Page 72 - Illinois Tech Student Handbook 2022-23

forego or to cease Informal Resolution and to proceed with Formal Action. This means that the appropriate, formal Illinois Tech policies and procedures will be utilized to investigate and resolve the complaint. In the case of student-on-student sexual harassment and in cases where the accused is a student, such policies and procedures are those provided for in this Student Handbook. If an Illinois Tech faculty or staff member experiences sexual harassment, such policies and procedures are those provided for in the Faculty Handbook and Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual, respectively.
5. Relationships between Students and Faculty/Staff
As an institution of higher education dedicated to fostering the dignity of each person, the university seeks to create an environment that is free of exploitation and unlawful harassment or discrimination as well as any appearance of conflict of interest or favoritism. In addition, the university strongly discourages consensual relationships of a dating, intimate and/or sexual nature between a university employee and a graduate student even when no power relationship or ability to influence exists, as any such relationship may give rise to the perception of favoritism or bias, which undermine the spirit of trust and mutual respect that is important in an educational environment. The University’s policy on relationships with students is at the following link: https://pws.iit.edu/hr/relationships-students.
N. Sexual Misconduct
As provided for in Article III and noted in various sections of Article II and this Article IV, Title IX Sexual Harassment, as defined in Article III, must be complained of and investigated, adjudicated and sanctioned solely in accordance with the Title IX Sexual Harassment Process set forth in Article III. Sexual misconduct that does not qualify as Title IX Sexual Harassment may be complained of and will be investigated adjudicated and sanction in accordance with Article II. The information provided for herein is, in large part, intended for and relevant to anyone who has experience sexual misconduct, but unless they have been expressly incorporated into the Title IX Sexual Harassment Process, the specific policy and procedural provisions in this Section N are only applicable to sexual misconduct under the Code of Conduct.
As set forth in the Code of Conduct in this Student Handbook, Illinois Tech prohibits acts of sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual exploitation, and stalking. Definitions of the foregoing terms and other relevant details, including support services and procedural considerations, are set forth in this Section N. Illinois Tech respects the fact that the decisions whether to inform authorities and which authorities to inform rests with the individual who experienced the sexual misconduct.
An individual who experienced sexual misconduct and desires to contact an authority should call the Public Safety Department (312.808.6300) or the Chicago Police Department (or relevant local police department) at 911 as soon as possible. Help can also be received from the Student Health and Wellness Center (312.567.7550), Office of Community Standards (312.567.5172), the Title IX Coordinator (312.567.5735) (See Section M above for additional details on the Title IX Coordinator), or the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs (312.567.3081). Representatives from these offices are available to assist the victim in notifying law enforcement authorities if the victim so chooses. An individual who experienced sexual misconduct may also wish to contact a community-based sexual assault crisis center, and information, including names, addresses, websites and telephone numbers, for such centers is available at http://web.iit.edu/student-affairs/vawa-save-acts.
Under federal law, all institutions of higher education must designate those of its staff with significant responsibility for student and campus activities as "Responsible Employees". (Note: Not all Responsible Employees are actually employed by Illinois Tech.) Responsible employees have an obligation to report immediately any information they come to learn regarding suspected Sexual Misconduct; thus, these individuals cannot agree to maintain privacy or confidentiality with respect to such matters. At Illinois Tech, Responsible Employees are to report such information to the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs, the Title IX Coordinator, or the Department of Public Safety. Illinois Tech has designated individuals holding the following titles/positions as Responsible Employees: the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Vice
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