UTC TITLE IX ANNUAL REPORT March 2021

Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating and Domestic Violence, Stalking and Retaliation

CAMPUS REPORT | MARCH 2021

Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating and Domestic Violence, Stalking and Retaliation

ANNUAL REPORT OFFICE OF THE TITLE IX COORDINATOR January 2020-December 2020

3 4 6 8 16 20

Letter from the Title IX Coordinator Title IX Teams The 2020 Title IX Rule—Changes to Title IX Prevention, Education and Training Campus Climate Survey Highlights Reports of Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating and Domestic Violence and Stalking 24 Care and Support for Students

Letter from the Title IX Coordinator Dear CAMPUS COMMUNITY, 2020 was a year unlike any other in our lifetimes. In March 2020, UTC’s classes went fully online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. UTC’s Title IX team worked hard to move all services and educational programs into an accessible online format. These expanded to include appropriately socially-distanced in-person events during fall 2020.

Summer 2020 also saw the implementation of new federal Title IX rules that changed the way that universities across the country handle reports of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. I held numerous information and question and answer sessions to explain the changes and to seek comments and concerns from UTC community members.

In this report, I will expand on the changes that UTC’s Title IX process underwent this year and will also include information about our ongoing prevention efforts, campus climate survey results, and report statistics.

If you have any questions or concerns about UTC’s Title IX compliance or about Title IX in general, please contact me by phone at (423) 425-4255 or by email at stephanie-rowland@utc.edu.

SINCERELY,

Stephanie W. Rowland, J.D. Title IX Coordinator

“

2020 was a year unlike any other in our lifetimes.

In March 2020, UTC’s classes went fully online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UTC’s Title IX team worked hard to move all services and educational programs into an accessible online format.

”

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TITLE IX TEAMS

Brett Fuchs, Associate Dean of Students; Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Student Conduct

Stephanie Rowland, Title IX Coordinator

Laura Herron, Executive Associate Director for Compliance and Administration and Senior Woman Administrator; Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics

Jim Hicks, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students; Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students

Rosite Delgado, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion; Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Employees

In addition to the Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinators, Title IX compliance is supported by UTC’s Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence and Stalking Response Team and the Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence and Stalking Prevention Team.

For a list of members, please visit new.utc.edu/enrollment-management-andstudent-affairs/title-ix/team-and-committees.

CAMPUS REPORT | APRIL 2020

Title IX Teams

Response Team

UTC’s Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence and Stalking Response Team began meeting in 2015 and acts as the case management team for reported incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking and retaliation.

Members collaborate regarding cases and discuss supportive measures and resources available for students.

Prevention Team

UTC’s Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence and Stalking Prevention team also began meeting in 2015 and steers the sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking and retaliation prevention efforts for the campus.

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THE 2020 TITLE IX RULE— CHANGES TO TITLE IX On May 6, 2020, then-Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced the final Title IX Rule, which had a required implementation date of August 14, 2020. The Rule required significant changes to UTC’s Title IX process, including: • Definitions of prohibited conduct; • How an investigation is initiated by a student, faculty or staff member; • Investigation procedures; and • Hearing procedures.

Complainant

Support and Resources

Respondent

Support and Resources

Title IX Teams The policy and process change project began at the University of Tennessee System level with weekly meetings for all of the campus Title IX Coordinators. UTC also convened the Title IX New Regulations Implementation Team, which included the following members from across campus: • Chair, Stephanie Rowland, Title IX Coordinator; • Rosite Delgado, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion; • Brett Fuchs, Associate Dean of Students; • Lane Gutridge, Student Government Association Student Body President; • Yousef Hamadeh, Assistant General Counsel; • Laura Herron, Executive Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator; • Jim Hicks, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students; • Matt Holzmacher, Assistant Director of Student Conduct & Student Conduct Investigator; • Dr. Matt Matthews, Vice Provost and Professor of Mathematics; • Megan McKnight, Assistant Director for Education and Prevention; • Sara Peters, Director, Center for Women and Gender Equity; Survivor Advocate; • Laure Pou, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resources; • Robie Robinson, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Emergency Services; • Kristofer Swanson, Compliance Investigator and Inclusion Strategist; and • Mark Szydlowski, Coordinator for Student Conduct & Student Conduct Investigator The team’s charge was to provide feedback regarding a system-wide policy and changes to the Student Code of Conduct, and to devise ways to implement the new policy. The team met throughout the summer and completed its mission in August 2020.

