Respondents

A Respondent, or Responding Party, is someone alleged to have been involved in an incident of prohibited conduct under Title IX. The Respondent is designated to respond to a report received by the university. Respondents investigated under Title IX may have been accused of alleged prohibited conduct including: 

• Sex discrimination (including discrimination on the basis of gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation) 
• Sexual assault 
• Interpersonal violence (including dating and domestic violence)  
• Sexual harassment 
• Sexual misconduct
• Stalking 

Receiving a letter of notice (called a "Notice of Complaint") does not mean a Respondent has been found in violation of a policy. It means an investigation has been started to determine if there was a violation of policy. The investigation process can be stressful and complicated. It is important for Respondents to understand the process and the rights afforded to them. For more information, please see the Process page. 

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• Safety

  If you feel you are in immediate danger of harm by another person or yourself, call 911. It is important that physical and emotional needs are met first. For mental health crisis support, call the OSU EAP at 855.850.2397.

• Support and Assistance

  The university has various offices available to address mental, physical, emotional, and academic needs including:  

  • Emotional support and processing after an incident. 
  • Course load reductions or full withdrawals.  
  • Discreet absence notifications. 
  • Requests for flexibility/ alternative participation to faculty and supervisors. 
  • Safety planning. 
  • Emergency funds. 
  • Short-term emergency housing accommodations or housing changes. 
  • Services for food insecurity. 
  • Address questions and concerns about institutional policy and procedure. 
  • Conflict resolution and dispute management. 
  • Support and referrals for concerns friends, family, partners, and faculty/staff members. 

  Some of these options are available through confidential and private support resources without the need to file an official report to the university.

   

  For more information about confidential and private resources, visit the Campus Resources page.

• Confidentiality and Privacy

  Confidential resources are confidential by federal and state law. OSU also offers private resources who are not confidential but are non-mandatory reporters of Title IX incidents. These services will not share any identifiable information with Title IX, the police, parents, or anyone else without permission first, except in cases where there is concern of imminent harm to yourself, someone else, or the campus community.

   

  Even if a resource is not confidential, all student information will be handled in accordance with the regulations established by FERPA and maintained on a need-to-know basis. 

Investigation

The investigation and resolution process is different for students, faculty or staff members. You can learn more by reviewing the Investigation Process page. 

 

Mandatory Reporters : A mandatory reporter, also known as a “Responsible Employee,” is an OSU employee who is required to report Incidents of sexual misconduct to the university.