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. This protection includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual violence. Title IX applies to a broad range of University programs and activities, including admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, athletics, housing, and employment.

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

Sexual Misconduct Policies, Prevention, and Resources

Sexual misconduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at McMurry University. The University provides resources, support, and reporting options for students, faculty, and staff who have concerns related to sexual harassment, sexual violence, or other conduct prohibited by Title IX and University policy.

Additional information is available in the McMurry University Sexual Misconduct Policy, which is included in the Employee Handbook and the Student Handbook.

Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinators

McMurry University has designated Josh Jones to serve as its Title IX Coordinator. The University has also designated Caroline Cleveland, Head Volleyball Coach and Senior Woman’s Administrator, and Mr. Mike Johnston, Director of Human Resources and Compliance, to serve as Deputy Title IX Coordinators.

The Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinators are responsible for monitoring the University’s compliance with Title IX, receiving reports, addressing concerns and complaints, and coordinating the University’s response to allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, and other Title IX-related matters.

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, but are not limited to:

• Sexual assault, rape, stalking, or relationship violence.
• Threats or implications that a person’s academic, employment, housing, athletic, or other University status may be negatively affected for refusing a sexual advance or positively affected for submitting to one.
• Unwelcome verbal conduct of a sexual nature, including graphic comments about a person’s body, clothing, appearance, or sexual activity; sexually suggestive or insulting sounds or whistles; and obscene phone calls.
• Sexually suggestive objects, images, videos, audio recordings, or written materials are placed in a work, residential, or study area in a way that may embarrass, offend, or intimidate others. Materials used in an educational setting should be clearly and substantially related to legitimate academic purposes.
• Suggestive or sexually explicit posters, calendars, photographs, graffiti, cartoons, or other visual materials, including those distributed electronically.
• Offensive letters, emails, text messages, social media posts, internet images or transmissions, voicemail messages, or other electronic communications.

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

Students are encouraged to report concerns, even when they are unsure whether an experience meets the definition of sexual harassment. Students who make a good-faith report or participate in an investigation will not be subjected to retaliation.

Any student who believes they have experienced retaliation for reporting sexual harassment, participating in an investigation, or supporting another person through the reporting process should immediately contact McMurry University’s Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator.

Dating Violence

Dating violence is violence committed by a person who is, or has been, in a romantic or intimate social relationship with the person affected. The existence of such a relationship is determined by considering factors such as:

• 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, intimate partner, co-parent, person who is or has been cohabitating with the affected individual as a spouse or intimate partner, or any other 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 own safety, the safety of others, or the safety of their property. Stalking may violate McMurry University policy and Texas law.

Stalking may include, but is not limited to:

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

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