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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)