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Title IX

Title IX

Florida Poly is committed to providing a learning and working environment free from sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence. In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, we uphold the rights of all students, faculty, and staff to pursue their education and work in a safe and respectful environment. This page outlines your rights, available resources, and how to report concerns related to Title IX.

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” – Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act

The university is working toward fostering a climate free from sexual misconduct through training, education, prevention programs, and through policies and procedures that encourage prompt reporting, prohibit retaliation, and promote timely, fair and impartial investigation and resolution of sexual misconduct cases in a manner that eliminates the sexual misconduct, prevents its recurrence and addresses its effects.

The university’s Sexual Misconduct Policy is consistent with federal law in prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Submitting a Report

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for monitoring compliance with regulations and is responsible for receiving complaints of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner (domestic/dating) violence, stalking or other sexual misconduct incidents.

Online Reporting Form

Title IX Coordinator
Michelle Disson
863-874-8484
titleixcoordinator@floridapoly.edu

Residence Hall, Phase III, Room 1011
4700 Research Way
Lakeland, FL 33805

Procedures

Upon notice of a report, the office will follow a set of procedures.

  1. The Title IX coordinator will reach out to the individual affected via email.
    • Email will provide resources, information, and request a meeting.
    • The meeting will go over resources, options of reporting and resolution, process, and medical attention if needed.
  2. Facilitate supportive measures when needed and appropriate (including but not limited to: academic assistance, withdrawal, No Contact Orders, housing assistance, working assistance, safe ride/safe walk)
  3. Take immediate and appropriate steps to investigate or otherwise determine what occurred.


Note: The reporter may not receive updated information after the report is made to maintain confidentiality.

The person who has experienced the misconduct has the option (in most cases) to have the University investigate or not.

  • University Grievance Process provides options for the individual affected to either not move forward with a formal process or to file a formal complaint resulting in either an informal resolution or a formal investigation. The Title IX coordinator will go over all options available when a meeting occurs. The standard used for a formal investigation is a preponderance of the evidence.
  • The Police Department is another reporting option for people that want to pursue a criminal complaint. This may include interviews and court proceedings. The standard used is beyond a reasonable doubt.

By filing a Formal Complaint you are initiating the formal resolution process (either an informal resolution or a formal investigation). To file a formal complaint, fill out the online form, or contact the Title IX coordinator.

Title IX Coordinator
Michelle Disson 
863-874-8484 | titleixcoordinator@floridapoly.edu

4700 Research Way
Lakeland, FL 33805

Responsibility of Title IX Coordinator: The Title IX coordinator is responsible for administering the grievance process for sexual misconduct. Reports or allegations covered in this policy will be processed upon receiving the report. The Title IX coordinator makes an initial assessment of whether the complaint falls within the scope of this policy and/or Title IX.

Respondent is an Employee, Vendor, or Contractor: If the Respondent is an employee, a vendor, or a contractor, the complaint will be resolved using the procedures outlined in FPU-1.005 Discrimination and Harassment Complaint and Investigation Procedures.

Respondent is a University Student: If the Respondent is a student, the complaint will be resolved using the procedures outlined in FPU-3.006 Student Code of Conduct.

Title IX Grievance Process: Complaints that allege conduct that is within the scope of Title IX will also follow the additional provisions outlined in FPU-1.005P Sexual Misconduct.

Reaching Out

Experiencing sexual misconduct is a difficult experience and here are resources that may help. We want you to feel comfortable reaching out for assistance. The University community is here to support.

Confidential Resources

Confidential resources will NOT report information to the Title IX coordinator.

The Office of the Ombuds is a confidential, impartial, independent, and informal resource for students who have encountered university-related issues and concerns.

The BayCare Student Assistant Program is a free self-referral and confidential service available to students, to help with personal and professional problems that interfere with the successful management of the educational process. Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone or online.

Peace River Center – Victim Services
24-Hour Domestic Violence Crisis Line 863-413-2700
24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Line 863-413-2707

Additional Information

Seek medical attention, as soon as possible even if you do not think you will report the assault.

  • Receive treatment for any physical injuries
  • Be screened for sexually transmitted infections or diseases/ pregnancy/ date rape drugs and/or obtain emergency contraception

If you are interested in potentially reporting to law enforcement here are items to take into consideration.

