Title IX and Policy Against Sexual Misconduct

Reporting an Incident of Sexual Misconduct, and Resources for Victims/Survivors

Rasmussen University policy strongly condemns and expressly prohibits sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment and stalking. The full Title IX and Policy Against Sexual Misconduct can be found in the University Catalog/Addendum.

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Reporting an Incident to the University

Anyone—whether a student, employee, bystander, witness or other third-party—may report an incident of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment or stalking. A report may be made through the Online Reporting System, to college authorities, external resources or to law enforcement. Contact information for all of these options is provided below. Also, please scroll down to review important considerations in the Victim’s/Survivor’s Rights and Options section of this page.

Confidentiality

Reports made through the Online Reporting System or to university personnel will be kept confidential within the scope of the investigation and to the extent allowed under law, but confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in every circumstance.

Online Reporting System

Resources

Victim’s/Survivor’s Rights and Options

  1. If sexual assault is alleged, the Victim/Survivor is strongly encouraged to preserve physical evidence of the sexual assault. No attempt should be made to bathe, change clothes or otherwise clean prior to examination by a medical practitioner to make determinations regarding sexual assault. The preservation of physical evidence is very important for any criminal or civil action that the Victim/Survivor may choose to pursue against the Respondent and will also be useful in a University complaint Investigation and resolution process. A medical forensic examination shall be completed at no cost to the Victim/Survivor and may be conducted at any medical facility. A list of medical facilities near each campus can be found below.
  2. Victims/Survivors are strongly encouraged to create a detailed written summary of the incident while the memory is still clear.
  3. The Victim/Survivor has a right to privacy, which includes the decision whether to report or not report an alleged incident to the University, law enforcement, both or neither. At the request of the Victim/Survivor, University employees will promptly assist the Victim/Survivor in making a report.
  4. University personnel must treat a Victim/Survivor with dignity and shall not suggest to a Victim/Survivor that the Victim/Survivor is at fault for the crimes or violations that occurred or that the Victim/Survivor should have acted in a different manner to avoid such a crime.
  5. A Victim/Survivor may contact or request assistance from University personnel with accessing and navigating, fair and respectful healthcare, mental health, counseling and advocacy services that are available in the Victim’s/Survivor’s area. A list of services can be found below.
  6. Confidentiality and privacy will be maintained within the scope of the Inquiry, Investigation and resolution processes and among University personnel involved therein, to the extent allowed under law, but cannot be guaranteed in every circumstance.
    1. Confidentiality and privacy are best protected when complaints are made through the Online Reporting System, to the Title IX Coordinator or to the Vice President of Human Capital. Complaints reported to other University employees other than work study students will be escalated, but confidentiality and privacy may be lessened due to the circumstances of the reporting.
    2. The University shall not disclose the identity of the Victim/Survivor or the Respondent, except as necessary to resolve the complaint or to implement interim protective measures and accommodations or when provided by State or federal law.
    3. A party to the complaint may share information with their advocate or other support person who is not a fact witness.
    4. The accused party has due process rights, which include the right to be informed of the allegations and their source.
    5. In some circumstances, the University may need to warn the campus community or alert law enforcement of a continued threat of harm to others.
  7. The University will conduct an Inquiry into all complaints received. This Inquiry may or may not lead to an Investigation and a report with findings and recommendations. An Inquiry involves contacting the Complainant and Victim/Survivor if they are not the same person, to collect further information about the complaint. It may be possible to resolve some complaints informally between the parties by mutual agreement. Based upon the Inquiry, the University may determine that a formal Investigation is appropriate. An Investigation is led by the Title IX Coordinator, Vice President of Human Capital or corporate counsel and includes fact gathering and analysis, concluding with a written report detailing findings and recommendations based upon the preponderance of the evidence standard.
  8. The Victim/Survivor of an alleged sexual assault may decide when to repeat a description of the alleged sexual assault incident.
  9. Notice shall be provided to the Victim/Survivor of the outcome of any Inquiry or Investigation concerning a complaint, consistent with laws relating to data practices.
  10. At the direction of law enforcement authorities, University authorities shall assist in obtaining, securing and maintaining evidence in connection with a sexual assault incident.
  11. University authorities shall assist the Victim/Survivor in preserving, in instances of alleged sexual assault, materials relevant to the Inquiry, Investigation or any disciplinary proceeding.
  12. Interim protective measures (shielding):
    1. A Victim/Survivor or Respondent may request to the Title IX Coordinator, Vice President of Human Capital, corporate counsel or other University employee that the University take interim protective measures as are reasonably available to shield or otherwise mitigate the potential for future unwanted interactions between the Victim/Survivor and Respondent during and after the complaint Inquiry, Investigation and resolution processes.
    2. The University shall act promptly to institute interim protective measures, which may include:
      1. changes to classroom, academic and University working situations, as they are available and feasible;
      2. obtaining and enforcing campus no contact orders; and
      3. cooperating with law enforcement authorities and honoring an order of protection or no contact order entered by a State civil or criminal court.
  13. Retaliation is forbidden against Victims/Survivors, good-faith reporters and certain other persons as outlined in Section G of these policies in the catalog.
  14. The Complainant, Victim/Survivor and Respondent may have an advisor or support person of their choice who is not a fact witness accompany them to any meeting or proceeding related to an alleged violation of this policy.
    1. The advisor or support person must comply with all rules and University policies regarding their role.
    2. Involvement of an advisor or support person shall not be permitted if it results in undue delay of the meeting or proceeding.
    3. The advisor or support person may not participate or contribute to a meeting or proceeding unless invited to participate or contribute by the University employee leading the meeting or proceeding.
    4. The advisor or support person may not engage in behavior or advocacy that harasses, abuses or intimidates either party, a witness or an individual resolving the complaint.
    5. The University may prohibit an advisor or support person from involvement for violations of this policy.
  15. The Victim/Survivor, Complainant and the Respondent are entitled to simultaneous, written notification of the outcome of the Investigation, including information regarding appeal rights, within 7 days of a decision or sooner if required by State or federal law.
  16. A Victim/Survivor who subsequently chooses to transfer to another postsecondary institution may request that the University provide them with information about resources for Victims/Survivors of sexual assault at the institution to which the Victim/Survivor is transferring.
  17. Consistent with laws governing access to student records, a student who reported an incident of sexual assault will be provided access to the student's description of the incident as it was reported to the institution, including if that student transfers to another postsecondary institution.