Questions about Reports and Complaints

What is the difference between a report of a concern and a formal complaint?

What happens if I file a formal complaint? 

Does a Title IX report of concern remain confidential?

Can a Title IX formal complaint remain confidential?

What if I want to remain anonymous?

Do I have to name the alleged perpetrator? 

What happens if I file a criminal or police report? 

What do I do if I am accused of sexual misconduct? 

What are my rights if I am accused of committing sexual misconduct? 

How can I file a University police report?

What is the difference between a report of a concern and a formal complaint?

Reports of concern

A report of concern initiates a preliminary review and explanation of services:

• Any employee, student or campus visitor who has experienced sexual misconduct may make a report of concern to receive information about services and available options.
• A report of a concern does not automatically begin the formal complaint process. 
• The University will determine the appropriate response based on the information available at the time of the report.
• The University will consider the safety of the possible involved parties. If a report identifies a possible affected party, the University will take reasonable measures to contact that person with information about rights and options.
• The University will provide services and complete a preliminary investigation, as appropriate.

Formal Complaints

A formal complaint will begin a full investigation and could lead to disciplinary actions:

If you have experienced a possible Title IX or sexual misconduct violation, you may file a formal complaint against an employee or student to seek an investigation and possible sanction(s) or disciplinary process.

• For more information, contact the Title IX Coordinator or review the Sexual Misconduct Policy (policy link at the bottom of this page).
• To file a Title IX or sexual misconduct formal complaint, request the Formal Complaint Questionnaire from the Title IX Coordinator and return the completed form in person, by email or mail to the Title IX Coordinator. 

If you have experienced another possible form of discrimination based on your protected class status, you may also file a formal complaint against an employee or student to seek an investigation and possible sanction(s) or disciplinary process.

• For more information, contact the Equal Opportunity Coordinator or review the Anti-Discrimination Policy (policy link at the bottom of this page).
• To file a discrimination formal complaint, request the Formal Complaint Questionairre from the Equal Opportunity Coordinator and return the completed form in person, by email or mail to the Equal Opportunity Coordinator. 

Contact for questions or to file a formal complaint:

What happens if I file a formal complaint? 

When you speak with the Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator, they will explain the complaint process and answer questions about the process and policy. 

Remember that filing a formal complaint is different and separate from filing a criminal or police report. 

The person accused in the complaint will receive notice of the allegations and opportunity to respond to the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office. Both parties will have notice of investigation updates, the outcome of the matter and opportunity to appeal.

For more information and detailed steps in the formal complaint process, see the Sexual Misconduct Policy or Anti-Discrimination Policy (policy links at the bottom of this page).

Does a Title IX report remain confidential?

The University will protect the confidentiality of all individuals involved in a report or a complaint by refusing to disclose their identifying information to anyone outside the University to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Information will be shared within the University only to those individuals with a legitimate need to know.

Individuals may request that their report be considered by the University without providing their name to the Respondent or witnesses. However, this may reduce the University’s ability to thoroughly respond to a report.

Unless there is a safety risk to the community, the University is not able to take negative academic or employment actions for sexual misconduct without a formal complaint. The University may pursue other steps to limit the effects of the alleged violation, prevent its reoccurrence and respond to the impact on the involved parties and the community. Such measures may include but are not limited to:

• Education training sessions
• Policy consultation with department or activity supervisor
• Approval of relevant academic or work accommodations
• No Contact Orders to prevent further interactions as appropriate
• Housing room changes (at request of involved party)
• Safety planning and security measures

In some instances, the University may need to make a concise campus safety notice. The notice will not include the reporting party's personally identifiable information. The University also must publish statistics on certain crimes that were reported on campus each year, including some sex-based offenses. Published data does not include personally identifiable information.

Can a formal complaint remain confidential?

Under the Sexual Misconduct and Anti-Discrimination Policies, the Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator will provide a copy of the formal complaint to the Respondent within five (5) business days of receipt. 

The Title IX Coordinator will redact your personal contact information. For more information about the complaint process, speak to a Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator or review the relevant policy (policy link at the bottom of this page).

What if I want to remain anonymous?

Anonymous reports can also be made online at the Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline or by calling (800)461-9330. If the reporter’s identity is discovered as a possible witness during an investigation, the reporter will receive the same safeguards as those who make a report under the policy.

Do I have to name the alleged perpetrator? 

Yes, if you want to request a No Contact Order or file a formal complaint. Other services (housing changes, academic services, etc.) may be available without naming an alleged offender.

What happens if I file a criminal or police report? 

If you file a criminal report, you will work with campus police and/or local law enforcement where the offense occurred. Law enforcement or victim advocates can talk with you and explain the criminal justice process and rights of crime victims. Remember that filing a criminal report is different and separate from filing a Title IX or discrimination report or formal complaint. 

The Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office can help you connect to campus police and security services or you may contact those services directly. Please let the Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator know if you would like to request a summary of your concern and your contact information be shared with campus police.

The Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office can also provide services for students who may need academic accommodations in order to participate in the criminal justice process. Ask your Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator what options are available if a criminal justice process is interfering with your work or academic schedule.

To learn more, contact campus police or consider possible off-campus law enforcement agencies. You may also consider other resources on campus.

How can I file a University police report?

If you want to make a campus police report, call the campus police at (361)570-4357 or (361)570-HELP. The sooner you make a report, the more likely the police will be able to collect important evidence. However, even if some time has passed since you experienced an assault or other crime, it is never too late to seek help. While some crimes may have time limits to file a criminal case and not every case may lead to a criminal prosecution, additional services may be available such as protective orders or safety planning.

You can provide as much detail as you can remember in your police report. If you remember details after you make the police report, you can contact the police to provide them with additional information. 

Reasons to make a police report:

• Regain your personal sense of control and power,
• Document the crime that was committed against you,
• Preserve evidence of the assault or other crime, and
• Protect others from similar experiences. If you report, it may help the police identify a pattern of crimes.
• Access criminal justice resources such as crime victims services.

Services may be also available from:

• Public or non-profit assistance agencies (see Off Campus Resources),
• Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator
• Campus Confidential Counselor (contact the Counseling Center for more information)
• Department of Family and Protective Services
• Off campus local law enforcement agencies

What do I do if I am accused of sexual misconduct? 

• We strongly recommend you not contact the other involved person. Contact with the person could lead to additional accusations of retaliation, intimidation or other policy violations. For shared work, educational or living situations:
  
  • Consider seeking help from Residence Life or campus security for property exchanges or any needed communications related to on-campus housing assignments.
  • For shared work or academic settings, the Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator can offer information about campus services to address your concerns.
• You may also want to contact someone who can act as your advisor.
• You may contact the Title IX/Equal Opportunity Coordinator to learn about the complaint process and campus services such as academic support measures.
• Enrolled students may meet with a confidential counselor at the UHV Counseling Center.

What are my rights if I am accused of committing sexual misconduct or discrimination? 

If the Title IX Coordinator notifies you that you have been accused of sexual misconduct, you have the right to due process which generally includes the right to:

• Know who is making the allegations;
• Know what the allegations are; 
• Bring an advisor with you to related meetings or hearings;
• Have an opportunity to respond to the allegations;
• Be kept informed of the stages during an investigation;
• Receive in writing notice of the complaint, case updates, the outcome, any sanctions and appeal rights; and
• Have the opportunity to appeal any finding that you violated the policy and/or the related sanction(s).

More detailed descriptions of process steps can be found in the respective policies below.

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).