Examples of items that may serve as evidence include:

  • Any recorded media such as voicemails, emails, text messages, social media posts/messaging, and any other notes, writing, correspondence that may be relevant
  • Clothing worn by both parties may be needed as evidence and should be preserved in its original state
  • Do not disturb the scene of any incident of sexual violence, police may want to photograph the scene upon arrival
  • Photograph of any injuries that are immediately apparent or that may appear days later
  • If any weapon was used or any object used, leave it in position and do not touch it until police arrive.

The SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Exam) is free and anonymous. The exam is focused on evidence collection. Evidence can be collected up to 120 hours after the assault occurred, but the sooner it is done the more likely that useful evidence can be recovered. Prior to a SAFE:

  • Do NOT bathe, shower, or douche
  • Do NOT change your clothes
  • Do NOT disturb anything at the scene

SAFE’s are available at Lakeland Regional Hospital and Peace River Center. Peace River Center is an alternate option to a hospital room. These exams are conducted at various locations. You can reach the center at 863-413-2707.

Individuals who experience trauma have unique responses and there is no one “right” way for a person to react. An individual may respond to trauma differently for each situation. Some common responses to trauma are to flight, fight, or freeze.  Most of the time, it is not the individuals who choose how their body reacts and go into survival mode. 

Some of the signs you may see from someone who has experienced trauma could include:

  • Shock, disbelief, numbness, withdrawal
  • Preoccupation with thoughts or feelings about the incident
  • Unwanted memories, flashbacks, nightmares
  • Intense anger, fear, anxiety, or depression
  • Physical symptoms like loss of sleep, loss of appetite, headaches, stomach aches
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Lower grades
  • Loss of focus on academics or things that used to be a focus
  • Loss of interest in sex, or increased sexual activity
  • Fears about safety
  • Feelings of guilt and shame

Responding to Sexual Violence

How to Respond
Someone may disclose they have experienced sexual misconduct in many ways. We want to provide some good information and tips for both the person who experienced the sexual misconduct but also the one receiving the information.

What to do if someone makes a disclosure?
You may learn of an incident of sexual misconduct. Your response is very important and may determine whether the person who has experienced this chooses to tell anyone else or seek professional assistance.

The Title IX coordinator is also available to answer any questions that you may have regarding your rights and responsibilities.

  • Ensure the person is safe and if needed receives medical attention (e.g. SAFE Exam).
  • Explain options for reporting.
  • Provide information on confidential reporting:
  • Listen, but do not investigate.
  • Conduct your own investigation. Even the best intentions may exacerbate a situation or compromise an investigation.
  • Dictate what a person should do.
  • Blame the person.
  • Be the person’s only support.

How to Help a Friend
If your friend or someone you know has shown signs or disclosed that they have experienced sexual misconduct, knowing the resources available is important. Here are ways you can help:

The most important thing you can do when someone tells you they’ve experienced sexual violence is to listen and believe them. Let them take their time expressing their story.  Do not share other stories of sexual violence. Focus on their story. Follow their lead on what they would like to share. When someone has experienced trauma they may have acted or remembered the incident in ways that don’t make sense to you. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

It’s not your job to get to the bottom of what happened. Remind your friend that they are not to blame.

Just because someone has confided in you, doesn’t mean they want other people to know what happened. It also doesn’t mean that they want to talk about it with you every time they see you. Let them know that you will keep what they shared between the two of you, and then honor that commitment.

When someone experiences sexual violence, their choice was taken away from them. To help someone heal, it’s important to support and empower others to make their own choices about what is best for them. Even if you feel you know what’s “best,” which can be frustrating, you need to let them heal at their own pace and make their own decisions. Ask “what do you need?” or “how can I help?” Be a support throughout their process of recovery. Recovery can be slow. Let them go at their own pace.

Help them understand and consider their medical, legal and psychological options. Share campus resources. There are times where professional help is best. Ultimately it is their decision what action to take, if any, but helping your friend work through these resources can be effective.

As a support person, you may have strong feelings and feel triggered from the information you have received. If needed, seek counseling for yourself.

Bystander Intervention
The entire University community can take action to end sexual violence and intimate partner violence. Being an active bystander and using a variety of bystander intervention strategies can assist in this fight to end sexual violence. Trust your gut. If you don’t feel safe directly intervening, get help.

Tell someone directly that their words or actions are not acceptable. You can intervene directly without being confrontational or escalating a situation.

Create a distraction to diffuse an unsafe situation and help move people out of harm’s way.

