Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity FAQs

The confidentiality of all parties to a complaint of sexual misconduct or gender-based discrimination must be respected, insofar as it does not interfere with the University’s obligation to fully investigate allegations of sexual misconduct. Where confidentiality is not strictly kept, it will still be tightly controlled on a need-to-know basis. The university supports the use of confidential resources by all parties. Employees who are confidential are not considered “responsible employees” and are not required to report sexual misconduct to the Title IX Office under this policy. Communication about sexual misconduct to a “responsible employee” is not confidential, and these employees must report sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator or designee within 24 hours of information being disclosed to them. If you’d like to speak with a confidential resource and not have information reported back to Title IX, the following resources are available.
Women and Gender Advocacy Center: Victim Assistance Team (VAT) (970) 492‐4242 (24-Hour Hotline) (970) 491‐6384 (WGAC Office) Location for drop-in or appointment: 112 Student Services (corner of Libby Coy Way and University) Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm. Email: [email protected] Website: https://wgac.colostate.edu/support/about-advocacy/
CSU Health and Medical Center Counseling Services (970) 491‐6053 (970) 491-7111 (after-hours) Location for drop-in or appointment: 151 W. Lake St., 3rd Floor (corner of College Ave. and Prospect Rd.) Monday – Friday, 8am- 5pm. Website Information to Make an Appointment: https://health.colostate.edu/make-a-counseling-appointment/
A person who is a confidential resource under this policy may have an independent obligation to report some forms of criminal conduct to law enforcement officials. Any person who is a confidential resource may consult with campus legal counsel to determine whether an independent reporting obligation exists. Please know information reported to Title IX will remain private as long as it does not interfere with a University investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Information received by the Title IX Office will be tightly controlled on a need-to-know basis and privacy is a priority.

WGAC’S Victim Assistance Team (VAT): Any student or anyone connected to a CSU student (which includes visitors of students or parents/family of students) can access free advocacy and support, including information on medical and reporting options, and support through accompaniment to hospitals, courthouses, Title IX reporting, and police reporting, funded by student fees. (Please note: VAT will not turn anyone away and will meet with anyone who is not a student or connected to a student at least once and direct individuals to community resources.) Contact VAT on their 24-hour hotline at (970) 492-4242 or visit their website at https://wgac.colostate.edu/support/about-advocacy/

CSU Health and Medical Center: Students can access a range of counseling services, including group and individual services, funded by student fees. Some services incur a minimal fee after a certain number of appointments. Contact CSU Health and Medical Center at (970) 491-7121 to make an appointment and for more information.

Employees have counseling services available to them, initially at no cost, through the Employee Assistance Program. Contact the EAP provider, ComPsych Guidance Resources, at (800) 497-9133.

Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA): Anyone affected by sexual violence in Northern Colorado can access free advocacy and support, including information on medical and reporting options, and support through accompaniment to hospitals, courthouses, Title IX reporting, and police reporting. Contact SAVA on their 24-hour hotline at (970) 472-4200 or visit their website at https://savacenter.org.

The University’s primary relationship is to you, the student, and not to your parent/guardian or significant other. University officials will only speak with your parents/guardians or significant other at your request or when there is a significant threat to your health or safety. For more information or assistance please contact CSU Women and Gender Advocacy’s Victim Assistance Team (VAT) at (970) 492-4242 or CSU Student Case Management at (970) 491-8051.

“YES,” if you want the University to pursue an investigation and formal procedures as outlined in the Sexual Misconduct and Gender-Based Discrimination policy. The University may also be unable to put some types of measures into place to protect you and others if you do not name the alleged perpetrator(s).

“NO,” if you choose to not file a formal complaint. Impacted Parties should be aware that not identifying the alleged perpetrator may limit the University’s ability to respond comprehensively.

“Yes,” if and only if you file a formal Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity complaint. Sexual misconduct and gender-based prohibited conduct will not be tolerated at CSU, therefore they are considered serious offenses and the Responding Party has the right to know the identity of the Reporting Party, or Impacted Party.

DO NOT contact the Impacted Party. You may want to speak with the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, at (970) 491-1715. The staff can explain the University’s resolution procedures for addressing sexual misconduct and gender-based discrimination complaints. You may also want to speak with someone who can act as your support person/advisor throughout the campus process. Your support person/advisor can be present with you during all procedural aspects, this includes interviews, meetings, and hearings.

