1. Upon receipt of a report, the Title IX Coordinator will promptly contact the Impacted Part(ies) to offer supportive measures and outline the process for filing a Formal Complaint.
2. The Title IX Coordinator will inform the Impacted Part(ies) of the availability of supportive measures with or without the filing of a Formal Complaint.
3. The Title IX Coordinator will explain to the Impacted Part(ies) the process for filing a Formal Complaint, and assess the procedural path the Prohibited Conduct will be processed.

Supportive measures may include counseling, extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, modifications of work or class schedules, campus escort services, mutual restrictions on contact between the parties, changes in work or housing locations, leaves of absence, increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus, and other similar measures. The University reserves the right to take any measures it believes, in its sole discretion, are in the best interests of the parties and the University community.

Reports of Prohibited Conduct will not, on their own, trigger a Title IX grievance process. A Formal Complaint is required to be submitted to Pacific Lutheran University to begin a grievance process under this policy and as outlined in the U.S. Department of Education Title IX Regulations. As defined by Title IX Regulations, Pacific Lutheran University is obligated to dismiss Formal Complaints that fail to meet the definitions below or are outside of its prescribed jurisdiction, which is limited to: an individual who is participating in or attempting to participate in the education program or activity of Pacific Lutheran University, in the United States. “Educational program or activity” includes locations, events, or circumstances over which Pacific Lutheran University exercises substantial control over both the respondent and the context in which the Prohibited Conduct occurs, and also includes any building owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by Pacific Lutheran University. Prohibited Conduct that does not meet the definition or jurisdiction of sexual misconduct as defined by Title IX Regulations may be, at the discretion of PLU, processed through the PLU Student Code of Conduct.

For a Formal Complaint to proceed through PLU’s Prohibited Conduct grievance process, it must meet several criteria. The Prohibited Conduct must be:

• 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 recipient’s education program or activity; or
• “Sexual assault” as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v), “dating violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(10), “domestic violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(8), or “stalking” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30). (See below for formal definitions.)

Nothing in this part precludes Pacific Lutheran University from removing a respondent from an educational program or activity on an emergency basis, pending an individualized safety and risk analysis and determination that an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of any student or other individual arising from the allegations of sexual harassment justifies removal. In situations like this, Pacific Lutheran University will provide the respondent with notice and an opportunity to appeal the decision immediately following the removal. This provision may not be construed to modify any rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If a report is formally dismissed by the Title IX Coordinator or their designee, the report will be referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for evaluation if the reported behavior is otherwise a violation of the Pacific Lutheran University Code of Conduct and impacted parties will be notified of the dismissal in writing.

The dismissal of a report does not preclude an impacted party from utilizing any of the supportive measures outlined in this policy.

If the Formal Complaint is within the jurisdiction of Pacific Lutheran University and meets the definitional criteria of Prohibited Conduct, then PLU is obligated to respond to the Formal Complaint. When this grievance process is initiated on the basis of a Formal Complaint, the individual alleged to have engaged in the Prohibited Conduct and who must respond to the allegations is designated as the Respondent. The impacted part(ies) who submit the formal complaint will be designated as the Complainant(s). Prior to and during this process, Pacific Lutheran University presumes that the Respondent is not responsible for the alleged conduct and does not make a determination regarding responsibility until the conclusion of the process.

If the Formal Complaint does not meet the definition of or jurisdiction as defined by the Title IX regulations, the matter will be forwarded to the PLU Student Conduct Office.

There are two different procedures used to respond to Prohibited Conduct. Title IX procedures are defined by the Department of Education’s Title IX Final Rule legislation. Any conduct that does not meet the definition of or jurisdiction of Title IX will be processed by PLU’s Student Code of Conduct Procedures.

Title IX Prohibited Conduct Formal Process 

PLU’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Procedures

Students may engage criminal prosecution procedures and/or civil litigation in connection with the same behavior that forms the basis of a Prohibited Conduct report under this policy. In such cases, the University will cooperate and assist with coordination with local law enforcement and may, if requested and appropriate, share information with those agencies. The University will fulfill its legal and ethical obligation to take immediate and appropriate action to investigate possible violations of this policy, even if there are external processes or procedures pending in connection with that same report of Prohibited Conduct.

Standards for criminal investigations are different then the standards for a violation of this policy, and therefore the University will not base its decisions under this policy solely on law enforcement reports and/or action. The University will take every possible step to coordinate with law enforcement and also will take steps to resolve the Formal Complaint to the University in a timely manner.

Students who believe any Prohibited Conduct they have experienced may be criminal in nature will receive support and assistance in contacting law enforcement and/or reporting the conduct for Statistical Disclosure under the Clery Act. PLU encourages accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes to Campus Safety and the appropriate police agencies.

As a part of its prevention and awareness programs for incoming students and new employees, and its ongoing prevention and awareness programs for students and employees, PLU includes the definitions of sexual misconduct, the definition of consent in reference to sexual activity, and the definitions of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking that are used by the criminal laws in applicable jurisdictions. The criminal law definitions used in Washington State are described in Appendix A for the sake of information only. However, PLU utilizes its own definitions of these prohibited behaviors for purposes of this policy that are consistent with the Clery Act, as amended effective 2014 (and expand upon the Clery Act as noted above), and determines responsibility for violations of PLU policy through its own procedures and standards of proof.