In accordance with Title IX, as a recipient of Federal financial aid, FSU does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender in education programs and activities. In 2020, the US Department of Education adopted new Title IX regulations defining sexual harassment and specifying procedures for the investigation and adjudication of allegations of sexual harassment. FSU has created a new policy (2-2a) to supplement current policy (2-2) in order to implement the new regulations; both policies can be found at: https://regulations.fsu.edu/policies/office-president. Effective 8/14/2020, under the Title IX Compliance Policy, sexual harassment is defined as: sexual assault (including forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, forcible fondling, incest, and statutory rape); dating violence; domestic violence; stalking; quid pro quo; and hostile environment. Additionally, other forms of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct not included in this definition are prohibited by law and continue to be included in the Anti-Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Furthermore, the Florida Educational Equity Act prohibits discrimination in schools based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, or marital status. FLA. STAT. § 1000.05 (2019). FSU’s commitment to addressing and eliminating all forms of discrimination based on sex is reaffirmed in FSU’s Anti-Sexual Misconduct Policy, which applies to all faculty, staff, students, visitors, applicants, and contractors.
The University’s Title IX Coordinator/Director is responsible for overseeing the development of sexual misconduct policies, ensuring compliance with Title IX and relevant federal and state regulations, and investigating Title IX complaints alleging student sexual misconduct. The Human Resources Deputy Coordinator will oversee investigations of alleged sexual misconduct by employees and third parties. The Athletics Deputy Coordinator will accept Title IX incident reports to forward to the Title IX Director and will ensure athletics equity compliance. The FSUS Deputy Coordinator(s) will oversee investigations of alleged sexual misconduct by K-12 students. Report regarding Title IX, as well as concerns about and complaints of non-compliance (including complaints of sexual harassment, sex discrimination, or other sexual misconduct), should be submitted to report.fsu.edu. Additionally, any questions may be directed to the Title IX Director/Coordinator or a Title IX Deputy Coordinator.
Complaints will be addressed following the University’s discrimination complaint procedures contained in its Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Non-Retaliation Policy, Title IX Compliance Policy, and the Student Code of Conduct Some acts of sexual harassment or misconduct may also constitute violations of criminal law and require mandatory reporting to the FSU Police Department, e.g., sexual battery, indecent exposure, and sexual abuse. In such instances, refer to the University’s Anti-Sexual Misconduct Policy and contact the FSU Police Department at (850) 644-1234. Questions about the application of Title IX may also be directed to the Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Education.
Additional information and resources can be found at: Title IX Office ; FSU Police Department ; Victim Advocate Program ; University Counseling & Psychological Services ; Employee Assistance Program ; and University Health Services .
It is my expectation that all members of our community are provided equitable opportunities to succeed and enrich the strength, skill, and character of the University. It is also expected that all members of our community will help create a work and educational environment that promotes fairness, respect, and trust, free from discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Behavior that may be considered offensive, demeaning, or degrading to persons or groups will not be tolerated.