Ask someone else for help. Good resources include your RA, a trusted friend who feels comfortable intervening, or the police in an emergency situation.

If you didn’t take action in the moment, it’s not too late. You can always talk to someone after the fact. Offer campus resources or get help from others.

Sexual Violence Prevention Programming

Florida Poly is committed to providing primary prevention programming that focuses on discussions around sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking and more. 

If you are in crisis, reach out for help. There are a number of resources available to you.

In an emergency, reach out to the:

To talk to an advocate or learn more about reporting and healing options, contact:

Rise Up SVP

Rise Up: SVP (Sexual Violence Prevention) is a student leadership opportunity at Florida Poly. Students serve as peer educators who are dedicated to creating a culture at Florida Poly that actively stands against sexual assault, abusive relationships, and other important topics.

Throughout the academic year, the group hosts a variety of programs that bring students together to talk about these topics. A range of outside organizations and presenters are invited to present to the University in collaboration with Rise Up.

To become a Rise Up SVP peer educator, contact us via email.

Get Involved
Join us at any event throughout the academic year.  If you would like to see an event on a particular topic, please submit a request form.

Pregnancy & Parenting

Pregnant and Parenting Students

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex (including pregnancy and parental status) in education programs or activities. This includes pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom.

Florida Poly is committed to creating an accessible environment that will assist students in continuing their academic success.  Students may request accommodations that may vary based on the individual circumstances. 

Examples of accommodations may include, but not limited too:

  • A large desk
  • Breaks during class
  • Rescheduling tests or exams
  • Excusing absences
  • Extension of deadlines
  • Providing alternatives to make up missed work

Please reach out to the Title IX Office for more information on a request for a reasonable accommodation based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related condition.

863-874-8484 | titleixcoordinator@floridapoly.edu

Nursing Mothers Room

Florida Poly understands the need for new mothers to have access to a private, secure, clean space for use. This is available to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors in helping the individual ease back into work or school without having to sacrifice the healthy practice of expressing their milk. Current location designated:

  • IST Building, room 1050 (obtain key from President’s Office on the second floor)
  • BARC Building, room 1151 (this door remains open and can be locked from the inside when in use)

Training

Annual training ensures that the campus community is aware of University policies surrounding sexual misconduct.

Mandatory Training
Florida Poly students and employees are required to complete Title IX training.

All new students are required to complete the online training and attend in-person training. Students may not register for classes for the following semester until the training is completed.

Online Training
A link to the online training module is sent to students’ Florida Poly email account and reminder emails are sent until the course is completed.

In-Person Training
Students are required to attend in-person training during New Student Orientation. The training is an interactive workshop that takes about one hour.

To ensure all employees are aware of and understand their responsibilities, Florida Poly provides mandatory training on sexual misconduct and Title IX and how to report disclosures. This training fulfills the Federal Requirement for Sexual Harassment, Assault, and Violence Prevention (VAWA) training and is conducted annually.  

Topics Covered

  • The impact of Title IX and the Educational Amendments of 1972 on colleges and universities, their employees, and their students.
  • Becoming familiar with the responsibilities of campus employees as mandated reporters under Title IX.
  • Developing a shared language around terms related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and consent.
  • Becoming familiar with Florida Poly’s statement prohibiting domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and consent.

Online Training

A link to the online training module is sent to employees Florida Poly email account and reminder emails are sent until the course is completed.

Per federal law, Florida Poly is required to provide the materials used for anyone involved in the Title IX process from investigators to any decision makers. These materials can be found below.

*Student Conduct Institute will be referred to as SCI

*Association of Title IX Administrators will be referred to as ATIXA

Title IX Coordinator

USF Title IX Conference Attendee-February 2020
SCI – Online Modules Taken – September-December 2020
SCI – Basics Training Cohort – October-November 2020
SCI – Title IX Investigator Training – October 2020
SCI – The Neurobiology of Sexual Assault Training – November 2020
ATIXA – Virtual Hearing Best Practices Tips from Practitioners Webinar 10.21.2020 – Watched November 2020
ATIXA – SPOO or Not SPOO? That is the Question Webinar – 12.9.2020
ICS – Higher Ed Year End Review = 1.28.2021
Stetson Law Conference – March 2022
Stetson Law Conference – March 2025
Title IX Training Material from SUNY: SCI (2020-2025)

Hearing Officers

Title IX Training Material from SUNY: SCI (2020-2025)

Decision Makers

Title IX Training Material from SUNY: SCI (2020-2025)

Definitions

An understandable exchange of affirmative actions or words that indicate an active, knowing, and voluntary agreement to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity.

