23 2024 ANNUAL SECURITY & ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT Coordinator. To the extent possible, when implementing supportive measures, the University shall take steps to minimize the burden on and respect the rights of the respondent. The University also takes steps to maintain as confidential any supportive measures that are provided, to the extent that maintaining confidentiality does not impair the University’s ability to implement such measures. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for determining the information about the complainant that is disclosed, and to whom it is disclosed. The Title IX Coordinator makes this determination by considering what assistance is required to assess and implement the supportive measures, such as contacting the Office of Residence Life and Office of Housing Services to alter housing arrangements. Faculty, staff, and students may also file a petition at the local courthouse for a civil (non-criminal) protection order that offers victims of certain crimes relief from further harm from a perpetrator. Pennsylvania offers three different civil protection orders, including protection from abuse orders, sexual violence protection orders, and protection from intimidation orders. The qualifications for these protection orders vary per order. For more information about obtaining a civil protection order, contact the Title IX Coordinator, Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley (https://cvclv. org/), Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley (https://www.turningpointlv.org/), or an attorney to discuss your options. If criminal charges are filed, faculty, staff, and students may also request a temporary “stay away” court order issued by a judge for a period of one year or until the associated criminal case is resolved. The Title IX Coordinator will contact the respondent to inform that person of an investigation, any no-contact orders or supportive measures that are being taken that may impact the respondent, and of their rights and responsibilities in the process. Both the complainant and the respondent may have an advisor of their choosing (including counsel) present at any meetings held during the resolution processes (defined in Appendix A of the Policy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination as “the investigation and resolution of allegations of prohibited conduct under this Policy, including Informal Resolution or Hearing Resolution [Section 23] or Administrative Resolution [Section 24].”). In cases involving Title IX Sexual Harassment, each party must be accompanied by an advisor at the live hearing. In cases involving other forms of sexual misconduct, the advisor may not represent or speak for the party, but may provide advice. In accordance with the Clery Act, Lehigh does not limit the choice of advisor, or presence of the advisor, for either the complainant or the respondent in any meeting or institutional disciplinary proceeding; however, it may establish restrictions regarding the extent to which the advisor may participate in the proceedings. Any restrictions apply equally to both parties. In a Title IX Sexual Harassment case, a resolution process pursuant to University policy will not move forward until a formal complaint has been signed by the complainant or the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator may, but is not required to, sign a formal complaint and move the case through a resolution process if the complainant declines to sign a formal complaint. In a non-Title IX Sexual Harassment case (referred to as “University-Defined Sexual Misconduct”), the complainant or the Title IX Coordinator will draft a complaint containing the complainant’s allegations. Should the complainant decline to move forward with a resolution process pursuant to University policy, the Title IX Coordinator may file a complaint and move a case through a resolution process. In both types of cases, once a complaint has been signed/finalized, the Title IX Coordinator will then assign an investigative team generally comprised of two trained co-investigators to begin interviewing involved persons (including the complainant and the respondent). The respondent and complainant may provide a written statement to the investigators at this time, and may identify potential witnesses. All investigators receive annual training on issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, sexual exploitation, or any other form of sexual misconduct covered by University policy, as well as on the University’s policies and procedures.
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