Frequently Asked Questions
Reporting Processes, Options, and Resources
Something happened that I want to report. How do I make a report?
If you want to report an incident, you can contact EOA at 618-650-2333, eoa-titleix@siue.edu, or come by our office in Rendleman Hall, room 3316. You can also start a conversation by talking with a trusted faculty or staff member, including your resident advisor or any member of the SIUE Police Department. Most of SIUE’s faculty and staff (with the exception of University counselors or Health Services staff) are required to report possible violations of Title IX or the Non-Discrimination policy to the Title IX Coordinator. Once the Title IX Coordinator is aware of the situation, EOA staff will follow up with you to talk about next steps.
You may also report an incident by filling out a Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct, and Relationship Violence Incident Report or EOA Complaint Form.
Can I make a report and still remain anonymous?
Yes. You do not have to identify yourself to report a possible violation. It's important to keep in mind that, if you choose to remain anonymous, it may sometimes be harder for the University to fully respond to the incident and address your individual needs.
I need help, but I am not sure if I want to make a report. What can I do?
If you are not sure about making a report but want to talk to someone about what happened, a good place to start is University Counseling Services. You can contact the office at 618-650-2842 or walk in to be seen immediately. Counseling Services will not report what happened to EOA unless you give them permission to do so.
You can also contact Metro East Every Survivor Counts, which is a free community resource that helps people affected by sexual violence. Metro East Every Survivor Counts can connect you with a confidential advisor who can help you understand your options and provide you with support. Your confidential advisor will not report what happened to the University unless you give them permission to do so. You can reach Metro East Every Survivor Counts at 618-397-0975.
What happens once I make a report?
EOA staff will follow up with you as soon as possible to discuss next steps. The first priority will be to make sure you and the rest of the SIUE community are safe from any ongoing threats and you have the resources you need to take care of yourself. This may involve developing a plan for immediate steps that can be taken to limit contact between the people who are most affected by the situation.
Next, there will be a discussion about your options for proceeding under the Title IX or Non-Discrimination and Non-Harassment policy and procedures, whichever is appropriate for your case. The goal is to make sure you understand your choices and give you the opportunity to talk about what you think would be the best way to move forward.
I’ve made a report, but I don’t want an investigation. Can the University investigate an incident without my permission and/or cooperation?
In some cases, the University may be required to undertake some investigation of an incident, even if the complainant does not want to go forward with an investigation. These are situations in which there are more serious or imminent threats to the campus community.
Are there any options besides a formal investigation?
Can I get any help in managing the stress that comes with being either a complainant or a respondent in a case?
Information About Being Involved in an Investigation
I’ve received notice of charges being made against me. What's going to happen next?
If you receive notice of charges against you, take some time to read all the information included with the notice. The letter should give you specific information about the basis of the charges against you. If you have any information (documents, pictures, etc.), begin organizing that information.
You'll be asked to meet with the assigned investigator for your case. This will be your opportunity to talk about the charges and identify the information and witnesses you think are important.
If I’m charged with a policy violation, can I be suspended before the investigation is even complete?
Where there is sufficient information that there is an ongoing threat to the campus community, an interim suspension may be imposed before an investigation has been completed.
If I’m involved in an investigation, can I have a lawyer?
Yes, a party to an investigation may have an advisor present, and that advisor may be an attorney. The advisor can help you understand what to expect in the investigative process and provide you with emotional support. However, the advisor will not be allowed to speak for you or obstruct the process.
If there is a criminal case involving the same incident, what will the impact of the criminal case be on the campus investigation?
When there is a criminal case relating to the same incident as the campus investigative process, the campus investigation will typically proceed faster than the criminal process.
While the criminal case and the campus case may be addressing the same incident, the standard of proof is different, and the analysis of the incident may also be different. The outcome of any criminal case will not determine the outcome of the campus investigation.
What happens during an investigation?
During an investigation, the investigator will attempt to identify all the information that is available related to the charges. This information may take the form of interviews, documents, photos, social media exchanges, and videos. The kind of information that is important will be determined by the particular circumstances of the case.
If you have made a complaint or a complaint has been made against you, you will have an opportunity to review all the information collected during the course of the investigation and offer additional, clarifying information before the investigation is complete.
The investigator will prepare a report summarizing all the information gathered in the investigation. This report will analyze all the information, and in the case of discrimination cases, will make a determination about whether or not there has been a policy violation. For sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and relationship violence cases, the report will be shared with the hearing panel to use as they determine whether or not there has been a Title IX policy violation.
How long will an investigation take?
Typically, an investigation will take approximately 45 days. If the investigation will take longer than 45 days, you will be informed of how much additional time is expected and why the additional time is necessary.
Do I have the right to confront my accuser?
The parties to a complaint may ask questions of each other during the investigation; however, those questions will be moderated through the investigator during the investigation. For Title IX cases, parties will also have an opportunity to ask questions of each other through the hearing panel. If you have questions you want to ask of another party or witness, you can provide those questions to the investigator or the panel chairperson.
If I'm found responsible, how are sanctions decided?
Sanctions will be determined based on multiple factors, including any past disciplinary history, the nature and severity of the charges, and the options for remediating the harm that was caused.
Information About Appeals
Can I appeal?
Yes. If you think there was a mistake in any part of the process that affected the outcome, or you become aware of additional information that was not previously considered, or you feel the sanctions imposed were not reasonable, you may appeal. Either party to a case may appeal. It is important to keep in mind that parties will have a limited time in which to request an appeal; details will be included in the information you receive that explains the outcome of the case.
What happens during an appeal?
For discrimination cases, the Vice Chancellor for Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will review the information included in the appeal, as well as the investigative report and any evidence collected through the investigation process. At the conclusion of the appeal, the Vice Chancellor for Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will email their decision to the involved parties.
For Title IX cases, a panel of three faculty or staff members will be appointed to conduct a hearing of your case. At the hearing, you will have an opportunity to present the information you would like to have considered in the case. The panel will ask questions of the parties, and the parties can provide questions that would like to have asked of each other and of the witnesses in the case. The parties may have an advisor with them during the hearing.