UTC’s Title IX Coordinator sought additional feedback, comments, questions and concerns through a series of notifications to campus and Zoom information sessions that were held May through August, 2020. All UTC faculty, staff and students were invited to participate. More than 200 individuals attended one of the 10 sessions, which were held on May 18, June 11, June 17, June 22, July 2, July 8, July 14, July 22, and July 30, and culminated with a Title IX Town Hall on August 10 to discuss the then-proposed policy. The proposed policy was posted on UTC’s sexual misconduct prevention webpage (utc.edu/sexual-misconduct) so that UTC community members would be well-informed prior to the Town Hall.

Email notifications of the Title IX changes were sent to faculty, staff and students on May 22, June 3, June 16, June 19, July 1, July 7, July 13, July 21, July 29, August 6 and August 7. A final policy implementation notification was sent on August 14 detailing policy changes.

For more information on the policy changes, please visit the Title IX blog at blog.utc.edu/title-ix/newsletters/2020-2021-title-ix-policy-changes/. To review the Policy on Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating and Domestic Violence and Stalking, please visit the Title IX/Sexual Misconduct Prevention webpage at utc.edu/sexual-misconduct.

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PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND TRAINING The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a different approach to prevention education in 2020, and the vast majority of events were held via Zoom or other online platforms. UTC also utilized online training modules to educate students, faculty and staff about Title IX.

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Student Education • Orientation: UTC’s new student orientation was moved online for summer 2020. Incoming freshman and transfer students were provided with a short video that included an appearance by UTC’s Title IX Coordinator and information about Title IX, consent and resources. In addition, eighteen 45-minute Campus Safety, Title IX, and Emergency Management sessions were held throughout June and July. During the sessions, the Title IX Coordinator, UTCPD, Safety and Risk Management staff, and the Associate Dean of Students provided short presentations and then answered questions from attendees.

UTC’s Title IX Coordinator and the Director of the Center for Women and Gender Equity also created a short, narrated PowerPoint that new students could view in UTC’s learning platform, Canvas. The PowerPoint gave more detailed information about consent and UTC’s support and resources. New graduate students completed a mandatory reporting video and quiz that was created by the Title IX Coordinator.

• Online modules: Freshmen and transfer students were required to complete Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates (SAPU), an online module created by training provider Everfi. The module includes information about sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, bystander intervention, consent, and other important topics. Incoming graduate students were required to complete Everfi’s Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students, which includes information on all of the same topics as SAPU, but is geared toward graduate students.

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Student Education

TAKE Back The Night

October 28, 2020 7:30 p.m.

Zoom Meeting ID: 949 6424 9772 bit.ly/2020tbtn to learn about how you can participate

• Events and workshops: The Center for Student Wellbeing (CSW) and the Center for Women and Gender Equity (WaGE) held many prevention events throughout the year. January: Stalking for Love: Breaking Down the Media Trope (CSW and WAGE); Can We Talk?

