EO & Title IX Investigations

Prohibited conduct:

• Discrimination: Differential or unfavorable treatment because of an individual’s protected category that adversely affects the terms and conditions of their employment, education, or participation in a university program or activity.
• Harassment: Unwelcome conduct that is based on an individual’s protected category that is severe or pervasive enough to interfere with to interfere with an individual’s academic or work performance or create a hostile academic or work environment.
• Retaliation: Suffering an adverse action because an individual, in good faith, reported, filed a complaint, or participated in an investigation or related proceeding regarding allegations of discrimination, or otherwise opposed a discriminatory practice.

Protected categories include:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Sex (including pregnancy)
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender Identity
• Gender Expression
• National Origin
• Age
• Disability
• Genetic Information
• Veteran Status

• You are alleging that you have experienced conduct prohibited by the Nondiscrimination Policy (UTDBP3090). -and-
• You want to initiate the Complaint Resolution Procedure under this policy.

Any individual who believes they have experienced discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in violation of the UTD’s Nondiscrimination Policy (UTBP3090) may file a complaint with Institutional Compliance. Formal Complaints may only be filed by a Complainant (i.e., individual who experienced the alleged conduct). It is recommended that the Complainant provide the following information:

• Name and UTD Identification;
• Number of the Complainant(s);
• Contact information, including address, telephone, email;
• Name of person(s) directly responsible for alleged violation(s);
• Date(s) and place(s) of alleged violation(s);
• Nature of alleged violation(s) as defined in this policy;
• Detailed description of the specific conduct that is the basis of alleged violation(s);
• Copies of documents pertaining to the alleged violation(s);
• Names of any witnesses to alleged violation(s);
• Action requested to resolve the situation; and
• Any other relevant information.

The following communications do not constitute a complaint and will not be investigated or resolved pursuant to the complaint resolution process:

• Courtesy copies of correspondence or a complaint filed with others;
• Inquiries that seek advice or information only; and/or
• Pre-complaint consultations and informal resolution activities.

Submit an Incident Report if you would like to learn more about the complaint resolution process, other resolution options, and supportive measures.

After receiving your information, Institutional Compliance will contact you to schedule a meeting to discuss your options, gather additional information, explain the complaint resolution procedures, and seek affirmation that you wish to pursue a formal complaint.

Prohibited conduct:

• Sex Discrimination: Occurs when an individual is treated less favorably on the basis of that person’s sex (including gender), which may also include on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or a sex stereotype. Sexual harassment, as defined in this Policy, is a form of sex discrimination.
• Sexual Harassment: Title IX-defined sexual harassment is conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:
  • Quid pro quo: An employee of the institution conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the University on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
  • 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 University’s education program or activity; -or-
  • Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined in this Policy.
• Sexual Exploitation: Conduct where an individual takes non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for their own benefit, or to benefit anyone other than the one being exploited.
• Other Inappropriate Sexual Conduct: Conduct on the basis of sex that does not meet the definition of “sexual harassment” under this Policy, but is prohibited inappropriate or unprofessional sexual conduct.
• Additional Conduct Violations under and defined by this Policy.
  • Retaliation
  • False Information and False Complaints
  • Interference with the Grievance Process
  • Failure to Report for Responsible Employees

• You are reporting that you have experience conduct prohibited by the Sexual Misconduct Policy (UTDBP3102). -and-
• You want to begin the formal grievance process.

Any individual who believes they have experienced prohibited conduct in violation of the Sexual Misconduct Policy (UTDBP3102) may file a complaint with Institutional Compliance. Formal Complaints may only be filed by a Complainant (i.e., individual who experienced the alleged conduct).

Title IX requires that a Complainant, who is alleging sexual harassment, submit a Formal Complaint to initiate the Grievance Process. Under the Sexual Misconduct Policy, Title IX-defined sexual harassment is conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

• Quid pro quo: An employee of the institution conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the University on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
• 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 University’s education program or activity; -or-
• Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined in this Policy.

The Sexual Misconduct Policy also prohibits retaliation and other types of sexual misconduct that do not fit within the definitional and jurisdictional requirements of Title IX.

Submit an Incident Report if you would like to learn more about the formal complaint process, resolution options, and supportive measures.

After receiving your information, Institutional Compliance will contact you to schedule a meeting to discuss your options, gather additional information, explain the complaint resolution procedures, and seek affirmation that you wish to pursue a formal complaint.

Reporting is a way to alert the institution of incidents occurring in the campus community that may need to be addressed. A report differs from a complaint in the following ways.

• A report may be submitted by anyone regardless of whether they experienced prohibited conduct. -and-
• Submission of a report does not automatically initiate a grievance process (i.e., complaint resolution procedure) under an applicable policy.

A complaint is a person’s specific account of alleged prohibited conduct they have experienced and request to initiate the applicable grievance procedure.

Submit a Report if:

• You are a responsible employee (under UTDBP3102) reporting alleged sexual misconduct that someone else experienced.
• You are a university official, administrator, or supervisor (under UTDBP3090) reporting alleged discrimination that someone else experienced.
• You are a third party reporting that someone else may have experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct. -or-
• You are reporting that you have experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct and are unsure if you want to pursue a grievance process but are interested in learning about resolution options and supportive measures.

How to Report

Please visit the Reporting Resources page for information about how to submit a report.

If you have questions regarding the Nondiscrimination Policy, please email Compliance@utdallas.edu. For questions regarding the Sexual Misconduct Policy, please email TitleIXCoordinator@utdallas.edu.