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FAQs

  • Title IX is a federal law protects people from discrimination based on sex/gender in educational programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. The law requires education institutions to respond promptly and effectively to reports of sexual misconduct that occur within the institution’s education program or activity.

    Sexual misconduct can take many forms, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or stalking, along with other forms of sex- or gender-based misconduct and/or discrimination.

    Statement of BOR/CSCU Statement of Title IX Policy: https://www.ct.edu/files/policies/4.11%20-%20Statement%20of%20Title%20IX%20Policy.pdf

  • Dr. LaMar Coleman
    Gelsi Young 255
    Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
    (860) 465-0072

  • Sara Madera
    Gelsi-Young 255
    Office Hours: Monday- Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
    (860) 465-5012

  • You may have a Title IX claim if you’ve experienced any form of sexual misconduct or sex- or gender-based discrimination that occurred while on-campus or involved in a University program or activity, and the person you are naming as a respondent is a student or employee at Eastern Connecticut State University.

    Note* If you are a student who has experienced sexual misconduct and it does not meet the criteria above, you may still disclose your experience and will be given resources available to you.

    Link to list of sexual misconduct definitions: https://www.easternct.edu/sexual-assault-and-interpersonal-violence/get-informed/terms-and-definitions.html

  • If disclosures from complainants and witnesses are made with good faith or in connection with a Title IX investigation, the University will not pursue disciplinary actions related to alcohol or drug violations with reporting parties.

  • Reports of sexual misconduct can be made to any member of the University community. Eastern employees are required to report any disclosure of sexual misconduct to the Office of Equity and Diversity — that includes professors, university staff members, school administrators and resident assistants.  Such reports will then be forwarded to the Title IX Coordinator who will follow up with the student of concern.

    You can also report your disclosure directly to the Title IX Coordinator or fill out the form at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?EasternCTStateUniv&layout_id=3. You can expect a follow up from the Title IX Coordinator within 1-2 business days.

    Reporting options link: https://www.easternct.edu/sexual-assault-and-interpersonal-violence/reporting-options/reporting.html

  • No. It is up to you regarding whether to follow through with a formal complaint or not. Regardless of if you move forward or not, the Title IX Coordinator will follow up to check in and go through all your options and resources available to you. If you should change your mind and decide to go through the process later, you may return and file a formal complaint.

    It is important to be aware there may be times when the Title IX Coordinator may still have to move forward with the investigation process. These are limited circumstances — for instance, if the respondent had been alleged to have committed sexual violence previously; your report stated that a weapon was used; or that there were threats of future sexual violence against you or others. If the Title IX Coordinator needs to move forward, you will be notified about that choice. From there, you can choose not to participate at all, or you can choose to participate at a later point in the investigation.

  • Making a formal Title IX complaint means the complainant submits a signed document to the Title IX office alleging sexual misconduct against a respondent within Eastern’s education program or activity and requesting that the University investigate these allegations. This is an administrative process that will investigate if university policy has been violated. The Title IX process will not investigate if a criminal law has been violated.

    If you want to file criminal charges against the respondent, then you would file a report with Public Safety.

    You have the right to submit a formal complaint with the Title IX Coordinator and file a report with Campus Police at the same time and go through both investigation processes.

  • The Title IX Coordinator will reach out to you via email within 1-2 business days from the time the report of discourse is submitted.

  • Yes. When a complaint is made, members of the SAIV-RT are notified in order to best provide support and resources to the Eastern community.

  • The Sexual Assault & Interpersonal Violence Response Team, often abbreviated as SAIV-RT, is a multi-disciplinary team designated to respond to reports and disclosures of interpersonal violence, including but not limited to sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking and sexual harassment. Initiated by the Division of Student Affairs, the SAIV-RT works to provide care to victims of all forms of interpersonal violence. Resources are committed to providing assistance that is culturally-sensitive and affirming to our diverse clientele, which includes students of color, students with disabilities, international students, students of all sexual orientations and gender identities, student veterans, and students from all socioeconomic backgrounds with varying religious/spiritual beliefs.

    The SAIV-RT is co-led by the Title IX Coordinator, Sara Madera (Response Team) and the Director of the Arthur L. Johnson Unity Wing, Starsheemar Byrum (Resource Team).

    SAIV-RT provides an efficient and supportive response to victims. Through SAIV-RT, the campus community has many safe and supportive resources including confidential options to report sexual assault and to receive assistance, medical help, counseling, advocacy, and academic intervention following a sexual assault. All members of the SAIV-RT will use discretion and honor confidentiality to the best of their ability.

    Link to the SAIV-RT: https://www.easternct.edu/sexual-assault-and-interpersonal-violence/index.html

  • No.  You can have a support person of you choosing during any meeting with the Title IX office.

  • https://www.easternct.edu/equity-and-diversity/titleix.html

  • The step by step process for Title IX reports may be found here: https://www.ccsu.edu/diversity/policies/GrievanceProcedures9-23-20.pdf

  • Eastern requires first-year students to complete a two-hour sexual misconduct training program and returning students to complete a 45-minute refresher course each year. More information on the Not Anymore sexual misconduct training can be found at https://www.easternct.edu/sexual-assault-and-interpersonal-violence/get-involved/education-prevention.html

  • Eastern employees are required to take a one-hour sexual misconduct training that educates them on issues of sexual violence and provides them with tools to support students in need of assistance in filing a claim.

  • You can meet with either of them in the Office of Equity and Diversity, located in Room 255 of Gelsi-Young Hall.

  • Once a disclosure is given, you will have the option to speak with our Victims Advocate who will go through the violence risk assessment process. During the process they will ask different questions to determine the level of risk and assist with developing a safety plan with you.

  • A variety of supportive resources are available on campus and in the community to assist you in dealing with sexual assault and interpersonal violence. These resources are available whether you are a residential or commuter student, and whether the incident occurred on campus or off campus.

    Eastern and its community partners provide a range of services, resources, and mechanisms for you. In all cases, you have the choice to begin with an exploratory conversation. Making contact does not obligate you to press charges. For information on your options please visit: https://www.easternct.edu/sexual-assault-and-interpersonal-violence/resources/resourcesateastern.html