Sexual Violence Education/Title IX

The university has procedures in place that aim to be aware of the needs of those who make an institutional report of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Procedures include informing individuals about their right to file criminal charges as well as the availability of counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, visa and immigration assistance and other services on and/or off campus, as well as additional remedies to prevent contact between a complainant and a respondent, such as housing, academic, transportation and working accommodations, if reasonably available. The university will make such accommodations, if the victim requests them and if they are reasonably available, regardless of whether the complainant chooses to report the crime to the TWU Department of Public Safety or local law enforcement.

Any incidents or concerns regarding Sexual Misconduct should be reported immediately, even if the person(s) concerned about or harmed by the misconduct are unsure about pursuing a formal complaint.  Anyone can report prohibited conduct by notifying the following:

• Office of Civility and Community Standards 940-898-2968
• TWU Department of Public Safety 940-898-2911 
• Online using our incident reports

Senate Bill 212 (SB 212) was signed into state law after the 2019 Texas legislative session and is now in full effect as of January 1, 2020. All new reporting obligations and penalties in the law must be followed.

The law addresses reporting requirements for incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking at certain public and private institutions of higher education, including TWU. For a detailed definition of these terms, please review TWU’s Regent Policy: B.20010 Sexual Misconduct Policy (pdf).

As a reminder:

• As of January 1, 2020, all employees who witness or receive information about sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking that involve a current student or employee must promptly report the incident to the University’s Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. Reports can be made by phone: 940-898-2969; email, or online. 
• Reports to the Title IX Coordinator must include all relevant information that is known about the incident.
• Student employees are encouraged, but not required, to report under SB 212. However, if a student employee is designated as a responsible employee, they are still required to report under Title IX and their responsible employee duties.
• Retaliation against persons who make a good faith report is prohibited.
• An employee who does not report an incident or who makes a false report can be charged with a criminal offense (Class B or Class A Misdemeanor). If an employee fails to make a required report or makes a false report, the law requires that the employee be terminated.
• Employees who have been designated by the university as confidential or private employees are only required to report the type of incident. Students can talk to confidential employees about a Title IX related matter with assurance that confidential employees may not reveal the student’s identity or other identifying information. A list of confidential and private employees is available on the Title IX Website.
• The Title IX Coordinator must submit a written report of the reports received by the institution, to the President at least quarterly

Employees filing a report SHOULD NOT use the anonymous reporting form.

Under the Texas Education Code (TEC), the institution’s Chief Executive Officer is required to submit a data report at least once during each fall or spring semester to the institution’s governing body and post on the institution’s internet website a report concerning the reports received by employees under the TEC in which the incident described in the employee’s report constituted “sexual harassment,” “sexual assault,” “dating violence,” or “stalking” as defined in the TEC, and any disciplinary actions taken under TEC.

Below are the links to the Chief Executive Officer’s report:

• 2019-2020 Title IX Annual Report (pdf)
• 2020-2021 Title IX Annual Report (pdf)
• 2021-2022 Title IX Annual Report (pdf)
• 2022-2023 Title IX Annual Report (pdf)

What is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that states:

"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."

Violations include acts of sexual misconduct, such as:

• Sexual Assault
• Sexual Harassment
• Sexual Exploitation
• Dating/Domestic Violence
• Stalking

Other violations include sex and gender-based discrimination of a non-sexual nature, such as:

• Bullying based on gender identity
• Denying an educational or employment opportunity because one is born male or female
• Failing to provide reasonable academic accommodations to pregnant and parenting students.

Retaliation is also prohibited. Retaliation includes threatening, intimidating, harassing, coercing, or any other conduct that would discourage a reasonable person from making a good faith report or participating in any proceeding. Retaliation is a stand-alone policy violation without regard to any finding of responsibility for discrimination.

Who is protected by Title IX?

Students, staff, and faculty are protected by Title IX when the discrimination occurs on university-owned or controlled property.  In addition to incidents that occur on the University campus, the University may take disciplinary action in response to incidents that take place during official functions of the University or functions sponsored by registered student organizations, or incidents that have a substantial connection to the interests of the University regardless of the location in which the incident(s) occur.

How does TWU address violations of Title IX?

Texas Woman’s University is committed to responding to all allegations of sex and gender-based discrimination.  Although incidents may not always reach the level of a Title IX violation, TWU also abides by State of Texas law.

Heather Snow
AVP and Dean of Students
TitleIX@twu.edu
940-898-3614

Deputy Title IX Coordinators

Amy Hall
Title IX Deputy: Executive Director of Human Resources
ahall@twu.edu
940-898-3544

Tony Yardley
Title IX Deputy: Director Employee Relations, HR Compliance and Equity
ayardley@twu.edu
940-898-3563

Madison Seaver
Title IX Deputy: Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations
mseaver@twu.edu 
940-898-2383

Required Incoming Student Training

• Student Empowerment by Workplace Answers

Student Organizations

• Student Leaders Fall Training

Graduate Assistant Training

• Title IX Essentials Graduate Assistants Orientation (PowerPoint)

Academic Leadership Training

• Title IX Essentials Academic Leadership Retreat (PowerPoint)

Employee Mandatory Training

• EEO/Sexual Harassment Training

Texas Attorney General

• Be the One in the Fight Against Human Trafficking - Video

Pregnant & Parenting Students

Title IX is a federal law which requires schools that receive federal funds to provide reasonable accommodations to students who are pregnant or have pregnancy related conditions. This includes pregnancy, pre-natal doctor appointments, childbirth, false pregnancy, miscarriage, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions.

Title IX for Pregnant & Parenting Students

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 you are entitled to reasonable accommodations for as long as your doctor deems medically necessary.

It will be important to review each student’s situation individually, as reasonable accommodations will be highly dependent on the requirements of individual courses.

Examples of possible reasonable accommodations (when deemed medically necessary) are:

• Excused absences for care/recovery
• Change in exam dates
• Make-up work and/or assignment extensions
• Allowing drops and/or withdrawals
• Assignment of Incomplete* grade

*if student is eligible

If you would like to review possible accommodations with the Associate Vice President for Student Enrichment, Health, & Support at Texas Woman’s University, please complete the Pregnancy Accommodation Form. You can also download the Pregnant and Parenting brochure (pdf).