Discrimination and Title IX Policies

Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation and Sexual Misconduct

William & Mary is committed to providing students an environment that is free from discrimination based on any protected group and to preventing sexual misconduct. The university has policies that establish expectations around these matters and procedures designed to address discrimination and sexual misconduct.

The most important policies are

The Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment, Retaliation, and Sexual Misconduct (the Discrimination Policy)
The Title IX Policy
The Consensual Amorous Relationships Policy

These policies prohibit specific types of conduct, and establish reporting obligations. and options.

Discrimination Policy

The Discrimination Policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person’s belonging to or perception that person belongs to a protected group. A protected group means a category of individuals who are protected from discrimination based on race, religion, creed, national origin, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability (or perceived disability), personal appearance, political affiliation, source of income, citizenship status, age, marital status, family responsibilities, Veteran or military status (including disabled veteran, recently separated veteran, active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran, and Armed Forces Service Medal veteran), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, height or weight. The Discrimination Policy applies to students, faculty, staff and third parties on campus: it protects students from discrimination and prohibits them from discriminating against or harassing others.

The Discrimination Policy prohibits sexual misconduct, including non-consensual sexual intercourse, relationship abuse, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. The definitions of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, retaliation and sexual misconduct are contained Section III of the Discrimination Policy.

All employees of the university, with the exception of specifically identified confidential resources, are mandatory reporters of incidents of sexual misconduct. Mandatory reports of all information known are made to the Title IX Coordinator and reviewed by the Civil Rights Review Team. This reporting obligation does not require survivors to report or other students to report information they learn from a friend or contemporary; it requires all employees, including student employees in their employment capacity, to report incidents involving other students.

Title IX Policy

Consistent with federal regulations, the Policy Prohibiting Title IX Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Harassment prohibits the following types of misconduct:

Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment
Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment
Sexual Assault (Rape, Fondling, Incest, Statutory Rape)
Domestic Violence
Dating Violence
Stalking
Gender-Based Harassment

The Policy defines each of these types of misconduct and defines consent, force, incapacitation, and retaliation.

The Policy applies to students: it protects students from Title IX Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Harassment and prohibits them from engaging in the defined misconduct. It also requires the university to provide supportive measures to anyone experiencing misconduct and to respond to reports as required by the regulations to ensure a hostile environment does not exist.

Reporting Options, Resources and Other Information

The Office of Office of Compliance & Equity, James Blair 101, 221-2743, equity@wm.edu.
The Dean of Students Office helps students, and receives reports of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and sexual misconduct from students:
Stacey Harris, Dean of Students, 368 Sadler Center, 221-2510, deanofstudents@wm.edu

Employees designated as confidential resources are not mandatory reporters and will not share your report or any details with the Title IX Coordinator without your permission. Confidential Resources available to student include:

The Haven, 146P Sadler Center, Liz Cascone, Director, 221-7478, lizcascone@wm.edu

The Counseling Center, McLeod Tyler Wellness Center, 2^nd Floor, 221-3620

Student Health Center McLeod Tyler Wellness Center, 1^st Floor, 221-4386

William & Mary’s Sexual Violence website provides information about reporting options, resources for students experiencing sexual violence, tips to help a friend, and other resources for students. Reporting options include anonymous reporting, reporting for criminal action, reporting for internal (administrative) investigation, and many other types of reporting.