Assumption University is committed to addressing sexual assault by educating the University community on matters regarding sexual misconduct, providing assault survivors with the support they need and continuously reviewing our response to incidents so that we can respond to future incidents appropriately and provide support for victims.
A word on confidentiality – Conversations with the Title IX Coordinator and associates are kept as confidential as possible, but information about incidents of sexual misconduct must be shared with relevant administrators and others if the University needs to take action for reasons of community safety. In all cases, the wishes of the person initiating the conversation are given full consideration.
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Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs. The Title IX Coordinator oversees and provides leadership for the University’s Title IX deputies, the administrators who carry out investigations, compliance-related responsibilities and reporting. She also oversees education and training campus-wide regarding sex discrimination and sexual misconduct.
‘Know Your IX’ is a great resource that explains Title IX as it specifically related to sexual misconduct on campuses and the types of options that are available to survivors.
When Should I Contact the Title IX Coordinator or Associates?
Any student, faculty or staff member, or applicant for admission or education who has concerns about sex discrimination or sexual misconduct is encouraged to seek the assistance of the Title IX coordinator. You should contact the coordinator or associate if you:
- Think you may have encountered sex discrimination or sexual misconduct and wish to understand your options
- Learn of a situation that you feel may warrant a University investigation;
- Learn of a situation that you feel may warrant a University investigation
- Need assistance in determining how to handle a situation by which you are indirectly affected
- Seek guidance on possible informal remedies or administrative measures to de-escalate or alleviate a difficult situation
- Have questions about Assumption University’s policies and procedures.
Coordinators can also file a police report with the Department of Public Safety.
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If you request confidentiality, the University will do its best to comply with your wishes but in some cases honoring that request may impair Assumption’s ability to fully investigate and respond to the incident (including disciplining or taking other action against a perpetrator). The University will also take steps to prevent retaliation and will take strong responsive action if retaliation occurs.
If you request confidentiality, that request will be balanced against the University’s obligation to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students. The Title IX coordinator makes this decision in conjunction with the Dean of Students and/or the Chief of Campus Police
The following factors will be considered when determining if a report will be kept confidential:
- Have there been other complaints of sexual harassment/misconduct against the alleged perpetrator?
- Does the alleged perpetrator have a history of arrests or records from a prior school indicating a history of harassment/misconduct?
- Has the alleged perpetrator threatened further sexual harassment/misconduct against you or others?
- Was the harassment/misconduct perpetrated by multiple individuals?ollege
- Does the report of harassment/misconduct reveal a pattern of perpetration (e.g., via illicit use of drugs or alcohol) at a given location or by a particular group?
- Was a weapon involved?
- Are there other means of obtaining relevant information?
If the University determines that it cannot provide confidentiality, it will inform you prior to making any disclosure. In addition, they may also consider interim measures necessary to protect you and ensure the safety of other students. If you request that the University inform the alleged perpetrator that you asked us not to investigate or seek discipline, Assumption will honor that request and inform the alleged perpetrator that the decision to proceed is a University decision.
If it is determined that the University can honor your request for confidentiality, it still has a duty to act. There are any number of steps Assumption may take without identifying you or commencing disciplinary proceedings, such as increased monitoring, supervision or security at locations or activities where the misconduct occurred.
Finally, even where confidentiality is provided, Assumption may take other steps (beyond confidentiality) necessary to protect you, including providing support services and/or changing living arrangements, course schedules, assignments or tests.
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A mandated reporter is someone who is legally required to report incidents of sexual assault that they witness or are informed of to authorities. Most employees within the university are required to report any Title IX offenses of which they become aware.
The following individuals are NOT required to report what you tell them (note that this does not guarantee what you tell them will be kept confidential, but rather should be used as a point of reference for any question about who is and who isn’t legally bound by that law):
- Counseling Services staff
- Health services staff
- Campus ministry staff
- Campus advocate
- Director of the Cross-Cultural Center
- Athletic trainers
- Advisor to AC allies
- ESL director
- Disability Services
-
Students are encouraged to report incidents of Sexual Violence to the University so that appropriate review, action, and support can occur. The University provides numerous options for reporting incidents of Sexual Violence that offer different levels of confidentiality, as well as follow-up. Each option is outlined below and includes a description of the level of confidentiality, who receives the report, and the type and degree of follow-up that will occur. If you have questions about any of the options below, you can contact the Title IX coordinator to discuss it them in further detail.
