[Minor revision–posted 9/24/24 (replaces 08/14/20 edition)]
[Updated contact information–2/25/25; no additional change to OP]
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Operating Policy and Procedure

OP 40.03: Sexual Misconduct

DATE: September 24, 2024

PURPOSE: Texas Tech University (TTU) is committed to providing and strengthening an educational, working, and living environment where students, faculty, staff, and visitors are free from sex discrimination of any kind. Therefore, TTU prohibits discrimination based on sex and other types of sexual misconduct, including but not limited to sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The purpose of this Operating Policy/Procedure (OP) is to (1) state TTU's requirements for reporting incidents of sexual misconduct; (2) state TTU's policy on sexual misconduct; (3) implement electronic reporting protocols for such incidents; (4) develop a comprehensive prevention and outreach program; (5) establish penalties for noncompliance with this OP; and (6) provide amnesty or immunities to students and employees who report incidents of sexual misconduct.

REVIEW: This OP will be reviewed every two years after publication by the TTU Chief Compliance Officer and the Senior Associate Vice President for Human Resources, in consultation with the System Offices of Equal Opportunity and General Counsel, with substantive revisions forwarded to the Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff to the President. Any substantive changes to this policy must be approved by the Board of Regents.

POLICY/PROCEDURE

1.  Texas Tech University System Regulation 07.06 governs the prohibition of discrimination based on sex and other types of sexual misconduct, as well as the reporting and prevention of sexual misconduct, the grievance process, and remedies for sexual misconduct in the TTU community. It includes two distinct policies and procedures based on applicable federal and state law:

a.    System Regulation 07.06.A Title IX Sexual Misconduct, and

b.    System Regulation 07.06.B Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct.

The Sexual Misconduct Policy Applicability Flowchart, attached to each policy, summarizes these policies' applicability and their respective procedures. Questions regarding the applicability of these policies should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator or System Office of Equal Opportunity, whose contact information is provided in Section 2 of this OP.

2.  TTU Title IX Coordinator and designated Deputy Coordinator for TTU students and employees:

Please consult the above-referenced System Regulations under 1.a and 1.b, above, for more detailed information regarding designated Title IX coordinators.

3.  The following additional resources are available:

4.  The following outside agencies are available as additional resources:

a.    Nothing in this OP or the incorporated regulations shall limit an individual from seeking assistance or filing a complaint with an outside agency.

b.    Administrative Agencies:

c.    Law Enforcement Agencies:

AUTHORITATIVE REFERENCES

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• 34 CFR Part 106
• Texas Labor Code Chapter 21
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
• Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act of 2013 (Campus SaVE)
• Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act
• Texas Education Code Sections 51.9363, 51.251 – 51.260, and 51.281 – 51.295
• Texas Family Code Sections 71.004 and 71.0021
• Texas Penal Code Section 42.072

OP Categories

• 01 Chancellor
• 02 Development
• 04 Audit Services
• 10 President
• 30 Academic and Student Affairs – General
• 32 Academic Policies – Faculty
• 34 Academic Policies – Students
• 36 Academic Programs
• 40 Equal Opportunity
• 48 Communication Services
• 52 Information Technology
• 60 Environmental Health and Safety
• 61 Facilities Management
• 62 Financial and Accounting
• 63 General Services
• 64 Graduate Programs (Faculty and Students)
• 65 Research Accounting
• 66 Libraries
• 67 Mail Services
• 68 Communications and Marketing
• 69 Payroll and Tax Services
• 70 Human Resources
• 72 Purchasing, Contracting, and Payables
• 73 Data Management
• 74 Research
• 76 Security
• 77 Student Services and Registrar
• 78 Traffic and Parking
• 79 Travel
• 80 Vehicles