment in Employment/Education Policy located at Section 600.020 of the Collected Rules and Regulations (CRR).
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