Dialogues on Healthy Relationships - Healthy Conflict (CSW); February: Step Up! and Title IX Training (CSW); Survivorship and Intersectionality: Improving Access to Resources for Black Survivors (CSW); Can We Talk? Dialogues on Healthy Relationships - Green Flags (CSW); March: Consent and Spring Break Tabling (CSW); Can We Talk? Dialogues on Healthy Relationships - Dating Apps (CSW); April: Consent and Cocoa (CSW, WAGE, TIX); Succulents and Survivors (CSW and WAGE); SAAM Lunch Chat: What is Rape Culture? (CSW and WAGE); SAAM Lunch Chat: Debunking Rape Myths (CSW and WAGE); August: Consent Workshop for Honors College Retreat (WAGE and CSW); Consent and Cocoa Campfire Display (CSW); UTC Instagram Takeover – Consent, Title IX and the Red Zone (CSW); Red Zone Carpet event (WAGE and CSW); September: Can We Talk? Dating Apps; October: Step Up! Against Dating Violence (CSW); Domestic Violence Awareness Month Chalking Event (CSW); DVAM Podcast Club (CSW); Red Flags Campaign (CSW); Can We Talk? Green Flags (CSW); Queering Dating Violence (CSW); Debunking IPV from Prevention to Advocacy (CSW and WAGE); Halloween and Consent (CSW); Take Back the Night (WAGE); November: Can We Talk? Improving Communication.

Employee Education Highlights

• Online modules: UTC utilized Everfi’s Building Supportive Communities to educate both new and ongoing faculty and staff about sexual misconduct, relationship violence, stalking, bystander intervention, and how to support a student who reports an incident.

1,432 UTC employees completed this module in 2020.

• New faculty orientation: UTC’s Title IX Coordinator conducted an hour-long session during New Faculty Orientation in August 2020.

Topics included Title IX, resources and support available for students, faculty and staff and mandatory reporting.

• Mandatory Reporter training: UTC’s Title IX Coordinator conducted Zoom training sessions about employee mandatory reporter responsibilities with different groups and departments across campus in 2020, including: Resident Assistants; Aquatic and Recreation Center student-staff and professional staff; Veteran Student Services; Resident Directors; and First Year Experience instructors.

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Campus Event Highlights

Pick up your free Consent & Cocoa mug!

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wed

2-3 pm 10-11 am

thurs 11am-12 pm fri 12-1 pm

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a comprehensive, community-engaged campus of the University of Tennessee System. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution. E040240004-002-21

Below are some of the on-campus events and initiatves provided for students, faculty and staff.

• Can We Talk? Series: UTC’s Center for Student Wellbeing held six different Can We Talk? healthy relationship workshops in 2020. The topics included healthy conflict, green flags (indicators of a healthy relationship), dating apps, and improving communication.

• Consent Workshops: UTC’s Center for Student Wellbeing hosted several consent workshops and tabling events throughout 2020, including Consent and Spring Break tabling, Consent and Cocoa, and an Instagram takeover about consent, Title IX and resources in fall 2020.

• Domestic Violence Awareness Month: UTC’s Center for Student Wellbeing hosted several events during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October). Events included Domestic Violence Awareness Month chalking, tabling and educational programs like the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Podcast Club, Red Flags Campaign, Queering Dating Violence and Debunking IPV From Prevention to Advocacy, which was hosted in partnership with the Center for Women and Gender Equity.

• Starbucks Sleeve Initiative: UTC’s Center for Student Wellbeing, in partnership with the Office of the Title IX Coordinator, created and distributed consent stickers on the on-campus Starbucks’ coffee sleeves.

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CAMPUS CLIMATE SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS UTC has administered the Education Advisory Board’s (EAB) campus climate survey every spring since 2015. This survey asks students to answer a variety of questions about their perceptions of the University’s prevention efforts, the Title IX process, diversity and inclusion and other important information.

The survey was administered from March 30-April 20, 2020 and 1,606 UTC students completed it. The 2020-2021 will be administered March 15-April 5, 2021.

The following are some excerpts from the EAB survey reports.

