Investigation and Resolution of Complaint

Given the nature of the type of conduct prohibited by this policy and the serious effects such conduct can have on the target of the conduct and the one accused of the conduct, the University takes every complaint of harassing behavior seriously and each report shall be investigated. The investigation will be conducted in as confidential a manner as circumstances permit to protect all parties involved, including witnesses. The University will not tolerate any retaliation against anyone who makes a report of harassing behavior or cooperates in an investigation of any complaint under this policy.

The responsibility for determining the need for and degree of administrative action to address a harassment complaint varies and is based upon the group to which the accused belongs. These groups include: faculty, staff, students and guests. Generally, complaints involving students only will be processed under the Community Standards process, and complaints involving non-students will be processed according to the procedures identified below.

The chart below indicates investigation and disciplinary authority as it relates to policy violations at DePauw:

Complainant	Accused	Investigating Responsibility	Disciplinary Responsibility	Procedural Guidance
Student	Student	Office of Student Life – Title IX Coordinators	Office of Student Life	Student Handbook
	Staff or Guest	Office of Student Life – Title IX Coordinators Human Resources	Human Resources	Employee Guide
	Faculty member	Office of Student Life – Title IX Coordinators Academic Affairs  Human Resources	Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty	Academic Handbook
Staff or Guest	Student	Human Resources  Office of Student Life – Title IX Coordinators	Office of Student Life	Student Handbook
	Staff or Guest	Human Resources	Human Resources	Employee Guide
	Faculty member	Human Resources  Academic Affairs	Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty	Academic Handbook
Faculty	Student	Academic Affairs  Office of Student Life – Title IX Coordinators Human Resources	Office of Student Life	Student Handbook
	Staff or Guest	Academic Affairs  Human Resources	Human Resources	Employee Guide
	Faculty member	Academic Affairs Human Resources	Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty	Academic Handbook

The President and Director of Human Resources will be responsible for investigating complaints and determining the need and degree of administrative action for complaints against a Vice President of the University.

Violations of this policy will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including discharge or dismissal. Please help us maintain a comfortable learning and work environment free from inappropriate and offensive conduct.

(endorsed in principle by the faculty in March 1999; established as University policy April 1999; revised August 2003; revised August 2011; revised August 2024)