Reporting
Meeting with confidential advocates does not automatically generate a report to either Title IX or VCU PD. Advocates can assist you in making the initial report and attend all future meetings with you. Students can report to Title IX, VCU PD, local PD (if applicable) neither, or any combination of Title IX and law enforcement.
What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal law that states no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the participation of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence and stalking are forms of gender discrimination prohibited by Title IX. Title IX applies to students of any gender, including female, male, gender non-conforming, and/or transgender students.
Title IX is the university’s reporting entity for sexual misconduct. Students can file a report with Title IX by filling out a reporting form or contacting Title IX directly.
If you are interested in Title IX but are not ready to make a report, advocates can answer questions, set up information-gathering meetings, and provide you with a space to process your decision.
What about a criminal report?
Students have the right to file a criminal report with VCUPD or their local police station. Filing a police report may trigger an investigation, students have the right to share only the information they are comfortable sharing.
VCU Police also has specially trained victim/witness officers on each shift trained to believe and support survivors of sexual assault, domestic or dating violence, and stalking. Students are not pressured to report or move forward unless they are ready to.
If you are interested in a criminal report but are not ready to make a report, advocates can answer questions, set up information-gathering meetings, and provide you with a space to process your decision.