Prevention Training

HAVE YOU RECEIVED SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION TRAINING? (ALL YEARS)* *Percentage of survey respondents who answered YES

44%

64%

63%

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

67%

68%

70%

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

HAVE YOU RECEIVED SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION TRAINING? (FIRST YEAR)* *Percentage of survey respondents who answered YES

IF A FRIEND OR I EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE, I WOULD KNOW WHERE TO GET HELP*

67%

80%

85%

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

88%

82%

86%

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

67%

78%

81%

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

85%

85%

86%

*Percentage of survey respondents who AGREED/ STRONGLY AGREED with the statement

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

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I KNOW WHAT CONFIDENTIAL RESOURCES (E.G., VICTIM ADVOCACY, COUNSELING) ARE AVAILABLE FOR ME TO REPORT AN INCIDENT OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE.* *Percentage of survey respondents who AGREED/ STRONGLY AGREED with the statement

I UNDERSTAND MY SCHOOL’S FORMAL PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE*

64%

77%

78%

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

85%

87%

88%

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

38%

60%

62%

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

75%

78%

79%

*Percentage of survey respondents who AGREED/ STRONGLY AGREED with the statement

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

Student Perceptions Regarding Investigative Process

IF SOMEONE WERE TO REPORT AN INCIDENT OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, SURVEY RESPONDENTS AGREED/ STRONGLY AGREED THE SCHOOL WOULD TAKE THE REPORT SERIOUSLY.* *Percentage of survey respondents who AGREED/ STRONGLY AGREED with the statement

70%

82%

82%

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

82%

87%

89%

2017-2018

I AM CONFIDENT MY SCHOOL WOULD ADMINISTER THE FORMAL PROCEDURES TO FAIRLY ADDRESS REPORTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE.* *Percentage of survey respondents who AGREED/ STRONGLY AGREED with the statement

2018-2019

2019-2020

61%

82%

83%

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

84%

82%

87%

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

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REPORTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DATING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, STALKING AND RETALIATION The below statistics detail all reports of sex discrimination received by UTC, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking and retaliation, other than those reports received by completely confidential resources like the Counseling Center and University Health Services. Please note that the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Police Department (UTCPD) publishes statistics in its Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which includes the number of reports of sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking.

You will notice that these statistics differ. This difference is due to reporting requirements under federal law and that the categories/ definitions used for the statistics in this report are more inclusive than criminal statutes. The statistics included in UTCPD’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (available at UTCPD’s website, new.utc.edu/administration-and-finance/ emergency-services/police/crime-statisticsand-policies) include only those incidents that occur on UTC’s campus or in UTC’s Clery Act geography, while the statistics published in this report include all incidents reported to the University, regardless of location.

Key Terms The term sexual misconduct includes sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation. Sexual assault includes nonconsensual sexual intercourse/rape and other nonconsensual sexual contact/fondling.

The term relationship violence includes dating violence and domestic violence.

The term stalking means a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to: 1. Fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or 2. Suffer substantial emotional distress.

The term retaliation means any act or attempted act taken because of a person’s participation in a protected activity that would discourage a reasonable person from engaging in protected activity.

The term sex discrimination includes forms of sex-based discrimination and harassment that do not fall within sexual misconduct, relationship violence or stalking.

An information report is a report that was received by the Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence and Stalking Response Team.

Resources and support were offered to the reporting person, but the incident was not able to be categorized due to lack of information.

The statistics included in this document include all reports received by the University, regardless of where/when the reported incidents occurred or the identity of the reported respondent. Reports are loosely categorized by type, for example: reports of cat-calling are included within sexual harassment, although some instances of catcalling may not rise to the level of a policy violation.

For more information and for complete definitions of prohibited conduct, please see UTC’s Policy on Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating and Domestic Violence and Stalking, available at utc.edu/sexual-misconduct.

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Total Reports

153

2016

192

2017

221

2018

239

2019 2020

196

All of the below statistics are for reports received during the calendar year 2020.