  • Silence or previous history does not indicate consent. Consent must be given for every instance of every act.
  • Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
  • A person cannot consent if the person is incapacitated from alcohol or drugs, asleep, or otherwise mentally or physically unable to consent to sexual activity. A person must reasonably know or should have known the person was incapacitated for there to be a lack of consent.
  • A person cannot consent if the person is under the age of consent pursuant to Florida law.
  • Consent must be freely given and cannot be granted under psychological, emotional, or physical force, manipulation, coercion, persuasion or threats.

An umbrella term used to refer to a broad range of sexually inappropriate behaviors that includes sexual violence (rape/sexual battery/sexual assault); sexual harassment; intimate partner violence (domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence); stalking; sexual exploitation; and other forms of sexually exploitative behavior that can occur between strangers or acquaintances, including people involved in an intimate or sexual relationship. Sexual Misconduct can be committed by any person and can occur between people of the same or different sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or gender expression.

As defined in Title IX, conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

  • A University employee conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the University on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
  • Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonably person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s education program or activity; or
    • For instances where the conduct is outside the scope of Title IX but is within the purview of the University jurisdiction or Title VII as it pertains to employment law, the definition of sexual harassment is severe, pervasive, or objectively offensive.
  • Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined below and consistent with federal law.

As defined in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 is any non-consensual sexual act proscribed by the Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent. This includes, but is not limited to, attempted sexual assault and the following:

  • Rape. The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus, with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.
  • Fondling. The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental incapacity.
  • Incest. Sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
  • Statutory Rape. Sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.

As defined in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship is determined based on the Complainant’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. Dating violence includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse. Dating violence does not include acts covered under the definition of domestic violence.

 As defined in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, any felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed:

  • By a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;
  • By a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;
  • By a person who is cohabiting with, or has cohabitated with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;
  • By a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred;
  • By any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

As defined in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to:

  • Fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or
  • Suffer substantial emotional distress.
  • For the purposes of this definition:
    • Course of conduct means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property.
    • Reasonable person means a reasonable person under similar circumstances and with similar identities to the victims.
    • Substantial emotional distress means significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but does not necessarily require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers address common questions on reporting, procedures, related policies and support.  The material in these FAQs may be difficult to read and triggering; please take care of yourself and reach out to counseling services if you need assistance.  If your question was not answered or if you need additional information, please contact the Title IX Coordinator: 

Michelle Disson 
863-874-8484 | titleixcoordinator@floridapoly.edu

General

The application of Title IX to athletics has gained the greatest public visibility, however, the law applies to every single aspect of education, including course offerings, counseling and counseling materials, financial assistance, student health and insurance benefits and/or other services, housing, marital and parental status of students, physical education and athletics, education programs and activities, and employment.

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs, services and activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Covered programs and activities include admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, student treatment, services, counseling and guidance, discipline, classroom assignment, grading, vocational education, recreation, physical education, housing and employment. Forms of discrimination include sex-based discrimination, gender-based harassment, sexual harassment.

  • Defines sexual harassment to include sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, as unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex;
  • Requires schools to offer clear, accessible options for any person to report sexual harassment;
  • Empowers survivors to make decisions about how a school responds to incidents of sexual harassment;
  • Requires the school to offer survivors supportive measures, such as class or dorm reassignments or no-contact orders;
  • Holds colleges responsible for off-campus sexual harassment at houses owned or under the control of school-sanctioned fraternities and sororities;
  • Restores fairness on college and university campuses by upholding all students’ right to written notice of allegations, the right to an advisor, and the right to submit, cross-examine, and challenge evidence at a live hearing;
  • Shields survivors from having to come face-to-face with the accused during a hearing and from answering questions posed personally by the accused;
  • Requires schools to select one of two standards of evidence, the preponderance of the evidence standard or the clear and convincing evidence standard – and to apply the selected standard evenly to proceedings for all students and employees, including faculty;
  • Provides “rape shield” protections and ensures survivors are not required to divulge any medical, psychological, or similar privileged records;
  • Requires schools to offer an equal right of appeal for both parties to a Title IX proceeding;
  • Gives schools flexibility to use technology to conduct Title IX investigations and hearings remotely;
  • Protects students and faculty by prohibiting schools from using Title IX in a manner that deprives students and faculty of rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Federal and state laws, including Title IX, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, and sexual assault is considered to be a form of sexual harassment. Other sexual misconduct that may not be prohibited by Title IX, may still be a violation of the Policy, the code of student conduct, or employee standards of conduct.

