Explaining What the Office of Equity & Diversity Will Do

Initial Contact from the Title IX Coordinator

Once a report is made, the Title IX Coordinator will email the victim (also known as a Complainant) with the following information:

  • a request for an intake meeting
  • Supportive Measures that are available even if the student does not file a formal complaint
  • a description of the Title IX process
  • referrals to support providers on and off campus

If the student does not respond and there is no imminent danger to the campus community, the Office of Equity & Diversity/Title IX Office will cease contact after 2-3 attempts.   There are no negative consequences for victims if they choose not to respond to these emails.

Intake Meeting

Students who agree to meet with the Title IX Coordinator for an intake interview will be provided information about the Title IX process and their options moving forward.  These options include accommodations, referrals, an early resolution process, or a formal investigation process. An overview of these options is available and are described in more detail below.

During the intake interview, survivors (also known as the Complainant) will be asked for details about the incident, including the name of the assailant (also known as the Respondent) and any witnesses.  Although every effort will be made to follow the Complainant’s wishes, the Office of Equity & Diversity/Title IX Office reserves the right to contact the assailant and witnesses if there is reason to believe that public safety is a concern.  For this reason, it is strongly recommended that survivors bring an advocate with them to this and any subsequent meetings or hearings. The Campus Confidential Advocate can be reached by email at advocate@csulb.edu or by phone at 562-985-2668.

Accommodations

Complainants who report sexual assault, intimate partner violence, harassment, or stalking to the Office of Equity & Diversity/Title IX Office will be offered accommodations, which may include:

  • No contact orders which require the Respondent to cease all contact with the Complainant
  • Prohibiting the Respondent to contact witnesses involved in the case
  • Change of Complainant’s campus-based living arrangements to reduce contact with the Respondent
  • Change of Complainant’s campus-based working arrangements, work assignments, or reporting relationships to reduce contact with the accused
  • Change of Complainant’s course schedule to reduce contact with the accused
  • Adjustments of Complainant’s assignments and tests, including the provision of tutoring
  • Ability to withdraw from courses without adverse effects on their academic record
  • Provision of an escort between campus locations when safety risks are high
  • Review and removal of any disciplinary actions against the Complainant if there is a causal  connection between the misconduct and the assault

Students may receive accommodations from the Office of Equity & Diversity even if they do not participate in an investigation or hearings. 

Informal Resolution Process

Students may opt to engage in an informal resolution, after they have filed a formal complaint.   During the informal resolution process, the Complainant will be asked what type of outcome they desire.  Possible outcomes can include any of the accommodations listed above as well as possible restrictions or disciplinary actions against the Respondent, including:

  • No contact orders which require the Respondent to cease all contact with the Complainant
  • Advising the accused Respondent to not contact witnesses involved in the case
  • Change of Respondent’s campus-based living arrangements to reduce contact with the Complainant
  • Potential modification of Respondent’s campus-based working arrangements, work assignments, or reporting relationships to reduce contact with the Complainant, if the facts of the case warrant such changes
  • Change of Respondent’s course schedule to reduce contact with the Complainant
  • Suspension or expulsion of the Respondent

The Title IX Coordinator will oversee the Informal Resolution Process. The Informal Resolution Process will not require the Complainant and the Respondent to meet to discuss the terms of an Informal Resolution Agreement. If an Informal Resolution is voluntarily reached, it will be in lieu of a formal investigation and hearing.  Both parties must agree to the terms of the Informal Resolution Agreement for them to go into effect. 

Filing a Formal Complaint

The Complainant (i.e., victim) may also choose to file a formal complaint.  Once a formal complaint is filed, the Office of Equity & Diversity will determine whether enough evidence exists to open an official investigation.  An official investigation may also be initiated without the victim’s permission when public safety is a concern, but the victim cannot be compelled to participate in the investigation.

Once a formal complaint is filed, Title IX investigators will meet with the Complainant, Respondent and any witnesses to collect evidence through interviews and document review.  Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the case may then proceed to a live hearing and may result in any of the sanctions listed above.  If either party is dissatisfied with the outcome, they may then appeal the finding.  An overview of these options is available.

Although each step of the process must be completed within specified timeframes, the entire process can possibly take up to a year. Final sanctions (e.g., suspension, expulsion) cannot be implemented until the appeal process is complete, but interim measures such as stay-away orders and changes to the survivor’s class schedule can be implemented in the meantime.

For more detailed information about the formal complaint and hearing process, please see Executive Order 1096, Executive Order 1097, and Executive Order 1098.

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