CSU Health and Medical Center: Students can access confidential on-campus counseling through CSU Health and Medical Center at (970) 491-7121. CSU Student Case Management: Students can reach staff who specialize in providing support information to a Responding Party at (970) 491-8051. Confidential off-campus support: Students can seek off-campus counseling/mental health care through Health District: Connections at (970) 221-5551.

University procedures (internal action): Impacted Parties and the Responding Party have the right to legal advice at their own expense throughout campus informal and formal procedures. Furthermore, an attorney may attend campus meetings and hearings but is restricted to only advising the student and will not be allowed to speak for the student or direct comments to university officials or witnesses.

Criminal proceedings (external action): Impacted Parties do not need private legal counsel to pursue criminal prosecution because representation will be handled by the local District Attorney’s office.  The local DA’s office also provides Victim/Witness Division support services. However, a Impacted Party may want to retain an attorney if considering filing a civil action. A Responding Party may want to retain legal counsel given the potential for criminal and/or civil action.

Following the filing of a misconduct report/complaint, modifications can be made through the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity. Modifications available might include: assistance with or rescheduling an academic assignment (paper, exams, etc.); assistance in requesting an incomplete in a class; assistance with transferring class sections, if available; temporary withdrawal; assistance with alternative course completion options; no contact orders; and other accommodations for safety, deemed necessary. See below regarding interim measures.
University Housing has designated temporary emergency rooms in various halls and apartments throughout campus. If you would like to be moved please reach out to your hall/apartment staff to initiate a move and explore what temporary living option will best serve your needs.

Interim measures are temporary steps that are narrowly tailored on a case-by-case basis to ensure campus safety to limit the interruption of education for both the Impacted Party and the Responding Party, and to support overall student success. Furthermore, interim measures do not imply guilt but are put in place for the protection of all parties involved while the case is being investigated and/or going through the hearing/appeal phases.

Impacted Parties who have experienced a sexual assault (particularly rape, forced oral copulation or anal penetration) are urged to seek medical treatment as soon as possible by going to the nearest hospital emergency room, CSU Health and Medical Center, Planned Parenthood, or a private physician.

It is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED that Impacted Parties contact an advocate to accompany them to the emergency room by contacting CSU’s Women and Gender Advocacy Center’s Victim Assistance Team (VAT) at (970) 492-4242, or the local Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA) at (970) 472-4200.

Impacted Parties who seek medical attention benefit from being examined for physical injury and receiving preventative treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, a toxicology examination for date rape drugs, and emergency contraception.

Emergency rooms nearest CSU, that are equipped with a SANE (sexual assault nurse exam) program, are located at:

UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital (1.5 miles from CSU)
1024 S. Lemay Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970-495-7000

UCHealth Emergency Room (6 miles from CSU)
4630 Snow Mesa Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80528
970-237-8100

Banner Ft. Collins Medical Center (7 miles from CSU)
4700 Lady Moon Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80528
970-821-4037

McKee Medical Center (12.3 miles from CSU)
2000 N. Boise Ave.
Loveland, CO 80538
970-820-4071

UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies (15.4 miles from CSU)
2500 Rocky Mountain Ave
Loveland, CO 80538
970-624-2500

Banner North Colorado Emergency Care (26 miles from CSU)
2000 70th Ave.
Greeley, CO 80634
970-810-2636

NCMC North Colorado Medical Center (31.5 miles from CSU)
1801 16th St.
Greeley, CO 80631
970-810-6244

Note: SANE exams can be done up to 7 days from the incident. However, the sooner exams are done the better chance SANE nurses will have to find and document evidence.

Colorado Hospital Reporting Options: In Colorado survivors who go to a hospital have three options upon arrival: (1) Law enforcement report, where law enforcement will be called to speak and take a report from the survivor, and a medical forensic exam will take place to be used alongside criminal proceedings. (2) Medical report only, this option will obtain a medical forensic exam with the survivor’s name that will be released to law enforcement without a law enforcement report from the survivor. Criminal proceedings will not take place, and a survivor has the option to have the evidence tested. (3) Anonymous report, a survivor in this scenario receives a medical forensic exam that will be released to law enforcement without the survivor’s name or information. With this option, the medical forensic exam evidence is stored.

