Student Sexual Misconduct/Title IX

Title IX Regulations & Sexual Misconduct

Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination—including sexual harassment and sexual assault—in educational institutions that receive federal funding. Rowan University is committed to maintaining an inclusive and respectful environment, free from all forms of sexual misconduct. Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, no person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

The Office of Student Equity and Compliance (OSEC) oversees Rowan’s response to reports of sexual misconduct and ensures compliance with Title IX and related university policies. We encourage students, faculty, and staff to report any concerns to the University Title IX Coordinator.

For more information, please visit the Department of Education Title IX & Sex Discrimination.

Federal Regulations & Rowan Policies

Rowan University addresses sexual misconduct through several policies depending on the circumstances and the individuals involved:

Title IX Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault Policy
- Applies to both students and employees when the alleged misconduct:
  - Occurs in the U.S.
  - Occurs within Rowan’s educational programs or activities.
  - Involves a complainant who is participating in, or attempting to participate in, the program or activity.
Student Sexual Misconduct and Harassment Policy
- Applies only to students and addresses behavior outside the scope of Title IX regulations (e.g., off-campus incidents, sexual exploitation, or misconduct outside Rowan programs).
Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace and Educational Environment
- Used when employee misconduct falls outside of the Title IX Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault policy.
Procedures for Addressing Allegations of Student Discrimination and Retaliation
- Used when student misconduct falls outside of the Title IX Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault policy.

Reporting: Student Sexual Misconduct/Title IX

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting Form

What to report under Title IX/Sexual Misconduct:

Sexual Harassment (verbal, written, or physical)
Sexual assault (fondling, rape, incest)
Dating or Domestic Violence
Stalking
Sexual Exploitation
Sex- or Gender-based discrimination, bullying, or hazing
Retaliation for reporting Title IX/Sexual Misconduct concerns
Violation of No-Contact Directives

Contact a member of OSEC:

Brandy Bennett, Title IX Coordinator and Director for Student Equity and Compliance
856-256-5440
bennettb@rowan.edu

Jennifer L. Neilio, Investigator/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
856-256-5831
neilio@rowan.edu

Victoria Ulrich, Case Coordinator

856-256-4294

ulrichv@rowan.edu

With the Police:

You may choose to file a criminal complaint with the police.

Call 911
Rowan University Police Department: 856-256-4922
Glassboro Police Department: 856-881-1500
You are not required to report the incident to the police. If you choose to do so, Rowan will provide you with support throughout the process. Your decision to report to the police will not affect your ability to file a complaint through the University's procedures which are independent of the criminal process.

FAQs

What happens after submitting a report?

If you are identified as a complainant (impacted party), you will receive an email inviting you to meet with a member of the OSEC team. In this meeting, we’ll explain your rights and options, offer supportive measures (such as academic adjustments, housing changes, or no-contact orders), and clarify next steps. After this initial outreach, our office will review the information to determine if a potential policy violation occurred. If so, we may begin a formal resolution process (with your involvement), pursue informal or supportive actions like conflict resolution, or close the case with documentation only.

What is the difference between submitting a report and a formal complaint?

Submitting an incident means sharing information about a concern, experience, or possible policy violation with the Office of Student Equity & Compliance (OSEC). This allows our team to reach out to the impacted person (if known), offer support, and explain available options.

Filing a formal complaint, on the other hand, is a more specific action that involves a written, signed request to initiate a formal resolution process, such as an investigation. While submitting an incident does not automatically trigger an investigation, filing a formal complaint typically initates the grievence process and often requires the active participation of the complainant.

*It is recommended that you speak with the Title IX Coordinator, if you are interested in filing a Formal Complaint. You may contact the Title IX Coordinator, Brandy Bennett via email at bennettb@rowan.edu or by phone at 856-256-5440. The Formal Complaint form should ONLY be completed by the Complainant, meaning the individual who experienced the unwanted behavior.

What happens during the formal grievance process?

After the filing of a formal complaint with the Title IX Coordinator, you and the opposing party will recieve a Notice of Allegations, outling the alledged conduct violations. This will initate the formal grievance process and a brief overview can be found HERE.

Can I report anonymously?

Yes, we understand that making a report can feel overwhelming. Rowan allows for anonymous reporting through our online form. However, the more information you provide, the more our office can do. We may be limited in how we respond without identifying information, but we will still review the concern.

Am I entitled to a lawyer if I am a complainant or respondent in a sexual harassment/sexual assault complaint?

Parties involved in a sexual harassment/sexual assault complaint have a right to an Advisor of their choice during the process. An Advisor may be a family member, a friend, an attorney, or any third party not otherwise involved in the process. More information about Advisors and their roles is provided in the policy section entitled “Advisors”.

Is there anyone I can speak to confidentially relating to a concern about sexual harassment/sexual assault?

Students and employees can access confidential resources through the Counseling & Psychological Services Center and employees can access confidential resources through the Employee Advisory Service.

The incident in which I am involved is also the subject of a separate criminal complaint. Can we delay the University’s investigation and hearing of the incident until the criminal matter is resolved?

The Title IX process and the criminal justice process are separate and distinct. The Title IX process will proceed normally while the criminal matter is proceeding and the University cannot wait until the criminal matter is resolved given the time involved in most criminal matters.

Additional Information

Responsible Employees/Mandating Reporting

The OSEC website contains a Responsible Employee Guide to understanding the role of the Responsible Employee.

Supportive Measures

Supportive Measures are defined by the Regulations as non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to the complainant or the respondent.

These are designed to restore or preserve equal access to the recipient's education program or activity without unreasonably burdening the other party, including measures designed to protect the safety of all parties or the recipient's educational environment, or deter sexual harassment.

Training as Mandated by OCR

In response to 34 CFR Part 106.45(b)(10) of the 2020 Title IX Regulations that mandates the public sharing of materials used to train school and college Title IX team members, Rowan has created a Title IX Schedule of Training containing links to training materials. This document will be updated on a regular basis upon training completion as materials become available.