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Title IX and Equal Opportunity

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UHV Safety Plans

Safety plans provide tips and suggestions for real world and online safety issues. The Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator can provide interactive safety planning services based on your personal situation.

Each safety plan below is intended to help support your own efforts to stay safe. The plans are not designed as one-size-fits-all checklists, but as a list of ideas and suggestions for you to choose from.

On-Campus Safety Plan (non-residential)

Residential Safety Plan

Technology Safety Plan

You may also want to consult one of the campus service providers or off-campus service agencies.

Betty Ramirez
Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson St.
University West, Room 116
Victoria, TX 77901
(361) 570-4835

Safety Alert: Computer or phone use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet usage might be monitored, exit this page, clear your browsing history and contact the Title IX & Equal Opportunity Office or another service provider from a safe device. The Title IX & Equal Opportunity Office can provide you with a paper safety plan or discuss safety options by phone or in-person.

On-Campus Safety Plan

Safety for Everyone including:

Questions about Safety Options including:

Campus safety (UHV)

Campus safety (non-UHV)

Residential Safety Plan

On-Campus Residences

Off-Campus Residences

Technology Safety Plan

On-Campus Safety Plan

Safety for Everyone

My safety is important. I will trust my judgment and my gut. I have a right to ask for help from law enforcement if I feel I am in danger or if someone has harmed me.

I should treat all threats, direct and indirect, as legitimate and seek help immediately.

I can change my emergency contact information from my abuser to someone I trust.

Campus police can help me learn restricted access hours. That way if I need to get into a building during an emergency, I will know which buildings are open.

I can consider general options for safe commuting.

Walking: Options for safe transportation.

Campus Shuttle: Options for safe transportation.

Riding with Friends: Options for safe transportation

Personal vehicle: Options for safe transportation

Hired vehicles (Taxi, Uber, Lyft, etc.): Options for safe transportation

Public transportation: Options for safe transportation

For safety in numbers, I can take my friends with me to places on campus or I can request a security escort by calling campus security.

I can request a trespass warning from the campus police that can cover all or parts of campus. Campus police will evaluate my request along with whether the other person has legitimate business on campus or part of campus.

If I have a No Contact Order issued by the Title IX Office, I can give a copy of it to campus police/security.

If I do not feel safe in my classes or on campus, or the abuse is affecting me in the classroom, I can request academic support measures through the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator will discuss options with me so that my academic activities are not negatively affected.

If I think I am being stalked, I can keep a stalking log which is a list or record of all the incidents of stalking. I can also preserve evidence (names of witnesses, screenshots of messages, police report numbers, etc.) so that if I need help from police or a Court, I can present a full history of the danger.

I can consider changing passwords or my phone, especially if the person ever had access to my unlocked phone. I can also complete the UHV Technology Safety Plan to learn more about ideas for safe use of technology.

I can research options for a self-defense class to learn techniques to defend myself in a violent situation. Local law enforcement agencies often offer classes. As of summer 2019, the Victoria Police Department operates a RAD Self Defense Program.

I can learn about the nearest hospitals in case I am injured. I should tell the doctor about all of the injuries and be honest about the causes so they can provide accurate medical help.

Questions about safety options

What can I do if an abuser violates a Protective Order, a No Contact Order or a Criminal Trespass Warning?

What can I do if an abuser is following me all around campus?

What if all of the abuse is happening online only?

What if my car or parking place does not seem safe?

What if I am going to an unfamiliar location?

What steps are available for workplace safety?

What if someone at work is the person who is bothering me?

UHV safety options (for those who use UHV properties and services):

I can request to meet with or speak to the UHV Title IX & Equal Opportunity Office ("Office"). If I choose, the Office can help connect me with campus law enforcement.

The UHV Title IX & Equal Opportunity Office can also help connect me to counseling services.

The UHV Title IX & Equal Opportunity Office can offer additional services to help me stay safe on campus.

When I meet with the UHV Title IX & Equal Opportunity Office, I have the right to have an advisor present.

When selecting study or recreation locations, I can consider the following location-based safety issues:

I can learn where the nearest public phones are located in case of an emergency.

I can consider where my abuser likes to go and take additional precautions.

I can evaluate whether I need additional safety options on campus.

I can restrict access to my school directory information.

General safety options (for non-UHV students, employees or visitors)

I can make a list of all of the buildings or places that I go and evaluate safety concerns

I can learn where the nearest public phones are located in case of an emergency.

