Title IX and Sexual Offenses

Villa Maria College is committed to providing learning and working environment that promotes personal integrity, civility and mutual respect in an environment free of discrimination.

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Title IX and Sexual Offense Information and Resources

The Sexual Offense Policy and Procedure for Students and Employees is the method by which Villa Maria College handles the resolution of issues and complaints related to Title IX and sexual offenses pertaining to any member of the college community, including: students, employees, volunteers, and third-party contractors.

Title IX is the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in any academic or athletic program in a federally funded school and requires schools to respond to knowledge and reports of sex discrimination in particular ways. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual violence such as sexual assault, rape, stalking, dating violence and intimate partner violence. Title IX protects any person from sex/gender-based discrimination, including students, faculty and staff; women and men; and individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender.

Sex Discrimination, Sex-Based Harassment & Sexual Misconduct Policy

The Villa Maria College Sex Discrimination, Sex-Based & Sexual Misconduct Policy, which covers Title IX, can be found by clicking this link: Sex Discrimination, Sex-Based & Sexual Misconduct Policy.

Policy prior to August 1, 2024: Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment & Sexual Misconduct Policy

Villa Maria College Non-Discrimination Statement

Villa Maria College does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any of its education programs or activities as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to Villa Maria’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Contact Information for the Title IX Coordinator:
DJ Schier
Title IX Coordinator, Dean of Students
716.961.1878
[email protected]
Main Building, Ground Floor across from Room 14

Contact Information for the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights is as follows: 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100; Telephone: (800) 421-3481; Facsimile: 202-453-6012; TDD#: 877-521-2172; E-mail: [email protected]; Web: http://www.ed.gov/ocr.

In order to report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, or make a Complaint of sex discrimination or sex-based harassment, please refer to this Policy. Villa Maria College’s grievance procedures can be located in this Policy or at https://www.villa.edu/campus-life/campus-security/titleix/.

Student Rights

All students have the right to:

Make a report to local law enforcement and/or state police;
Have disclosures of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault treated seriously;
Make a decision about whether or not to disclose a crime or violation and participate in the judicial or conduct process and./or criminal justice process free from pressure from the institution;
Participate in a process that is fair, impartial, and provides adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard;
Be treated with dignity and to receive from the institution courteous, fair, and respectful health care and counseling services, where available;
Be free from any suggestion that the reporting individual is at fault when these crimes and violations are committed, or should have acted in a different manner to avoid such crimes or violations;
Describe the incident to as few institutional representatives as practicable and not to be required to unnecessarily repeat a description of the incident.
Be free from retaliation by the institution, the accused and/or the respondent, and/or their friends, family and acquaintances within the jurisdiction of the institution;
Access to at least one level of appeal of a determination;
Be accompanied by an advisor of choice who may assist and advise a reporting individual, accused, or respondent throughout the judicial or conduct process including during all meetings and hearings related to such process;
Exercise civil rights and practice of religion without interference by the investigative, criminal justice, or judicial or conduct process of the College.
See the Villa Maria College Sexual Assault Bill of Rights flyer