The Title IX Office at JMU receives, responds to, and address all reports of Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Sexual Harrassment* involving members of the university community. Title IX also oversees and supports university efforts to prevent and eliminate sexual misconduct and other forms of sex- and gender-based discrimination. More information can be found at JMU’s Title IX Website.

What should I do? 

Student leaders, and students in general, are not required to report instances of harm that are committed against them or that are told to them.* Instead, when a friend, club member, or fellow student of the university reveals an act of Sexual Misconduct or Title IX Sexual Harassment committed against them, we highly recommend the following steps are taken:

1. Listen with full undivided attention to what the individual is saying.  Refrain from prying for information, asking for details, or making judgements about what happened.
2. Thank the individual for sharing with you and offer support with connecting to resources.
3. Direct them to the Confidential Resources available to them as students through the Counseling Center or The Well, including Survivor Advocacy. These areas offer survivor resources without needing to report the harm to Title IX or the police.
4. Do not pressure the person to seek help, and do not discuss their harm with others; allow them to utilize their resources at their own pace.
5. We understand that news spreads quickly through student organizations. Do not attempt to address rumors or investigate the harm yourself. If you feel that a survivor is being re-harmed, the person accused is being treated unfairly, or that the situation is in any way affecting your organization, consult with your advisor or Student Leadership & Involvement about the situation.**

*Student employees of the university are required to report instances of harm that are told to them while “on the clock” at their job. See your direct supervisor with questions or clarifications for department policy.

**As university staff, employees of Student Leadership & Involvement and your adviser are responsible for reporting alleged incidents of sexual misconduct involving JMU community members to the Title IX Office.

What does it mean for someone to report to Title IX? 

Reporting to Title IX seems scary and ominous, but below are the steps of what happens when a university employee (your adviser, SAI staff, professors, etc.) is told about an incident of sexual misconduct and Title IX sexual harrassment harm:

1. The responsible employee will inform the, Title IX Coordinator, of what they know. This can be an email, phone call, or through the JMU Sexual Misconduct Incident Reporting Form.
2. If the name of the person harmed is known, a member of the Title IX Office staff reaches out via email with resources and options that are available to the harmed person. If the person’s name is not revealed, the Title IX Office will reach out to a known third-party person and provide them information on resources to share with the harmed person.
   • If you tell your adviser of an incident, but do not wish to give the name of the person who told you they were harmed, this is fine! Your adviser will tell the Title IX Coordinator, and they would reach out to you directly and ask you to pass along information to the person who was harmed. It is not required you give the name of the person harmed.
3. Generally, if the person harmed does not want to pursue charges, either through OSARP or criminal, then no further steps are required. All resources are still available to them. 
4. Further steps are followed if the person harmed decides to continue with a Title IX Investigation, OSARP charges, or criminal charges.

More information and resources can be found at:

Counseling Center

Student Handbook

Title IX Website