Sex/Gender Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy

The sections are listed below as a resource. Full Sex/Gender Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy

Section I - Opening Statement and Purpose
Section II - Scope of Policy
Section III - Title IX and Nondiscrimination
Section IV - Retaliation and False Accusations
Section V - Time Considerations For Reporting and Filing Claims of Sex/Gender Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct
Section VI - Amnesty for Violations of the College's Alcohol and Illegal Drug Use Policies to Individuals Who Report Incidents of Sexual Misconduct
Section VII - Recommended Immediate Steps Following An Incident of Sex/Gender Discrimination and/or Sexual Misconduct
Section VIII - Procedures for Reporting Incidents of Sex/Gender Discrimination or Sexual Misconduct
Section IX - Procedures for Filing a Claim of Sex/Gender Discrimination or Sexual Misconduct
Section X - Confidentiality and Anonymous Reporting or Filing
Section XI - Interim and Remedial Measures
Section XII - Selection and Use of Advisors and Supporters
Section XIII - Student Claimant and Respondent Protections Under This Policy
Section XIV - Procedures for Investigating Reports and Claims
Section XV - Informal Resolution Conference-For Students
Section XVI - Formal Resolution Hearing-For Students
Section XVII - Sanctions-For Students
Section XVIII - Student Appeals
Section XIX - Sanctions-For Faculty and Staff
Section XX - Definitions
 
 
Specific Information on Reporting: Section VIII

A.    Options for Reporting to Rhodes Under This Policy.
Anyone can report an incident of sex/gender discrimination and sexual misconduct to Rhodes.  A report can be made by any individual who is a victim or survivor of sex/gender discrimination or sexual misconduct, who has been affected by sex/gender discrimination or sexual misconduct, or who has knowledge of sex/gender discrimination or sexual misconduct happening to or affecting someone else.  A report may be made anonymously (see Section X). Although Rhodes will investigate all reports and may implement remedial steps, it does not mean the report will become a Claim or that the College will pursue a formal resolution. The College strongly encourages all individuals to report incidents of sexual misconduct and sex/gender discrimination even if the individual does not intend to pursue a Claim.

In order to make a report, a reporting individual may do one or more of the following:

1. Report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator or the Deputy Title IX Coordinator listed above in Section III.  Reporters are encouraged, but not required, to direct their reports to the Title IX Coordinator or the Deputy Title IX Coordinator.

Notifying the Title IX Coordinator or the Deputy Title IX Coordinator of any incident of alleged Sex/Gender Discrimination or Sexual Misconduct will trigger an investigation into the alleged incident.

2. Report the incident to any Resident Assistant, Peer Advocate, faculty or staff member. However, Counseling Center, Health Services staff and the Chaplain’s Office are considered “confidential resources” staff.

It is important to know that, with the exception of the "confidential resources" staff listed below in Section XIII.B.1., all Rhodes faculty and staff are Mandatory Reporters (Rhodes Mandatory Reporter Policy.pdf) and are required by the College to report any knowledge they receive of possible violations of this policy to the Deputy Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Coordinator.  Mandatory Reporters may relay all known information about any reported policy violation, including but not limited to: the names of involved individuals, the nature of the incident, and the time and location of the incident.  (See Section X for information about confidential and anonymous reporting.)

All Resident Assistants and members of the Peer Advocate Center are also Mandatory Reporters and are required to report any knowledge of possible violations of the policy to the Deputy Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Coordinator. No other students are obligated to report knowledge they may have of sexual misconduct, including student employees of Rhodes who are considered students and not staff for purposes of this policy and are not Mandatory Reporters.

Once  the Deputy Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Coordinator learn of any incident of alleged sex/gender discrimination or sexual misconduct from a Mandatory Reporter, they will initiate an investigation into the alleged incident.

After making a report, an individual may choose to end his or her involvement in the process, may choose to be involved or not be involved in the College’s investigation and any related proceedings, or may choose to file a formal Claim and pursue Formal Resolution against the Respondent or pursue an Informal Resolution Conference. 
 

B.    Options Utilizing Confidential Resources.  
Individuals can confidentially discuss incidents of sex/gender discrimination and sexual misconduct with one of the following College “confidential resources” staff:

  • Any member of the Student Health Services staff located at the Moore-Moore Student Health Center -  (901) 843-3895;
  • The Chaplain of the College - (901) 843-3804; or
  • Student Counseling Center staff - Moore-Moore Infirmary - (901) 843-3128. 

Disclosures made to these confidential resources will be held in strict confidence, and will not constitute a report to Rhodes under this policy.  These confidential resources may assist individuals with reporting incidents or filing Claims if, and only if, they are requested to do so by the individual who has reported the sexual misconduct.

Specific and personally identifiable information given to one of these confidential resources will not be disclosed to the Deputy Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Coordinator without consent. However, in order to assist the College in collecting data and identifying patterns or systematic problems related to sexual violence on and off campus, the ‘confidential resources’ staff will convey general information about the incident (i.e. nature, time and location of incident) to the Deputy Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Coordinator.  In such cases, the College will protect confidentiality and avoid disclosing personally identifiable information about individuals involved in the incident.

C.     Options for Notifying Off-Campus Law Enforcement Authorities.  
Individuals can notify off-campus law enforcement authorities about any incident of alleged sex/gender discrimination and sexual misconduct, including by dialing (911), calling the Memphis Police Department Sex Crimes Squad at (901) 636-3330, and/or calling the Shelby County Rape Crisis Center at (901) 222-4350.  Individuals can also contact other law enforcement agencies, depending on the location of the incident.  Notifying off-campus law enforcement authorities will not constitute a report to Rhodes under this policy, but it may or may not result in such authorities reporting relevant information back to Rhodes.

Individuals can request assistance from Rhodes faculty and staff in notifying appropriate law enforcement authorities, which the College will provide.  Requesting such assistance from a Mandatory Reporter will constitute a report as described above.

D.     Option to Not Report.  
Individuals can choose not to notify Rhodes or any law enforcement authorities about an alleged incident of sex/gender discrimination or sexual misconduct.