Frequently Asked Questions for Complainants

How do I report what happened?

Reporting to the University (Civil Rights/Title IX Complaint)

The University's Office of Civil Rights and Title IX is responsible for the reporting, support, and adjudication of all Title IX or Civil Rights violations between or connected to a member of the Texas A&M University community (student, staff, faculty, etc.).  Their website is: https://titleix.tamu.edu/ and includes a wealth of resources including the Reporting Form. 

For information regarding frequently asked questions about the grievance process beyond potential civil rights or Title IX violations are below:

Local Campus Contacts:

• Students - Ken Bailey, Interim Associate VP for Student Affairs, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Seibel Student Services building, #101G, Galveston, TX 77553 at (409) 740-4725 or TitleIXStudents@tamug.edu.
• Employees or Third Parties - Mr. Ron Sorensen, Executive Director of Human Resources, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Aggie Special Events Center #115E, Galveston, TX 77553 at (409) 740-4503 or r_sorensen@tamug.edu.

In nearly every instance, the easiest and most expedient way to file a report is to go directly to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX website and enter your incident via their Reporting form. If  you wish to report anonymously, you may do so via the Tell Somebody form. 

Reporting to Law Enforcement

You have the option of notifying law enforcement authorities including University and local police.  An anonymous “Jane/John Doe” report can be filed with the police while deciding whether to pursue criminal charges.  Below is a list of local law enforcement agencies. Reports should be filed with the agencies where the incident occurred.  The Dean of Student Life or staff in Student Assistance Services is available to assist those who choose to notify law enforcement authorities. 

Is filing a report with the University the same as filing a police report?

No. You must submit individual reports to each agency that you wish to file a report with. Complainants have the option to file a report to any and all agencies that they wish to. Any action by the University should not be interpreted to preclude your right to file a report with law enforcement.

How long will the investigation and any other processes take?

All attempts are made to investigate the incident and, if necessary, adjudicate the case within the minimum amount of time that would allow for proper care and due process from when it is reported to the University. If you ever have questions about the status of your report, you may contact the Title IX office at 979-458-8407 or at civilrights@tamu.edu.

What guidelines apply to me as a complainant in the student conduct process?

Guidelines that apply to student conduct conferences in cases of alleged sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking can be found here in Texas A&M Rule 08.01.01.M1. or in more detail on the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX website.

What are my options for participation in the student conduct process?

If the accused student is charged, you will be notified of the charges that trigger your participation as a complainant, the date of your information session with a staff member, and the date of the conduct conference. At your information session, the staff member you meet with will review the applicable sections of the student rules, your options for participation in the conduct conference, and answer any questions you may have regarding the conduct process. You will also have a file that contains the investigation and any other information that may be used during the conduct process, which you may review during our normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm.

There are a variety of options for participation in the accused student’s conduct conference. You can choose to do one or more of the following:

• You may choose to not participate at all.
• You may choose to submit a written statement of fact or other information you have regarding the incident and/or an impact statement or other information you wish to have considered if the accused student is found responsible for a violation.
• You may choose to provide information during the conduct conference over the phone.
• You may choose to provide information during the conduct conference in person in the same room as the accused student (with or without a screen barrier) or from another room in our office.
• You may choose to observe the process without participating.

If either you or the accused student choose to submit any information or participate in the process, both parties will have access to the information, the ability to listen to any verbal statements, and the ability to ask the other party questions through a staff member.

What are the possible outcomes?

There are a number of possible outcomes once the incident is reported to Texas A&M University. Based on the information provided in the investigation, the accused student may or may not be charged with one or more student rule violations. If the accused student is charged, they will have a conduct conference where decisions about whether they are responsible or not responsible for a student rule violation will occur. If the accused student is found responsible, one or more sanctions from Student Rule 27 will be assigned to them. If the accused student is found not responsible, they will not receive any sanctions, and there will not be a conduct record regarding those charges attached to their name with our office.

To find a student responsible for a violation of the Student Conduct Code, the University must reach a Preponderance of the Information to indicate that a violation occurred. The Preponderance of the Information standard is 51%, or to state it another way, it is whether a reasonable person believes it is more likely than not that a particular behavior or event took place.

Can I appeal the outcome of the student conduct process? Can I participate in the appeal process?

The answer to both questions is yes. Whether the accused student was found responsible or not responsible during their conduct conference, both you and the accused student will have 5 business days from the date of the conduct conference to appeal the decision. Regardless of who appeals, you will have the option to participate in the appeal process. More information about appeal processes can be found under Student Rule 51 and Student Rule 58.

Will I be notified of the status and the outcome throughout the process?

Yes, unless you specifically request to not be notified. Regardless of what the outcome of the investigation is, you will be notified at the same time as the accused student.

If the accused student is not charged with a student rule violation, you will be notified of one of the following:

• The investigation is complete and there will be no further action; or
• The accused student is required to complete a Call-In Meeting with a staff member.

If the accused student is charged with a student rule violation, you will be notified of the charges that trigger your participation as a complainant, the date of your information session with a staff member, and the date of the conduct conference.

Once the conduct conference has concluded, you will be notified of the findings for the charges that trigger your participation as a complainant, the sanctions associated with those charges (if any), and information about the appeal deadline and process.

If either you or the accused student choose to appeal the outcome, the other party will be notified.

If there is an appeal process, you will be notified of what that appeal process is, what your options for participation are, and what the final outcome is.

When is the outcome final?

There are several points in the investigation and adjudication processes where any outcome may become final:

• When the decision is made to not charge the accused student with a student rule violation.
• When the outcome of the conduct conference is not appealed by either party after the 5 business day appeal deadline.
• When the appeal process is complete.

Can I drop the charges?

Student conduct proceedings and actions are not subject to challenge or postponement on the grounds that criminal or civil charges involving the same incident have been dismissed, reduced, or are pending in criminal or civil court. Individual complainants and/or witnesses cannot force charges to be dropped.

I'm concerned about retaliation. What can I do to protect myself or report retaliation?

If you feel threatened in any way during the process, please contact the University Police Department at 979.845.2345. You may also file a report with the Student Conduct Office. The Student Conduct Code prohibits any verbal or physical intimidation or retaliation against any participant in the investigation and/or conduct process (see Abuse of Student Conduct Process in Student Rule 24), and may result in charges if any individual retaliates against you.

What campus and community resources are available to me as a complainant?

Counseling, health, mental health, advocacy, legal and other services available both on campus and in the community.  Below is a brief list of available resources.

Medical and Health Services

Support, Advocacy, and Other Resources