If a Complainant requests to remain confidential, the University will give serious consideration to that request. Only in rare circumstances will the University proceed to a Title IX investigation against the wishes of the Complainant. Generally, the University will seek to honor the request of the Complainant not to proceed to a Title IX investigation and to remain confidential and will not proceed to a formal Title IX investigation without the consent of the Complainant. The Title IX Coordinator will consider a number of factors in deciding whether the request can be honored, including the age of the Complainant, whether there is evidence of a pattern of misconduct, the severity of the misconduct, and whether there is a safety risk to the Complainant or the University community. Should the University, in weighing such factors, determine it must proceed, the University will explain its rationale to the Complainant and make sure that the Complainant is offered a support person throughout the process. The Complainant will not be required to participate in the process as a prerequisite to the University proceeding.

The University respects the privacy concerns of those who may be the subject of or witness to incidents of harassment, but the University also has an obligation to keep the community safe and to address incidents of alleged harassment that are formally reported or that puts the community at risk. University employees who have an obligation to report will need to provide the Title IX Coordinator relevant information about the allegation, including the identities of the individuals involved (if they know) and the nature of the conduct. This does not mean that an informal resolution must be pursued or a formal complaint must be filed. Moreover, even when someone has an obligation to report to the Title IX Coordinator, University officials will protect and respect privacy and will share information on a need-to-know basis. Similarly, the Title IX Coordinator and the Title IX Office will respect the sensitivity of this information and share it with others only on a need-to-know basis.

Confidential consultations about sexual harassment, sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, and gender discrimination are available from persons who, by law, have special professional status. A student may contact the following offices for confidential advice and help:

BayCare Student Assistance Program
24-Hour Line: 800-878-5470
On Campus/Off Campus Counseling Services
calling BayCare or emailing CARE Services (care@floridapoly.edu)
On Campus location Residence Hall, Phase III Lobby

Peace River Center (off campus)
Business Hours Line: 863-413-2708
24 Hour Rape Crisis Hotline: 863-413-2707
peacerivercenter.org/services/victim-services

The Title IX Coordinator will meet with students seeking information about their options. Upon a report of a Title IX concern, the University will work with the Complainant to put supportive measures in place to ensure a safe, hostile-free environment for the student. Following an investigation, and a determination that conduct prohibited by Title IX occurred, more permanent accommodations and safety measures may be implemented. Supportive measures may include:

  • Extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments
  • Modifications of work or class schedules
  • Campus escort services
  • Restrictions on contact
  • Changes in work or housing locations
  • Leaves of absence
  • Increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus
  • Other similar measures

Yes. When appropriate, the University can put supportive measures in place even if a formal complaint has not been filed. Supportive measures are subject to review and revision at any time prior to the conclusion of an investigation. Following an investigation, additional measures may be put in place, and supportive measures may become permanent.

Title IX Coordinator
Michelle Disson
863-874-8484
titleixcoordinator@floridapoly.edu

Location
Residence Hall, Phase III, Room 1011
4700 Research Way
Lakeland, FL 33805

If the incident involves a Florida Poly student, it should still be reported to the Title IX Office so that the University can assess how best to assist the student.

While off-campus sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct not associated with a University program or activity is not governed by federal Title IX regulations, the University may still consider the effects of off-campus conduct as a violation of the Policy, the code of student conduct, or employee standards of conduct even if it does not limit the ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s education or work programs or does not occur on campus.

Yes.

Even though the University’s ability to take direct action against a person who is not affiliated with the University may be limited, the University will take steps to provide appropriate support for the reporting party and, where appropriate, the broader community. This may include offering available support services to the reporting party, notifying the reporting party of the right to file a complaint with the responding party’s school (if the responding party is a student) or local law enforcement, and taking any other appropriate steps to protect the campus.

The University does not permit retaliation against an individual who seeks to redress their concerns, or those who participate in this process. Should you believe that you are retaliated against, please report to the Title IX Office.

Title IX benefits everyone! The law requires educational institutions to maintain policies, practices and programs that do not discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender.

