Every report of sexual violence, sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and other behavior prohibited by Title IX Office-related policies (“TIXO prohibited conduct”) is promptly assessed by Title IX Office staff to determine the most appropriate University response. The information below outlines the steps taken by the Title IX Office to complete this assessment upon receipt of reports. For additional information, please contact the Title IX Office.
 

Complainant Outreach

The Title IX Office’s first response is to contact the complainant (person reported to have experienced prohibited conduct), if their identity and contact information is known, to provide them with a written explanation of their rights and reporting options, information about immediate safety concerns and potential accommodations, a list of campus and community resources, and other pertinent information. In this initial outreach, the complainant is offered an opportunity to meet with a Title IX investigator for an informational meeting to further discuss reporting options, University response processes and procedures, and available resources. Response to this outreach and further participation with the Title IX Office is voluntary for complainants.

Reporting

 

Please note that respondents (persons reported to have engaged in prohibited conduct) are not notified of the report by the Title IX Office at this time.
 

Initial Assessment

As soon as practicable after receiving a report, the Title IX Office will conduct an Initial Assessment of the reported conduct to determine the most appropriate University response. This assessment is based on the information available to the Title IX Office, including information provided by the complainant and/or reporting party, submitted documentation, or other external sources.

  • If the Title IX Office determines that a University response process is not appropriate (because the conduct is not covered under Title IX Office-related policies, there is an insufficient nexus between the reported conduct and the University, or the Title IX Office has not received sufficient information to proceed with a response process), the case will be closed and a University response process will not be initiated. The complainant, if identity and contact information is known, is notified and provided an explanation.
     
  • If the Title IX Office determines that a University response process is appropriate and has received sufficient information to proceed, the complainant is notified and provided information about the recommended response process (Alternative Resolution, Formal Investigation, DOE Grievance Process, or Other Inquiry).
     
    • If the complainant wishes to proceed with and participate in the recommended response process, the Title IX Office will initiate the response process and work closely with the complainant throughout.
       
    • If the complainant does not wish to proceed with or participate in the recommended response process, the Title IX Office will further assess the reported conduct to determine if the wishes of the complainant can be honored.

      In general, the Title IX Office at UCSB strives to honor the wishes of the complainant and will likely not pursue a Title IX Office response process for cases in which the complainant has declined to participate or did not respond to the Title IX Office’s outreach*. If it is determined that the wishes of the complainant can be honored, these cases will be closed following the Initial Assessment without the initiation of a Title IX Office response process. Cases closed in this manner can be reopened and reassessed at any time, upon the complainant’s request or receipt of an additional report.

      While Title IX Office response options may be limited for cases in which the complainant declines to participate, these reports still provide the University with valuable information about the prevalence of TIXO prohibited conduct in the campus community and help to inform and further improve prevention and response efforts. These reports may also assist the Title IX Office in identifying possible behavioral patterns if related reports are received in the future.

      *Certain factors, including a need to mitigate potential safety risks to the campus community, could lead to an exception to this practice. Instances of Title IX response processes proceeding without a participating complainant are uncommon, and complainants, if their identity and contact information are known, are notified prior to the initiation of a response process.