VoluntaryResolutionAgreem
ent
Yale University
(U
niversity)ComplaintNo.01-11-2027
The U.S.Department
of
Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), initiated
an
investigation
of
the above-referencedcomplaint under Title IX
of
the Education Amendments
of
1972 anditsimplementing regulation
at
34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX). Prior to andduringthe course
of
theinvestigation, the University implemented a number
of
policies, procedures and practices toimproveitsresponse tosexualmisconduct complaints,ensurecompliancewith Title IX andits
implementing regulation and to resolve the issues
of
thecomplaint. OCRhas notmade a finding
of
noncompliance and this Resolution Agreement has been entered into voluntarily by theUniversityand does not constitute
an
admissionthatthe Universityisnot
in
compliance withTitleIXand/or its implementing regulation. Accordingly,theUniversity voluntarily agrees to
thefollo
..
ving to assurethatithas an environment andculturein which all studentsfeelsafe and
well supported,andthat
it
responds promptly and effectively to incidents
of
sexualharassmentand violence (hereinafterreferredto assexualmisconduct), in a manner designed to remedy the
effects
of
such misconduct
if
hould occ
ur
,and preventrecurrence, consistentwith the
requirements
ofTitle
IX:
A.
Title
IXCoordinator
1.
The
Universityhas designateda University-wideTitle IX Coordinator(the
University Title IX Coordinator)anddeputy coordinators to ensure compliancewith Title IX.2.TheUniversity has widelypublishedinprintandon-line,and willcontinue todo
on
an
annual basis, thename, email,andtelephonecontact information, and duties
of
theUniversity Title IX Coordinator and deputy coordinators.3.TheUniversity Title IX Coordinator'sresponsibilitiesinclude the following:
a. Ensuring coordination with the deputy coordinators and appropriatestudent servicesoffices on campus(e.g.housing, Residential College
Deansand Masters whoareresponsiblefor housingandacademic matters,
health, counseling services, and the Yale PoliceDepartment[YPD]). The
coordinationis for such purposes as trackingtrendson campus
and
addressinganypatterns or systemic problems; assessing
the
overallefficacy
of
the coordinationamongthesevariousservices; andsoliciting
feedba
ck
on the efficacy
of
the overall responsetosexual misconduct.b. Providing information to individuals regarding their Title
IX
rights, theUniversity's formaland informal grievance processes, theavailability
of
interimmeasures during
an
investigation
of
a grievance,and theabilityto
file acomplaint with YPD.
c. Conducting asemiannualreview
of
all formal and informalTitleIX
complaintsbroughtto the University Title IX Coordinator anddeputy
Title
IX
coordinators,before theUniversity-WideConunitteeonSexual
Page
2-
VoluntaryResolutionAgreement,Yale University, Complaint No. 01-11-2027
Misconduct, any othergrievanceprocedures, and/or independentlyinvestigated by the University
in
orderto identifyand addressany patterns
or
systemicproblems.d.Communicating withYPD regarding the University
's
obligationsunder
Title
IX
and serving as a resource on Title
IX
issues.The UniversityTitle
IX
Coordinator and YPDhavedeveloped aprotocolregarding complaints
of
sexualmisconduct that calls for YPD to:
1.
notify complainants
in
criminalcases
of
heir right
to
file a Title
IX
complaintwiththeUniversity
in
additiontopursuing a criminalprocess;ii. provide complainants with written information describing theUniversity'sSexualHarassment and Assault Response andEducation Center, the University-Wide Committee on SexualMisconduct, and the TitleIX Coordinators;
iii.
providetheUniversity Title IX Coordinator with synopses
of
sexualmisconduct complaints;and
iv.provide the University Title IXCoordinatorwithaccessto YPD
records
of
itsinvestigation and findingsregardingTitle IX
investigations,so longas it does not significantly compromise anypendingcriminal proceeding.e.Periodicallyassessingthe efficacy
of
theUniversi
ty's
overallTitle
IX
compliance efforts.
f.