Prompt reporting allows for the preservation of evidence, which will only be used if you decide (then or later) to press criminal charges or file a civil suit. To preserve evidence, you should not bathe, douche, smoke, brush teeth or change clothes (a change of clothes should be brought along). If clothes have been changed, the original clothes should be put in a paper bag (plastic bags damage evidence) and brought to the hospital. Do not disturb the scene of the assault. If it is not possible to leave the scene undisturbed, evidence (e.g. bedding, towels, loose fabrics, prophylactics, and clothing) should be placed in separate paper bags to be preserved. Time is a critical factor in collecting and preserving evidence. The physical evidence of an assault is most effectively collected within the first 24-48 hours of the assault, but some evidence may be collected for up to 72 hours. If, however, you choose to report the incident days, weeks, or even months after the assault, important support systems are still available and can be arranged but understand that delay may make it more difficult to collect physical evidence of the sexual assault that could impact a criminal prosecution or civil lawsuit.

*Please note: If you have questions about this it is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED that Impacted Parties contact a rape crisis advocate by contacting CSU’s Women and Gender Advocacy Center’s Victim Assistance Team (VAT) at (970) 492-4242, or the local Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA) at (970) 472-4200. Both options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CSU is committed to ensuring due process and equity for both the Impacted Party and the Responding Party. Therefore, you should expect the following:

  • To be treated with dignity and respect
  • To be provided equitable procedural protections, as outlined in the policies and procedures identified in the Sexual Misconduct and Gender-Based Discrimination Policy
  • To be provided with reasonable opportunity to be heard and present evidence
  • For the investigation and university action to be done fairly

Alcohol and/or drug use may affect the memory of any party involved and, therefore, may affect the outcome. To substantiate a report of sexual misconduct it is important that the Impacted Party remember the alleged incident or have sufficient information and/or witnesses. If the Impacted Party does not remember the circumstances of the alleged incident, it may not be possible to substantiate a finding of responsibility or impose sanctions on the Responding Party without further corroborating information.

The use of alcohol and/or drugs by either party will not diminish the Respondent’s responsibility in the event the Respondent is found in violation [or found responsible]. Use of alcohol and/or drugs will never excuse a violation by a Responding Party.

No. The seriousness of sexual assault is the primary concern and the University does not want any of the surrounding circumstances (e.g., drug or alcohol use) to inhibit the reporting of sexual misconduct.
Not unless there is a compelling reason to believe that prior use or abuse is relevant to the current report of sexual misconduct.

If you believe that you have experienced or have done some type of sexual misconduct or gender-based prohibited conduct but are unsure of whether it was a violation of the university policy, you can choose to contact the Office of Title IX Programs at (970) 491-1715. Keep in mind this contact is NOT considered confidential, although the information will be tightly controlled on a need-to-know basis.

If you would like to speak with someone in strict confidence to explore the incident, you have a choice to speak with whom you would like, and you may want to speak with:

Impacted Party

  • An on-campus advocate from the CSU Victim Assistance Team (VAT) at the 24-hour hotline (970) 492-4242
  • An on-campus licensed counselor or a spiritual care professional at the CSU Health and Medical Center at (970) 491-7121.
  • An off-campus advocate from the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA) in Fort Collins at the 24-hour hotline (970) 472-4200

Responding Party

  • An on-campus licensed counselor or a spiritual care professional at the CSU Health and Medical Center at (970) 491-7121
  • An off-campus counseling/mental health care professional through Health District: Connections at (970) 221-5551
If known, the following information should be included:
  • Name of the student who disclosed information to you and the names of all other relevant parties
  • Date of disclosure
  • All information shared with you
  • Any resources offered to the student (i.e. Title IX brochure or resource card)
  • If the student was made aware of your Responsible Employee reporting obligations? What was the student’s reaction?
  • Context of disclosure
Do not follow back up with a student to request additional information and do not contact other parties regarding the information reported. A Responsible Employee does not satisfy the reporting obligation by reporting sexual misconduct to a supervisor or university personnel other than the Title IX Coordinator or designee.