Title IX: Sexual Misconduct Policies, Prevention and Resources

Title IX

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance. These protections apply across University programs and activities, including academics, athletics, housing, employment, admissions, and student services.

McMurry University is committed to maintaining an educational and working environment free from sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and related prohibited conduct.

Sexual Misconduct Policies, Prevention & Resources

McMurry University provides reporting options, supportive resources, and information for students, faculty, and staff who have experienced or have concerns about sexual harassment, sexual violence, or other conduct prohibited by Title IX or University policy.

University policies and additional resources are available throughout this page and in the McMurry University Student Handbook.

Title IX Coordinator

Chris Harris serves as McMurry University’s designated Title IX Coordinator through the University’s partnership with Grand River Solutions. He oversees Title IX compliance, receives reports and concerns, and coordinates the University’s response to Title IX-related matters.

Email: harris.christopher@mcm.edu

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, physical, written, or electronic conduct of a sexual nature.

Examples may include:

• Sexual assault, rape, stalking, or relationship violence.
• Threats or implications that a person’s academic, employment, housing, athletic, or other University status may be affected by accepting or refusing a sexual advance.
• Unwelcome sexual comments, jokes, sounds, gestures, or remarks about a person’s body, appearance, clothing, or sexual activity.
• Sexually suggestive or explicit images, videos, recordings, written materials, posters, photographs, graffiti, or other visual content used in a way that may intimidate, embarrass, or offend others.
• Offensive or unwanted sexual content sent through email, text messages, social media, voicemail, or other electronic communication.

What If I Am Not Sure Whether My Experience Constitutes Harassment?

Students are encouraged to report concerns even if they are unsure whether an experience meets the definition of sexual harassment.

McMurry University prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes a good-faith report, participates in an investigation, or supports another person through the reporting process.

Anyone who believes they have experienced retaliation should contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator.

Dating Violence

Dating violence is violence committed by a person who is, or has been, in a romantic or intimate relationship with the person affected.

Factors that may be considered when determining whether a dating relationship exists include:

• The length of the relationship.
• The type of relationship.
• The frequency of interaction between the individuals involved.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner, a co-parent, a person who is or has been living with the affected individual as a spouse or intimate partner, or another person whose conduct is covered under applicable domestic or family violence laws.

Stalking

Stalking is a pattern of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety, the safety of others, or their property.

Examples may include:

• Damaging or threatening to damage property.
• Using the internet, social media, or other methods to harass, intimidate, monitor, or spread harmful information about another person.
• Repeatedly sending unwanted emails, phone calls, text messages, or other communications.
• Repeatedly appearing at a person’s home, school, workplace, or another location to maintain unwanted visual or physical proximity.
• Using technology or other methods to monitor, track, control, threaten, or frighten another person.

Students, faculty, and staff who believe they have experienced dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or related misconduct are encouraged to contact McMurry University’s Title IX Coordinator for support, resources, and reporting options.