“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
What is...
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex (gender) in educational institutions which receive federal financial assistance. Title IX also prohibits sexual harassment, which includes sexual assault and violence. Programs and activities which may be included are: admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, athletics, housing and employment. Title IX also protects students from unlawful sexual harassment in school programs and activities.
Sexual Misconduct Policies, Prevention and Resources
Sexual misconduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at McMurry University. The University is committed to providing an environment free of gender discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, relationship (dating and domestic) violence, and stalking. The University provides resources and reporting options to students, faculty, and staff to address concerns related to sexual harassment and sexual violence prohibited by Title IX and University policy. (See the McMurry Sexual Misconduct Policy, found in the Employee Handbook and the Student Handbook.)
Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinators at McMurry University
McMurry University has designated Kelly Gallagher to serve as its Title IX Coordinator. The University has also designated Cammie Petree, Head Volleyball Coach and Senior Woman’s Administrator, Mr. John Yarabeck, Dean of Students & Campus Life, and Mr. Mike Johnston, Director of Human Resources & Compliance to serve as Deputy Title IX Coordinators. They have been charged with monitoring compliance of Title IX and addressing Title IX concerns and complaints. They are responsible for receiving and investigating complaints of sexual harassment, including sexual assault and sexual violence.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, for example:
- Sexual assault, rape, stalking, or relationship voilence.
- Threats or insinuations that a person’s status or other condition may be either adversely affected by not submitting to a sexual advance or positively affected by submitting to a sexual advance.
- Unwelcomed verbal expressions of a sexual nature, including graphic sexual commentaries about a person’s body, dress, appearance, or sexual activities; the unwelcomed use of sexually suggestive or insulting sounds or whistles; and obscene phone calls.
- Sexually suggestive objects, pictures, videotapes, audio recordings or literature, placed in the work or study area, which may embarrass or offend individuals. Such material, if used in an educational setting, should be clearly and significantly related to educational purposes.
- Suggestive or sexually explicit posters, calendars, photographs, graffiti, or cartoons, including those distributed electronically.
- Offensive letters, email, text messages, posts on social networking sites, internet images or transmissions, or voicemail messages.
WHAT IF I’M NOT SURE IF MY EXPERIENCE CONSTITUTES HARASSMENT:
Students who, in good faith, report what they believe to be sexual harassment or who cooperate in any investigation, will not be subjected to retaliation. Any student who believes he or she has been the victim of retaliation for reporting sexual harassment or cooperating in an investigation should immediately contact McMurry’s Title IX Coordinator or either of the Deputy Title IX Coordinators.
DATING VIOLENCE: Violence committed by a per-son who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and where the existence of such a relationship shall be deter-mined based on a consideration of the following fac-tors: length of the relationship, the type of relation-ship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Includes felony or misde-meanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse of the victim, or by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, or by a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse of a victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grand monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.
STALKING: A pattern of threatening conduct that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her own safety; the safety of a family member; the safety of someone the person is dating; or the safety of property belonging to any of those persons. Stalk-ing violates the university’s code of conduct and is a felony under Texas law. Stalking may also be a form of sexual harassment when it occurs on campus or when students experience its continuing effects in the educational setting. Stalking is not limited to, but can include the following:
- Damaging or threatening to damage property
- Using the internet, social media, or other methods to post information, harass, or spread rumors
- Repeatedly sending unwanted and intrusive emails, phone calls, or texts
- Continuously and deliberately appearing at an individual’s home, school, place of employment, business, or any other location to maintain visual or physical proximity
- Other actions that control, track, or frighten an individual
Reporting Options
Police
University
Students are strongly encouraged to report all crimes. Faculty and staff are required to report information related to sexual misconduct as required by state of Texas law. Reporting can help protect the survivor’s safety; medical care, support services, and information regarding options and rights; and prevent future assaults by the perpetrator.
Anonymously
You can use this service to make your institution aware of concerns that you might be uncomfortable raising in any other way. These concerns may be about possible fraudulent, unethical or unlawful conduct, including sexual misconduct, you have experienced or witnessed. You may submit your concern or incident anonymously.
Policies & Resources
McMurry University is committed to preventing and addressing sexual misconduct and to fostering a healthy learning environment based on respect and responsible behavior. Sexual misconduct includes sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and sexual exploitation. Sexual misconduct will not be tolerated in our University community.
If you have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, please know that you are not alone. McMurry University and community resources can help, including 24-hour emergency response, medical care and confidential counseling. You can choose the resources you are most comfortable contacting.
Sexual and Interpersonal Misconduct Policy Sexual Abuse & Child Molestation Prevention
McMurry University is committed to providing a supportive learning, living, and working environment that promotes equity and prohibits harassment or discrimination for members of the University community who are pregnant or parenting. McMurry University offers pregnant and parenting students and employee’s various supportive resources, accommodations, and assistance to ensure our commitment to creating providing a supportive learning, living, and working environment.
Who should contact I contact if I have questions?
Assistance with specific concerns or needs should be directed to the offices below:
Employees: Contact the Human Resources office, 325-793-4998 or 325-793-3820.
Students: Office of Student Accessibility & Accommodations, 325-793-4880.
Human Resources Student Accessibility and AccommodationsWhat type of assistance can they provide?
- Employees in need of accommodation based on medical need or experiencing a medical disability related to pregnancy or childbirth can get assistance from the Human Resources Office.
- Students in need of accommodations based on medical need or experiencing a medical disability related to pregnancy or childbirth can get assistance from the Student Accessibility and Accommodations Office.
- Students and Employees interested or in need of additional supportive resources related to pregnancy and parenting may also utilize the list of available community resources below.
Community Resources
Pregnancy Resources in Abilene
Hendrick Health Pregnancy & Birth Resources
Who do I contact about concerns related to harassment or discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or parenting status?
Individuals who have concerns of possible harassment or discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or parenting status should connect with the Title IX Coordinator (for students and employees).
Title IX Coordinator, p: 325-793-4990; email: gallagher.kelly@mcm.edu
Under the Texas Education Code (TEC), Section 51.253(c), the institution’s Chief Executive Officer is required to submit a data report at least once during each fall or spring semester to the institution’s governing body and post on the institution’s internet website a report concerning the reports received by employees under the TEC, Section 51.252 the type of incident described in the employee’s report constitutes “sexual harassment,” “sexual assault,” “dating violence,” or “stalking” as defined in the TEC, Section 51.251, and any disciplinary actions taken under TEC, Section 51.255.
Previous Reports
2023-2024 Academic YearUniversity Contacts
OCR Contacts
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is the division of the federal government charged with enforcing compliance with Title IX.
The OCR Office for Texas is located at:
Dallas Office
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620
Dallas, Texas 75201-6810
Telephone: 214-661-9600
FAX: 214-661-9587;
TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR.Dallas@ed.gov