Incidents By Type SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

90

RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE

53 13

STALKING RETALIATION

2

VIOLATIONS OF NO CONTACT DIRECTIVES OTHER SEX DISCRIMINATION

4 1

INFORMATION REPORTS

33

Breakdown of Incidents of Sexual Misconduct SEXUAL ASSAULT/SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITHOUT CONSENT

32

SEXUAL ASSAULT/SEXUAL CONTACT WITHOUT CONSENT

11

SEXUAL ASSAULT/ UNKNOWN TYPE

13 7 27

SEXUAL EXPLOITATION SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Sexual Misconduct

Relationship Violence

Stalking

Retaliation

No Contact Directive Violation

Other Sex Discrimination

Information Report

TOTAL

Respondent Information

Complainant and/or Reporter Identified Respondent

35

19

6

2

4

1

15

82

Respondent not identified

46

34

6

0

0

0

10

96

9

0

1

0

0

0

8

18

90

53

13

2

4

1

33

196

Respondent Unknown to Complainant

Sexual Misconduct

Relationship Violence

Stalking

Retaliation

No Contact Directive Violation

Other Sex Discrimination

Information Report

TOTAL

TOTAL

Anonymous report; Complainant unknown

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

4

No investigation (Complainant declined to participate in process; did not file a formal complaint; or limited action request accepted)

12

6

3

1

0

1

7

30

Evidence did not support a finding of a policy violation based on the preponderance of the evidence

5

1

1

1

0

1

1

10

Respondent found responsible for violating the policy

8

1

2

0

1

2

0

14

Pending

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

Respondent not affiliated with the University

8

9

0

0

0

0

6

23

35

19

6

2

1

4

15

82

TOTAL

Case Resolutions Complainant and/or Reporter Identified Respondent

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CARE AND SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS This section provides information on supportive measures provided to students, faculty and staff involved in cases of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, retaliation and other types of sex discrimination.

Per UTC’s Policy on Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating and Domestic Violence and Stalking, supportive measures are offered to complainants, respondents and witnesses as needed. The goal of supportive measures is to ensure equal access to educational opportunities.

The following numbers reflect the top three types of supportive measures provided to individuals who were involved in cases reported during calendar year 2020. Supportive measures provided to individuals during calendar year 2020, but whose cases were reported prior to 2020, are not included here.

Supportive measures Advocacy: 24 Academic Support: 170 No contact directives: 74 Advocacy through UTC’s Survivor Advocacy Services, which is located within the Center for Women and Gender Equity, is offered to every students, faculty and staff member who reports having experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking or retaliation. A Survivor Advocate is available to accompany student, faculty and staff members to all University meetings regarding an incident and to all potential criminal and civil court proceedings.

Academic supportive measures include class excuses, delayed exams, make-up work, exceptions to the withdrawal deadline, tutoring and other measures intended to support a student’s academic progress.

A no-contact directive is a communication from the University, normally to both the Complainant and the Respondent, directing them that they may not communicate with one another or engage in various other types of behavior.

Supportive measures are determined after consultation with the student involved, and faculty and staff members, as necessary. They vary greatly from case to case, depending upon the needs of the student. For a list of other available supportive measures, please reference UTC’s Policy on Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating and Domestic Violence, and Stalking.

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Let’s continue the conversation...

Let’s continue the conversation...

CONFIDENTIAL (ON-CAMPUS):

Counseling Center 338 University Center (423) 425-4438 after hours; weekends contact (423) 425-CARE Survivor Advocacy Services 118 Lupton Hall (423) 425-5648

GET SUPPORT

CONFIDENTIAL (OFF-CAMPUS):

Partnership for Families, Children and Adults 24/7 domestic violence and sexual assault crisis hotline: (423) 755-2700

TITLE IX COORDINATOR

Stephanie Rowland 303 University Center (423) 425-4255 Stephanie-Rowland@utc.edu OFFICE OF STUDENT CONDUCT

310 University Center (423) 425-4301

REPORT TO THE UNIVERSITY

ANONYMOUS REPORTING

utc.edu/report

UTC POLICE DEPARTMENT

(423) 425-HELP/4357

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a comprehensive, community-engaged campus of the University of Tennessee System.

UTC is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution.