Policy and Grievance Procedures

Sexual Misconduct and Power-Based Violence Policy and Grievance Procedures

The Sexual Misconduct and Power-Based Violence Policy (“Policy”) and the Sexual Misconduct and Power-Based Violence Grievance Procedures (“Grievance Procedures”), address the requirements of Title IX  of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“Clery Act”),  Section 304 of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA),

as well as other federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

• Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational institutions, requires colleges and universities receiving federal funding to combat gender-based violence and harassment, and respond to survivors’ needs in order to ensure that all students have equal access to education.
   
• The Clery Act requires policies and procedures for sexual assault and also requires timely warning and external reporting of crimes.
   
• Section 304 of the VAWA extends the Clery Act to include sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking at higher education institutions.

Title IX, which articulates the fundamental anti-discrimination principle that underlies all of the above laws, states as follows:

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Consistent with these, other applicable state and federal laws, as well as both student and employee standards of conduct, ULM prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and/or gender in any University program or activity. “Sexual misconduct,” including sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, and sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking is a form of sex discrimination and is prohibited by this Policy. Other types of power-based violence as well as retaliation are also prohibited by this Policy.

This Policy applies to all students, faculty, staff, visitors, and to other members of the University community, as well as to contractors, consultants, and vendors doing business or providing services to the University.