TheUniversity Title
IX
Coordinator anddeputies will not have otherresponsibilities thatcreatea conflict
of
interest.
B.GrievanceProcedures AddressingSexualMisconduct
1.
TheUniversityhas formed the University-Wide Committeeon Sexual
Misconduct(UWC)asitsprimary mechanism topromptlyandequitablyrespond
to complaints
of
sexual misconduct under Title IX both informally and formally.As such, the UWC is
an
accessible,representative, andtrainedbodytoaddress
informal and formal complaints
of
sexual misconduct under Title
IX.
The present
UWC's
procedures entitled
ProceduresGoverning theUniversityWide
Committee
on
SexualMisconduct
meet thecriteriainitems2(a) through
(1)
below,and explain the difference between the UWC
's
informaland formal processes.
The
University has launched,and will continue to widely publicize on
an
annualbasis,a website specific to theUWCtoraiseawarenessabout its function and
availability.2.
If
theUniversity creates anewTitle
IX
grievanceprocess,the University will
ensureit,as does the presentUWCprocess,affordsthe following:
a.
Broad notice to theUniversitycommunity
of
theprocedures applicabletoacomplaint
of
sexualmisconduct;
b.
Applicability
of
the process to student and third partycomplainants;
Page
3-
VoluntaryResolutionAgreement, Yale University, Complaint No. 01-11-2027
c.
If
informal process(es)are available,theoptionforcomplainants tobypass
an
informal processforaformalprocess
at
any
point
,
per
thecomplainants' discretion.
d.
No
complainant will berequired tohaveface-to-faceinteraction
with
an
alleged perpetrator
in
anyinformal resolution
or
mediationinvolvingacomplaint
of
sexualassault;e. Designatedtimeframes formajorstages
of
the
process;
f.
Adequate, prompt and impartialinvestigations
of
allegations
of
sexualmisconductincluding:
1.
Not
delaying theUniversity'sinvestigation
of
possiblesexualmisconduct underTitle
IX
untilrelated criminalprocesses
ar
econcluded;andu. Equitable information gatheringfromboth
the
complainant(s) andthe allegedperpetrator(s);g.
Use
of
thepreponderance
of
evidencestandard
in
determiningwhethersexualmisconduct occurred;h.
Avai
lability
of
interim measures toprotect the parties during
the
University'sinvestigation
of
possiblesexualmisconduct.Suchinterim
measures should not disproportionately impact
the comp
lainant(s).
1.
Assurancesthat theUniversity willtakesteps
to
stopanysexualmisconduct
if
found, preventitsrecurrence andremedyits effects
on
thoseimpacted;
J.
Assurancesthatretaliation isprohibited
and
thatretaliation willbehandledpromptly
and
equitably
if
t
occurs;k. Notice in writingtothe relevant parti
es
regarding
the
ou
tcome
of
the
process includingwhether sexualmisconductwas foundanda descri
ption
of
the
University'sresponse; and
I.
Equitable rights to bothpartiesthroughout
the
process, including the righttoappeal,
if
applicable.3.The
UWCis
charged withenforcing theUniversity'sUndergraduate Regulations
relating tosexualmisconduct.TheUniversity iscommittedto strengthening
students'understanding, througheducation and enforcement,that theyare subject
to
theUndergraduate Regulationsboth
on
and
off
campus.
The
Universityhasrevised and expanded its definition
of
sexualmisconduct
and
itsdefinition
of
hazing
in
itsUndergraduateRegulations.
C. Tr
ai
ning
1.
The
University has conductedandwillcontinue
to
hold annualtraining forallTitle
IX
Coordinators and
UWC
members on: theUniversity'sobligations underTitle IX;its regulationsregarding sexual misconduct; relevant resources available
on
campus;
the
UWC's
procedures, including accepting,processing
and
investi
gating
complaints
of
sexual misconduct; interacting
wi
th
victims
of
sexualmisconduct; gatheringrelevantevidence and assessing
it
in theTitle
IX
context;the importance
of
confidentiality,fairprocess,impartiality,
and
applicablelegal
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