About Our Policies
The policy of UHV is to ensure equal opportunity in all its educational programs and activities, and all terms and conditions of employment without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, religion, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or status, gender expression, or any other legally protected status, except where such a distinction is required by law.
For sexual misconduct concerns, learn more about policies and services for Sexual Misconduct (under Title IX). You may also see our Frequently Asked Questions or review the University of Houston System Sexual Misconduct Policy.
For concerns for other forms of discrimination or harassment, learn more about policies and services for Equal Opportunity. You may also see our or review the University of Houston System Anti-Discrimination Policy.
Find policy links at the bottom of this page. Please note the links on this page will open to a new window unless otherwise stated.
Academic Services from the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office
The Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office provides information about a range of academic services and accommodations for individuals who may have been affected by anti-discrimination concerns. Every request is considered on a case-by-case basis, and the Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator may be able to provide customized accommodation plans or services for specific concerns.
How does the process work?
Contact the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office and share that you have an anti-discrimination concern that may have affected you in the academic environment. You will need to provide supporting information to the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office. Keep a record of any history of the incident to support your request.
The Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office will contact you to discuss possible services, review the areas of your concern and share information about other services that may assist you. Depending on the nature of your request, the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office may need to coordinate review with another approving department. When you consult with the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office, you should be informed if the service or accommodation will be contingent on further review.
Once the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office as well as any other approving department have reviewed your concern, you will receive written notice of the service or accommodation confirmation.
If the service of accommodation is insufficient to address your concern, or if the nature of your concern changes over time, we encourage you to reach back to the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office.
If your service or accommodation has been denied by another department or employee, please contact the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office for prompt assistance to address the denial.
What are examples of possible accommodations or services?
Once the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office has reviewed your request including supporting information, the Office may apply various services or accommodations as appropriate to address your concern.
Anti-Discrimination Services (reviewed on case-by-case basis) may include but are not limited to:
- Request for supporting reasons for a grading or appeal decision
- Educational meeting with the other involved party (completed by the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office)
- Grading by an alternate instructor
- Entry into another academic course section
- Opportunity to make-up affected coursework
- Extension on affected coursework
- Incomplete grade to provide additional time after the semester end date to make-up coursework
- No-penalty opportunity to re-take the course
- You may also wish to review our list of possible accommodations for Pregnant and Parenting Students.
The above services may be contingent on approval by another department based on course or instructor availability.
Sexual Misconduct Services (reviewed on case-by-case basis) may include but are not limited to:
- Educational meeting with the other involved party (completed by the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office)
- Opportunity to make-up affected coursework
- Extension on affected coursework
- Incomplete grade to provide additional time after the semester end date to make-up coursework
- No-penalty drop or withdrawal from a course and opportunity to re-take a course
- If the other involved party is in a course with you, option to enroll in another academic section
- If you would like to remain in a class with the other involved party:
- Classroom breaks as needed and opportunity to make-up missed work,
- Access to lecture content,
- Separate testing accommodation,
- Access to course in online format if not require a fundamental alteration of the course, and/or
- Notice to the Instructor not to require small group interactions with the other individual. If requested and approved, any notice to the Instructor will not include the roles of the parties nor the type of matter involved.
The above services may be contingent on approval by another department based on course or instructor availability.
Non-Discrimination Statement
The policy of UHV is to ensure equal opportunity in all its educational programs and activities, and all terms and conditions of employment without regard to age, race, color, disability, religion, national origin, veteran's status, genetic information, or sex (including pregnancy), except where such a distinction is required by law. Additionally, UHV prohibits discrimination in all aspects of employment and educational programs on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Any person with concerns and/or complaints regarding unlawful harassment, discrimination, Title IX or sexual misconduct may direct questions to Brandon Lee, Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator (University West 116, (361) 570-4835) or to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (800-421-3481).
Students with disabilities needing assistance may contact Cheryl Worley, Manager of Disability Services (University Commons, 2108A, (361) 570-4287).
Employees with disabilities needing assistance may contact Shelly Frank, Director of Human Resources (University West 117, (361) 570-4800).
Dissemination Procedure
This Statement may be disseminated through the following:
UHV Website
Student Handbook
UHV Catalog
University Viewbook
New Employee Orientation
Faculty Manual
Legal References
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended in 1972, Title VI, Title VII
Education Amendments of 1972, Title IX (P.L. 92-318)
Public Law 93-162 (Section 504)
45 CFR, Parts 81, 86 (Federal Register June 4, 1985, August 11, 1975)
Policy References
University of Houston System Sexual Misconduct Policy (or see Sexual Misconduct Policy HTML version).
University of Houston System Anti-Discrimination Policy (or see Anti-Discrimination Policy HTML version).