The university may respond to complaints related to sexual misconduct in a variety of ways. In addition, students involved in incidents of sexual misconduct have a variety of support options.
Sanctions
Disciplinary sanctions for student found responsible for violations of this policy may range from a disciplinary warning to expulsion from the university. These will be imposed in accordance with applicable university policies described in this document. Sanctions against employees, ranging from a disciplinary warning to termination, are described in the Lee University Faculty Handbook and Lee University Administrative and Staff Handbook.
Amnesty for Student Conduct Violations
The university strongly encourages students to report incidents violating the policy related to discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and related inappropriate conduct. The university’s primary concern is the safety of the members of the university community, and it encourages behavior that demonstrates care and concern for members of the community. Accordingly, the university will provide a reprieve from disciplinary actions for victims and other individuals who exhibit responsible and proactive behavior in reporting sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, or other prohibited conduct or for students acting as a witness during the formal grievance procedures. The university may provide referrals to counseling and may require educational options, rather than disciplinary sanctions, in such cases.
Additional Services for Victims
Access to primary care services and/or appropriate referrals to community services will be provided to victims of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and/or stalking typically by the Office of Student Life, Campus Ministries, Counseling Center, Health Clinic, or Residential Life and Housing.
Reporting Activity Prohibited by This Policy
Employees should immediately report incidents of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation to the Title IX coordinator and/or Campus Security. These offices will provide a mechanism for reporting these violations. Regardless of the nature of the underlying incident, if there is any danger to person or property, you are strongly encouraged to additionally, and first, report the incident to the applicable police or Campus Security department.
If the apparent victim is under the age of 18 at the time of the offense and there is any potential of child abuse, university employees should also follow mandatory reporting laws as detailed at www.childwelfare.gov.
Free Expression and Academic Inquiry
The university is committed to its long-standing tradition of the pursuit of truth. The university is an institution whose members may express themselves in accordance with campus standards, while protecting and respecting the rights of others to learn and to carry out the essential functions of the university free from interference or obstruction. When addressing complaints of violations of this policy, the university will respond appropriately while respecting the idea of the pursuit of truth by students, faculty, and staff.
External Complaints
The university encourages all individuals with a pertinent complaint to follow the process in this section of this publication. However, individuals may always choose to make a discrimination complaint directly with outside agencies, including, but not limited to, the Office for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Educational Opportunities Section of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, or the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.