I can consider places around campus that my abuser likes to go and take additional precautions.

I can request to restrict access to my school directory information. I can also limit public information about my locations.

Residential Safety Plan

For general safety, I can keep my door and windows locked and ask any roommates or family members to do the same.

 I can identify escape routes out of my residence. If I have children, I can teach them how to safely escape and seek help.

I can attempt to keep weapons, such as guns and knives, locked away and harder to reach for a possible abuser.

I can identify safe areas of my residence where there are no weapons and there are ways to escape. If an argument or an incident happens, I can move to those areas.

I can share a code word and gesture or signal with my friends, neighbors, roommates or RA that means I need immediate help and to call police.

If I need emergency shelter off campus, I could identify friends with room ahead of time, or I could contact an emergency hotline.

I can rent a post office box or use the address of a friend for my mail (be aware that physical addresses may be reported on restraining orders and police reports).

I can pack a bag with important items so I am ready if I need to leave quickly. I can put the bag in a safe place, or give it to a friend or relative I trust for safekeeping. Consider including items such as:

If I have a vehicle, I can practice backing my car into parking spots or driveways and keeping it fueled. This will allow me to leave faster if an incident occurs.

If I share a relationship or a home with an abuser, I have the right to remain in or leave a relationship at any time for any reason. This is my choice, and no one else can make it for me.

If I financially depend on the abuser, I can set a personal goal for a deadline to open a private bank account (at a place my abuser does not bank) and start saving for independence.

If I decide to end the relationship, It may not be safe for me to end the relationship in person or at home where I am more isolated. I can tell the abuser by phone, message, or in a public location.

For alcohol and drugs in the home, I can consider safety planning for how to respond if my abuser is using drugs or alcohol as well as consider risk factors.

UHV On-Campus Housing Safety Options

I can keep my door and windows locked and ask my roommates to do the same. In residences with suites, I can keep my bedroom door locked in case my suite mates have unexpected visitors. If my bedroom does not have a lock, I can request one through my Title IX Office or campus housing.

I can change my locks, especially if the person has had access to my keys. I can also check and fix any broken windows or doors. I can ask campus police/security to do a security check of my room.

If I am worried about a particular person who is a threat, I can tell my RA about the situation ask them to warn me and call police/security if the person shows up at my housing. I can also tell campus police/security that the person should not visit me on campus.

I can ask what other living changes or precautions might be available, and the Title IX & Equal Opportunity Office can also help identify housing changes.

If I no longer feel safe in my residence, I can call campus police/security or talk to the Title IX Coordinator about my housing options.

Off-Campus Housing Safety Options

I can ask law enforcement to do a security check or walk-through of my residence. Contact your local law enforcement office for more information.

I can seek legal consultation to find out the options about breaking my lease if I do not feel safe in my rental home or apartment. The Texas Advocacy Project provides free hotline services with legal advice for domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking by calling 800-374-HOPE (800-374-4673).

I can change my locks, especially if the person has had access to my room or home.

I can consider replacing wooden doors with steel or metal doors. I can also look at installing security systems and a motion-activated light system if possible.

I can tell my neighbors or apartment managers about the situation.

Technology Safety Plan

I never should be forced or pressured to share a password with anyone.

I can memorize emergency numbers, and make sure that 911 and trusted family or friends are on speed dial.

I can evaluate all of my electronic accounts and devices. I can consider if the account or device could have been compromised (password shared or easy to guess, signs of suspicious activity, left unlocked, etc.). I can review devices like phones, computers, email accounts, as well as apps or accounts that connect to online banking, online shopping, utility accounts, and anywhere my passwords or credit card information could be stored.

If my phone or account may have been compromised, I can consider changing phones or devices.

I can also preserve evidence before discarding an unsafe device.

I can change all of my passwords if my accounts may have been compromised, and I can update my account-recovery numbers and emails to safe devices and accounts.

I could also consider having a professional service such as Geek Squad, located at Best Buy stores, examine my phone, computer, or other technology to see if they can detect spyware or malware.

I can contact my phone service provider to find out what other options are available such as call blocking, call waiting and other options.

I can consider getting a new phone number if blocking the unwanted caller is not sufficient.

I can ask my workplace if it is possible to screen my calls.

If the person may have continuing access to my phone or account, I can ask to borrow a friend's phone or keep a secret phone in a safe place to make essential calls.

I can check my privacy settings regularly.

I can remove important personal data from social media.

I have the right to keep my life private.

Warn people about possible spam calls or emails.