Title IX is a federal law that protects individuals from sex discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Title IX prohibits the discrimination on the basis of gender (sex). Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and stalking.
Yes, Title IX protects faculty, staff, and students from discrimination on the basis of gender (sex).
Sexual misconduct collectively identifies any acts of unwanted and/or unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that occurs without consent: sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, voyeurism, sex discrimination, and any other conduct of a sexual nature that is nonconsensual.
Depending on the circumstances, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Deliberate touching which does not contribute to or advance the work, service, or education activity being conducted.
- Repeated brushing against or touching of another's body, which does not contribute to or advance the work, service, or education activity being conducted.
- Pressure or demands for a date or for sexual activity with a subordinate by an individual in authority.
- Repeated requests for a date or for sexual activity which are declined.
- Pictorial or actual displays of obscenity which do not contribute to or advance the work, service, or education activity being conducted.
- Written/electronic, verbal, pictorial (screen saver/wallpaper), or nonverbal communications of a sexual nature which do not contribute to or advance the work, service, or education activity being conducted.
Yes. If you have been subjected to unwanted sexual contact or sexual harassment, your gender and the gender of the alleged perpetrator are irrelevant. Title IX prohibits such conduct.
University officials will provide you with verbal information and an informational brochure to explain the services, assistance, and support that are available to you. They will outline the disciplinary and complaint procedures that are available and provide you with written information about these procedures, possible sanctions for the respondent, and other important topics. You will receive information about preserving evidence and certain protective orders that may be available. Any further action depends on your situation, your needs, and what you choose to do. By law, the Title IX Coordinator will always be informed of the complaint.
Only those within the University with a legitimate need to know will have knowledge of the complainant's name and what occurred. All employees involved with the sexual misconduct process receive specific training about respecting and safeguarding private information. In no case will students or student-employees have access to information provided in a sexual misconduct report.
Under the Clery Act, the University must send out a "timely warning notice" to alert the campus community to security and safety threats, which includes information regarding these incidents. This will not include the complainant's name.
Please see the NMU Sexual Misconduct Policy to review further information regarding confidentiality, anonymity, and legal exceptions.
Complaints against students can be reported to:
Mary Brundage, Associate Dean of Students & Deputy Title IX Coordinator
2001 C.B. Hedgcock
906-227-1700
Complaints against employees or third parties can be reported to:
Janet Koski, Equal Opportunity Officer & Title IX Coordinator
105 Cohodas
906-227-2420
NMU RAs, RDs, and all other Housing & Residence Life staff are consider Responsible Employees. This means they have the duty to report a disclosure of sexual misconduct to the appropriate university officials. If you choose to report an incident to your RA or RD, they will be able to assist you in getting information and support, and will also be required to report the disclosed incident to the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Coordinator. If you wish to make a confidential report, seek assistance from a confidential resource at NMU's Counseling & Consultation Services or Health Center.
Certain NMU faculty and staff members are designated as Responsible Employees, meaning they are required to report sexual misconduct incidents to the appropriate university officials. If you choose to report a sexual misconduct incident to a faculty or staff member who is a Responsible Employee, know that they will be able to assist you in getting information and support, and will also be required to report the disclosed incident to the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Coordinator. If you wish to make a confidential report, seek assistance from a confidential resource at NMU's Counseling & Consultation Services or Health Center.