The Director, located within the Center for Prevention and Education (CPE), is a great place to start when you need more information. The director can offer information about your rights and options for services both on and off campus. They will provide support as you decide your next step. At your direction, the director can connect you with services with law enforcement, medical professionals, or the Title IX Coordinator. The director is a responsible employee, which results in a report/communication to the Title IX Coordinator about any disclosures. To schedule a meeting with Marissa Miller, please call (540-654-1193) or email (mmille23@umw.edu).
Key Terms:
Please note that these are University of Mary Washington specific definitions. Criminal definitions may vary by state. If you are unsure, please contact the police, Victim Witness, Empowerhouse, or RCASA.
What is UMW’s Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence?
Where is the Prohibited Conduct Policy located?
Please visit the Prohibited Conduct Policy webpage to review a copy of the policy and/or summary of the policy. The policy will discuss definitions, jurisdiction, confidentiality, role of the Title IX Coordinator, supportive measures, procedures, reporting options, etc.
Where can I find additional information that is specific to being a Complainant*?
*A Complainant is defined in the Prohibited Conduct Policy as a person who is reported to have experienced Prohibited Conduct. Please visit the Complainant Resource and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) webpage.
What are supportive measures?
Supportive measures mean non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to the complainant before or after the filing of a formal complaint or where no formal complaint has been filed. Such measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to UMW’s education program or activity without unreasonably burdening the other party, including measures designed to protect the safety of all parties or UMW’s educational environment or to deter Prohibited Conduct. Supportive measures may include counseling, extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, modifications of work or class schedules, campus escort services, mutual restrictions on contact between the parties, changes in work or housing locations, leaves of absences, increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus, and other similar measures. UMW will maintain as confidential any supportive measures provided to the complainant, to the extent that maintaining such confidentiality would not impair the ability of UMW to provide the supportive measures. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the effective implementation of supportive measures.
How do I know if I have suffered trauma?
Trauma is the exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. This exposure can take the form of the person actually experiencing the event, directly witnessing the event occur to others, or learning persistent and significant details of the event that occurred to a close family member or friend. (APA, DSM-IV).
What is Amnesty?
Victims or witnesses of Prohibited Conduct who have been using alcohol or other drugs at the time of the incident might fear that they would “get into trouble” for having violated UMW’s alcohol or drug policies if they report. Recognizing the potentially devastating impact of Prohibited Conduct on not just the individual but on the UMW community, UMW will grant limited amnesty to the student(s) from drug, alcohol, and other student conduct policies, if their behavior did not put other individuals at risk.
Who is a Responsible Employee?
A Responsible Employee is a University employee who has the duty to disclose all reports of Prohibited Conduct to the University’s Title IX Coordinator. All University employees (except Confidential Employees, as defined in this Policy) are Responsible Employees, including student workers employed as Resident Assistants, Orientation Staff, Peer Mentors, and Graduate Teaching Assistants, when disclosures are made to them in their capacities as University employees. Responsible Employees, who in the course of employment, obtain information (directly or indirectly) about an incident(s) of Prohibited Conduct that may involve a student and/or incident(s) of Prohibited Conduct that may have occurred on campus, in or on a non-campus building or property, or on public property, shall report such information (including dates, times, locations, and names of the parties and witnesses) to the Title IX Coordinator as soon as practicable after addressing the immediate needs of the Complainant.
Who is a confidential employee?
Employees of the Talley Center, Student Health Center, and Athletic Trainers are not required to share information about sex or gender-based violence with the Title IX Coordinator. They will keep the information you share with them strictly confidential, unless you ask them to share with others.
What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal law the prohibits sex-based discrimination at educational institutions. It reads, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