File a Report in Person or Online with the Title IX Coordinator
Reporting to the Title IX coordinator will result in the Coordinator meeting with you to get more details and to provide you with your options on campus. In most cases, an investigation will not begin without your consent. Conversations with the Title IX Coordinator and their associates are kept as confidential as possible, but information about incidents of sexual misconduct must be shared with relevant administrators if the University needs to take action for reasons of community safety. In all cases, the wishes of the person initiating the conversation are given full consideration.
A full investigation by the Title IX coordinator can create an investigation and case that would move to a judicial hearing board. A judicial hearing board can determine on-campus sanctions such as suspension, expulsion, etc.
Filing a Report in Person with Campus Police
When you file a report of a sexual assault with Campus Police you can expect that a fully trained and certified sexual assault investigator within the department will handle the investigation in a thorough and professional manner. Evidence will be collected (Campus Police can also go to the hospital with the survivor for a SANE exam), interviews will be conducted, and additional support services will be offered. When Campus Police receives a report of an assault, they also must report it to the Title IX coordinator who will begin their own administrative investigation. A report to campus police will result in a full criminal investigation meaning that evidence from the investigation can lead to sanctions or charges on and/or off campus. Campus Police are not considered confidential, however, they are fully aware of the sensitive nature of these particular situations and any decisions about moving forward within the criminal justice system will be with the consent of the survivor.
Filing an Anonymous Report Online
Any individual may make an anonymous report, however, if you wish to receive a copy of this report an e-mail address is necessary. concerning an act of sexual misconduct. An individual may report the incident without disclosing their name, identifying the alleged or requesting any action. The University will follow-up on such reports. Depending on the level of information available about the incident or the individuals involved, however, the University’s ability to respond to an anonymous report may be limited. Anonymous reports may be made by telephone at 508-767-7667 online here. All reports will go to the Title IX Coordinator.
Reporting to an Employee of the University (faculty, staff, student staff like RAs)
Unless they are a designated confidential resource, any campus employee will support you and fill out a report that goes to the Title IX coordinator, Dan DiTullio. You will be contacted by the Title IX Coordinator to have an initial meeting to discuss your options on campus.
Reporting to a Designated Confidential Resource on Campus
You can report an assault to a confidential resource on campus. Your information will be just that, confidential. These resources do not have to file a report to the Title IX coordinator unless the University needs to take action for reasons of community safety. Any confidential resource on campus has been trained to support you, provide you with the help that you need, explain to you your options on campus, and provide you with the necessary resources.
Not filing a report
Students have the option of choosing to not file a report. Experiencing sexual violence can be overwhelming, and you will have many decisions to make. It may take some time to decide what you would like to do. If you feel as though you do not want to file a report just yet, you are encouraged to contact one of the confidential resources on or off campus to get support and an explanation of your options.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs. The Title IX Coordinator oversees and provides leadership for the University’s Title IX deputies, the administrators who carry out investigations, compliance-related responsibilities and reporting. She also oversees education and training campus-wide regarding sex discrimination and sexual misconduct.
‘Know Your IX’ is a great resource that explains Title IX as it specifically related to sexual misconduct on campuses and the types of options that are available to survivors.
When Should I Contact the Title IX Coordinator or Associates?
Any student, faculty or staff member, or applicant for admission or education who has concerns about sex discrimination or sexual misconduct is encouraged to seek the assistance of the Title IX coordinator. You should contact the coordinator or associate if you:
- Think you may have encountered sex discrimination or sexual misconduct and wish to understand your options
- Learn of a situation that you feel may warrant a University investigation;
- Learn of a situation that you feel may warrant a University investigation
- Need assistance in determining how to handle a situation by which you are indirectly affected
- Seek guidance on possible informal remedies or administrative measures to de-escalate or alleviate a difficult situation
- Have questions about Assumption University’s policies and procedures.
Coordinators can also file a police report with the Department of Public Safety.
If you request confidentiality, the University will do its best to comply with your wishes but in some cases honoring that request may impair Assumption’s ability to fully investigate and respond to the incident (including disciplining or taking other action against a perpetrator). The University will also take steps to prevent retaliation and will take strong responsive action if retaliation occurs.
If you request confidentiality, that request will be balanced against the University’s obligation to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students. The Title IX coordinator makes this decision in conjunction with the Dean of Students and/or the Chief of Campus Police
The following factors will be considered when determining if a report will be kept confidential:
- Have there been other complaints of sexual harassment/misconduct against the alleged perpetrator?
- Does the alleged perpetrator have a history of arrests or records from a prior school indicating a history of harassment/misconduct?
- Has the alleged perpetrator threatened further sexual harassment/misconduct against you or others?
- Was the harassment/misconduct perpetrated by multiple individuals?ollege
- Does the report of harassment/misconduct reveal a pattern of perpetration (e.g., via illicit use of drugs or alcohol) at a given location or by a particular group?
