Title IX Definitions

Office of Civil Rights and Title IX

Hours of Operation
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.

Contact the Coordinator: 
217 Ferrell Hall;
carolyn.stuart@wvstateu.edu;
304-204-4018

Non-Work Hour Access
For Title IX emergencies occurring after business hours, on weekends, or during school closures access the following resources for assistance:

  • Title IX emergency phone: 304-533-5392 
  • Public Safety: 304-766-3181 
  • 911

Complainant

The person making an allegation or complaint of sexual misconduct or relationship violence.

Consent

Verbal statements or non-verbal actions which a reasonable person would understand to mean a voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. Someone who is incapacitated cannot consent. Past consent does not imply future consent. Silence or an absence of resistance does not imply consent. Consent to engage in sexual activity with one person does not imply consent to engage in sexual activity with another. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. Coercion, force, or threat of either invalidates consent.

Counseling employees

Counselors employed by the University and other employees working under the direct supervision and control of counselors are covered under statutory privilege.

Dating violence

Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of the relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. “Dating violence” includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse, but it does not include acts covered under the definition of domestic violence.

Domestic violence

A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by: (a) a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, (b) a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, (c) a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, (d) a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred, or (e) 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 in which the crime of violence occurred.

Educational setting

All of the University’s academic programs and other activities of whatever nature on campus and at every other location where the University conducts authorized programs or activities.

Incapacitation

Any situation in which a person is incapable of giving consent due to the person’s age, state of consciousness, use of drugs or alcohol, or an intellectual or other disability.

Intimidation

The intentional act of coercing or frightening someone to engage or not engage in conduct of a sexual nature against that person’s will.

Hostile environment

“Hostile environment” means activity or conduct involving sexual harassment that is sufficiently serious that it interferes with or limits a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s program.

Non-consensual sexual contact

Any physical touching of a sexual nature which is not preceded by consent or which continues after a previous consent is withdrawn.

Non-consensual sexual intercourse

Any sexual intercourse which is not preceded by consent or which continues after a previous consent is withdrawn. “Sexual intercourse” includes vaginal or anal penetration by a penis, object, tongue or finger and oral copulation.

Respondent

The person against whom the allegation or complaint of sexual misconduct or relationship violence is made.

Responsible employees

The President, Vice Presidents, and Deans of the University, the Title IX Coordinator, Department Chairs, Program Coordinators, Faculty members, Directors, Supervisors, resident advisors (RAs), and University security officers are responsible employees.

Retaliation

The act of seeking revenge upon another person.

Sexual assault

An offense that meets the definition of rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape as used in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program.

Sexual exploitation

The abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust for sexual purposes.

Sexual harassment

Gender‐based verbal or physical conduct that unreasonably interferes with or deprives someone of educational access, benefits or opportunities.
Hostile environment sexual harassment includes any situation in which there is harassing conduct that is sufficiently severe, pervasive/persistent and patently/objectively offensive that alters the conditions of education or employment, from both a subjective (the alleged victim’s) and an objective (reasonable person’s) viewpoint. The determination of whether an environment is hostile must be based on all of the circumstances. These circumstances could include: the frequency of the conduct; the nature and severity of the conduct; whether the conduct was physically threatening; whether the conduct was humiliating; the effect of the conduct on the alleged victim’s mental or emotional state; whether the conduct was directed at more than one person; whether the conduct arose in the context of other discriminatory conduct; whether the conduct unreasonably interfered with the alleged victim’s educational or work performance; or whether the statement is a mere utterance of an epithet which engenders offense in an employee or student, or offends by mere discourtesy or rudeness: and whether the speech or conduct deserves the protections of academic freedom.

Quid pro quo sexual harassment exists when there are: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature; and submission to or rejection of such conduct results in adverse educational or employment action.
Retaliatory harassment is any adverse employment or educational action taken against a person because of the person’s participation in a complaint or investigation of discrimination or sexual misconduct.

Sexual misconduct

Any act of sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, nonconsensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation, stalking, intimidation, dating violence, or domestic violence, or any act that creates a hostile environment or any act of retaliation against a complainant or anyone involved in a grievance procedure under this policy.

Sexual violence

Physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or with a person who suffers from incapacitation. “Sexual violence” also means same-sex conduct that violates the University’s prohibition on sexual violence, including, but not limited to, the following examples: sexual assault, non-consensual sexual intercourse, non-consensual sexual contact, dating violence or domestic violence.

Stalking

Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to (a) fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others, or (b) suffer substantial emotional distress. As used in this definition, “course of conduct” means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property; “substantial emotional distress” means significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but does not necessarily, require medical or other professional treatment or counseling; and “reasonable person” means a person under similar circumstances and with similar identities to the victim.

Title IX Coordinator

The person designated as such by the University’s President or the person temporarily designated by the Title IX Coordinator to serve in that capacity during the Title IX Coordinator’s incapacity or absence from the University’s campus.

Sexual Assault and Response Team (SART)
(Confidential)

(304) 340-3676

WVSU Public Safety
(304) 766-3181 (24-hour number) 

Counseling and Accessibility Services (Confidential)
(304) 766-3168

Title IX Office
(304) 533-5392
(24-hour number)

Rape Education, Advocacy, Counseling and Healing (REACH) (Confidential)
1-800-656-HOPE (4673) (24-hour number)
http://www.fris.org/CrisisCenters/Pages-CrisisCenters/Center-REACH.html

YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program (Confidential)
24-hour Domestic Violence Crisis Lines:
Charleston calling area: (304) 340-3549
Toll-free: 1-800-681-8663
https://www.ywcacharleston.org/domestic-violence-services

CAMC Women’s and Children’s Hospital (Confidential)
(304) 388-2550
http://www.camc.org/wc

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