How the reporting process works
Process Timeline
- Title IX office reaches out to person who made report and/or the person who experienced harm
- Support measures and resources offered
- Parties notified of complaint
- Report shared with parties simultaneously
- Decide if policy was violated and the right sanctions
Anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or violence has the right to report it to the university. Virginia Tech is committed to addressing reports of harassment or violence fairly and with compassion, no matter where the incident occurs. Some incidents that occur on campus or at university events will be resolved through the university’s Title IX policy, while incidents that occur off campus will be handled through the Student Code of Conduct.
In both processes, when a report is filed, the following will happen:
Outreach, information, and options
You will meet with a Title IX staff member who will give you detailed information about your options for reporting, support measures, and resources. If you need one, a support person will be provided.
Support measures
You will be offered support measures, which may include academic support, housing changes, schedule changes, or No Contact Orders. These support measures are available whether or not you choose to file a complaint or further engage in the Title IX Process.
Your decisions, respected
You may be asked questions about what occurred and where it happened to help us understand how to best help you. You do not need to answer any questions if you don’t feel comfortable doing so. Your decision about what to share and how to move forward will be respected.
Filing a formal complaint
If you choose to file a formal complaint, you may be asked to sign a Title IX complaint form. You will be asked to give a detailed statement about what happened. You will also be asked to help identify witnesses who may be helpful or supply other forms of information. You can choose how much to share or elect not to take part in the process.
Investigation, hearing, outcomes, and the right to appeal
Once the investigation is started, you will receive a written notice of the investigation, including the allegations. A hearing will be held by the Office for Student Conduct to decide if an individual has violated university policy by engaging in sexual harassment or violence and if so, what the right sanction is. Each party has the right to an advisor of their choice to support them during the hearing. Each party has the right to appeal the outcome. The appeal process is a written process.
If you are accused of sexual harassment or violence
- If you are accused of sexual harassment or violence, you will be provided with a written notification of the allegations against you before any investigation starts.
- You will meet with a Title IX staff member who will give detailed information about your options for taking part in the process, support measures, and resources.
- If you need one, a support person will be provided. You will be offered support measures, which may include academic support, housing changes, schedule changes, or No Contact Orders.
- If you are the subject of a formal complaint of sexual harassment or violence, you will be asked to supply a detailed statement about what happened. You will also be asked to help identify witnesses who may be helpful or supply other forms of information. You can choose how much to share or elect not to take part in the process.
- You will not be judged responsible until there has been an investigation, hearing, and decision. Each party has the right to appeal the outcome. The appeal is a written process.