- Was a weapon involved?
- Are there other means of obtaining relevant information?
If the University determines that it cannot provide confidentiality, it will inform you prior to making any disclosure. In addition, they may also consider interim measures necessary to protect you and ensure the safety of other students. If you request that the University inform the alleged perpetrator that you asked us not to investigate or seek discipline, Assumption will honor that request and inform the alleged perpetrator that the decision to proceed is a University decision.
If it is determined that the University can honor your request for confidentiality, it still has a duty to act. There are any number of steps Assumption may take without identifying you or commencing disciplinary proceedings, such as increased monitoring, supervision or security at locations or activities where the misconduct occurred.
Finally, even where confidentiality is provided, Assumption may take other steps (beyond confidentiality) necessary to protect you, including providing support services and/or changing living arrangements, course schedules, assignments or tests.
A mandated reporter is someone who is legally required to report incidents of sexual assault that they witness or are informed of to authorities. Most employees within the university are required to report any Title IX offenses of which they become aware.
The following individuals are NOT required to report what you tell them (note that this does not guarantee what you tell them will be kept confidential, but rather should be used as a point of reference for any question about who is and who isn’t legally bound by that law):
- Counseling Services staff
- Health services staff
- Campus ministry staff
- Campus advocate
- Director of the Cross-Cultural Center
- Athletic trainers
- Advisor to AC allies
- ESL director
- Disability Services
Students are encouraged to report incidents of Sexual Violence to the University so that appropriate review, action, and support can occur. The University provides numerous options for reporting incidents of Sexual Violence that offer different levels of confidentiality, as well as follow-up. Each option is outlined below and includes a description of the level of confidentiality, who receives the report, and the type and degree of follow-up that will occur. If you have questions about any of the options below, you can contact the Title IX coordinator to discuss it them in further detail.
File a Report in Person or Online with the Title IX Coordinator
Reporting to the Title IX coordinator will result in the Coordinator meeting with you to get more details and to provide you with your options on campus. In most cases, an investigation will not begin without your consent. Conversations with the Title IX Coordinator and their associates are kept as confidential as possible, but information about incidents of sexual misconduct must be shared with relevant administrators if the University needs to take action for reasons of community safety. In all cases, the wishes of the person initiating the conversation are given full consideration.
A full investigation by the Title IX coordinator can create an investigation and case that would move to a judicial hearing board. A judicial hearing board can determine on-campus sanctions such as suspension, expulsion, etc.
Filing a Report in Person with Campus Police
When you file a report of a sexual assault with Campus Police you can expect that a fully trained and certified sexual assault investigator within the department will handle the investigation in a thorough and professional manner. Evidence will be collected (Campus Police can also go to the hospital with the survivor for a SANE exam), interviews will be conducted, and additional support services will be offered. When Campus Police receives a report of an assault, they also must report it to the Title IX coordinator who will begin their own administrative investigation. A report to campus police will result in a full criminal investigation meaning that evidence from the investigation can lead to sanctions or charges on and/or off campus. Campus Police are not considered confidential, however, they are fully aware of the sensitive nature of these particular situations and any decisions about moving forward within the criminal justice system will be with the consent of the survivor.
Filing an Anonymous Report Online
Any individual may make an anonymous report, however, if you wish to receive a copy of this report an e-mail address is necessary. concerning an act of sexual misconduct. An individual may report the incident without disclosing their name, identifying the alleged or requesting any action. The University will follow-up on such reports. Depending on the level of information available about the incident or the individuals involved, however, the University’s ability to respond to an anonymous report may be limited. Anonymous reports may be made by telephone at 508-767-7667 online here. All reports will go to the Title IX Coordinator.
Reporting to an Employee of the University (faculty, staff, student staff like RAs)
Unless they are a designated confidential resource, any campus employee will support you and fill out a report that goes to the Title IX coordinator, Dan DiTullio. You will be contacted by the Title IX Coordinator to have an initial meeting to discuss your options on campus.
Reporting to a Designated Confidential Resource on Campus
You can report an assault to a confidential resource on campus. Your information will be just that, confidential. These resources do not have to file a report to the Title IX coordinator unless the University needs to take action for reasons of community safety. Any confidential resource on campus has been trained to support you, provide you with the help that you need, explain to you your options on campus, and provide you with the necessary resources.
Not filing a report
Students have the option of choosing to not file a report. Experiencing sexual violence can be overwhelming, and you will have many decisions to make. It may take some time to decide what you would like to do. If you feel as though you do not want to file a report just yet, you are encouraged to contact one of the confidential resources on or off campus to get support and an explanation of your options.