Title IX

Arkansas State University is committed to providing an educational and work environment for its students, faculty, and staff that is free from sexual discrimination including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. No form of sexual discrimination will be tolerated.

Title IX Non-Discrimination and Reporting Statement

Arkansas State University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that it operates. Further, A-State is subject to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and is therefore required by Title IX and 34 C.F.R. Part 106 not to discriminate in such a manner. This requirement extends to admissions and employment with the university.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX or 34 C.F.R. Part 106 to A-State may be referred to A-State’s Title IX Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Education, or both. A-State’s Title IX Coordinator holds the title Director of Title IX and Institutional Equity and may be contacted as follows:

Email: title9@astate.edu
Phone: 870-972-2015
In Person: Administration Building, Suite 104
Mail: Office of Title IX and Institutional Equity, P.O. Box 1500, State University, AR 72467

Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment), in person, by phone, or by email using the contact information provided above or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report. Such a report may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number or email address, or by mail to the office address, provided above.

Avoiding Sexual Discrimination

All members of the campus community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others.

Supervisors and staff members must recognize that their positions necessarily embody unequal power relationships with their subordinates and students. Because of the inherent power differences in these relationships, the potential exists for the less powerful to perceive a coercive element in suggestions relative to activities outside those appropriate to the professional relationship. It is the responsibility of supervisors and staff members to behave in such a manner that their words or actions cannot reasonably be perceived as coercive.

Reporting Sexual Discrimination

You are encouraged to speak with the Office of Title IX and Institutional Equity or to supervisory personnel (Deans, the Chancellor, vice chancellors, department chairs, all faculty members, any employee at the university police department, and any employee in athletics, student conduct, Greek life, student activities, or human resources, etc…) of the institution to make formal reports of incidents. The university considers these people to be "responsible employees." These persons must report incidents of sexual discrimination either observed by them or reported to them to the Title IX Coordinator who will conduct an immediate, thorough, and objective review of all formal complaints. If a violation has occurred, appropriate corrective measures commensurate with the severity of the offense will be taken in an effort to reasonably ensure that such actions are not repeated.

All reports, complaints, and investigations are treated with discretion and confidentiality is maintained to the extent allowed by law. The following guidelines and procedures have been developed to reaffirm these principles and to provide recourse for those individuals whose rights have been violated. This procedure is intended to define community expectations and to establish a mechanism for determining when those expectations have been violated.

Responding to Sexual Discrimination

The university reserves the right to take whatever measures it deems necessary in response to an allegation of sexual discrimination in order to protect individuals' rights and personal safety. An individualized assessment will be conducted based on the facts available to the Title IX Coordinator at the time a formal complaint is submitted. Such measures include, but are not limited to, modification of campus living arrangements/working space, modification of class schedules, work shifts, interim suspension from campus pending a hearing, and reporting the matter to law enforcement.

Not all forms of sexual discrimination will be deemed to be equally serious offenses, and the university reserves the right to impose different sanctions, ranging from verbal warning to expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense. The university will consider the concerns and rights of both the Complainant and the Respondent.

The university reserves the right at any time to change, delete, or add provisions to this procedure. The procedure posted on the webpage of the Office of Title IX and Institutional Equity supersedes all previous versions - electronic or in print.

Campus Contacts