No. Speaking with a University official, even the Title IX Coordinator or someone who is responsible for notifying the Title IX Coordinator, does not mean that you will need to participate in an informal resolution or file a formal complaint. The University encourages all persons who believe they may have been the subject of sexual or gender-based harassment to speak with an appropriate University official about the incident because, even if no informal process is commenced or formal complaint is filed, that information will help the University identify any concerns about harassment and work to address them. Speaking to a University officer will allow any student affected to be supported by the University, and also will allow University officials to consider whether there are broader issues for the community that need to be addressed.

If you file a complaint and wish to remain anonymous during the investigation, it may significantly impact the University’s ability to conduct an investigation. In some circumstances, a request for anonymity may mean an investigation cannot go forward. In other circumstances, the Title IX Officer may determine that further investigation is necessary (for example, if there is a potential risk of a hostile environment for others in the community), in which case you will be informed that the disclosure of your identity is necessary for the investigatory process.

No. Filing a complaint with the Title IX Office does not mean that you automatically have filed a complaint with Florida Poly PD. The Title IX Office is not part of Florida Poly PD. Your Title IX Coordinator can put you in touch with Florida Poly PD should you wish to file a police report. While the University encourages reporting to both, the choice belongs to each individual, as does the decision about whether to file a formal complaint with the Title IX Office and/or file criminal charges.

During evenings and weekends, it is encouraged to reach out to the following resources. 

If you are in crisis and need immediate help, dial 9-1-1 or visit Lakeland Regional Medical Center’s emergency room.

Campus Police available and on-campus 24/7 Phone: 863-874-8472

Peace River Center – Victim Services is available 24/7 Crisis Line 863-413-2707

BayCare Assistance Program 24/7 Phone Line: 800-878-5470

Alternatively, you can proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room. We have a hospital that close by campus:

Lakeland Regional Hospital
1324 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33805

Complaint Investigations, Hearings & Appeals Process

Yes. Although neither the reporting party (the person alleged to be a victim of sexual harassment) nor the responding party (the person alleged to have committed the sexual harassment) is required to have an attorney serve in the role of personal advisor, each is permitted to do so. It should be noted that the advisor has a limited role in the investigatory, hearing, and appeal process.

No. Only a party’s Advisor is permitted to ask the other party and any witnesses relevant questions and follow-up questions, including those challenging credibility. An Advisor is a party’s proxy during the hearing; the Advisor is not “representing” the party. The role of the Advisor is to relay their advisee’s desired questions to the other party and witnesses.

The name of a witness proposed by a reporting party or responding party, like other information received from each during the investigatory process, is shared with the other party. Prospective witnesses are assured that the Policy prohibits retaliation against anyone who participates in the process, including a witness, and your Title IX Coordinator can discuss with you measures that may be taken to facilitate your participation. Retaliation can be reported under the Policy, and as desired and as appropriate, may be the subject of a Title IX complaint.

Title IX Investigators conduct witness interviews for the purpose of gathering and assessing information about the incident(s). Information about the reporting party, including the names of the people involved, is shared with witnesses only to the extent necessary to gather relevant information.

In addition to any statements of the parties, the following is a non-exhaustive list of information that may be considered, if relevant and available, during an investigation:

  • Witness statements
  • Photographs
  • Text messages, chat, social media, and similar materials
  • Recordings
  • Transcripts and other performance evaluations
  • Medical records
  • Police reports
  • Court records

Investigators also may visit the location(s) where the incident(s) occurred to better understand the information gathered during the course of the investigation.

Yes. During the course of the investigation, both the reporting party and the responding party will have the opportunity to respond to all information used by the investigator in reaching its findings of fact. They will also have the opportunity to provide the investigator with any additional information that they have. This information, like other information received from the reporting party and responding party during the investigatory process, will be shared with the other. In addition, each party will have the opportunity to review and comment on all of the evidence and information collected.

Title IX Office will maintain records of investigations, hearing, and appeals sufficient to show, where applicable, the individuals involved, investigative steps taken, information reviewed, decisions made, and the reasoning for the decisions. After seven years, the University may archive or otherwise dispose of these records in a manner that will ensure appropriate confidentiality.

Yes. If a lawsuit is filed, records associated with any investigation, hearing, or appeal may have to be given to courts, lawyers, expert witnesses or others involved with the legal proceedings. The Title IX Coordinator also may be required to release records to government agencies that are investigating the University’s compliance with state and/or federal law.

Contact Us
863-874-8484  |  titleixcoordinator@floridapoly.edu

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