Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence, and Stalking Policy

The Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence, and Stalking Policy (Sexual Misconduct Policy) is designed to ensure equal access to the academic and professional experiences at CU. This policy defines prohibited conduct and reporting obligations, as well as campus support services for involved parties.

It is critical to this commitment that anyone who may have been the target of or has experienced sexual misconduct feel free to report their concerns without fear of retaliation.

To foster a climate that encourages prevention and reporting of sexual misconduct, the University will engage in prevention efforts, educate the community, respond to all reports promptly, provide supportive measures when necessary to maintain the safety of the University environment, and recognize the inherent dignity of all individuals involved. The University shall provide fair and equitable processes to investigate and address complaints of sexual misconduct that provide fundamental due process.

Anyone who encounters an issue or seeks guidance related to this policy should consult with the Office of Equity. University employees who are mandatory reporters (responsible employees) must promptly report sexual misconduct as further outlined in the policy.

What is sexual misconduct?

Sexual misconduct is unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature or abuse in a sexual or dating relationship. It may include forms of sex discrimination. The University prohibits sex-based discrimination and harassment, including discrimination based on sex as defined by Title IX, discrimination based on sex that falls outside of Title IX, and other forms of sexual misconduct as defined by the Sexual Misconduct Policy. Any person who has experienced other forms of protected class discrimination and harassment that does not constitute sexual misconduct should also report it to the OE. The University is committed to providing an environment where all individuals can study and work free from sex discrimination.

Sexual misconduct can occur in any of the following situations:

Between individuals of the same or different genders;
Between students, faculty, staff, and/or administrators;
On and off campus, including, but not limited to the classroom, workplace, field work, internship sites, study abroad, professional conferences, or within any university educational program or activity; and/or
Through social media, including, but not limited to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, and dating websites.

Sexual misconduct includes the following:

Sexual Assault

Rape, Fondling, Statutory Rape, & Incest

Dating Violence

Domestic Violence

Sexual Exploitation

Stalking

Title IX Stalking & Stalking

Sexual Harassment

Title IX Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment, Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment, Title IX Hostile Environment, & Hostile Environment

Why do we have this policy?

The Sexual Misconduct Policy and OE Resolution Procedures are intended to comply with the requirements of the following federal laws, their implementing regulations, and related federal agency guidance, relevant state laws, and the Laws of the CU Regents:

What is the Clery Act and how does it relate to this policy?

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, more commonly known as the “Clery Act”, is a federal law that requires colleges and universities, both public and private, participating in federal student aid programs to disclose campus safety information, and imposes certain basic requirements for handling incidents of sexual violence and emergency situations.

Disclosures about crime statistics and summaries of security policies are made once a year in an Annual Security Report (ASR), and information about specific crimes and emergencies is made publicly available on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

The Clery Act is named in memory of Jeanne Clery who was raped and murdered in her residence hall room by a fellow student on April 5, 1986. Her parents advocated for laws requiring the disclosure of campus crime information, and the federal law that now bears their daughter's name was first enacted in 1990. It has been amended regularly over the last two decades to keep up with changes in campus safety and expansion of the law's requirements concerning the handling of sexual violence.

Find further information about the University's Annual Security Reports here.

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Office of Equity

Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence, and Stalking Policy

Sexual misconduct includes the following:

Why do we have this policy?

Office of Equity