The institution takes reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community.
Non-Compliance
The
institution takes reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure
environment for all members of the campus community. The Vice President for Student Affairs and
the Vice President for Administration and Finance have oversight for ensuring a
safe and secure environment for the institution. The institution has multiple departments that
are responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of students, faculty, staff
and visitors, including Public Safety (Police Department), Environmental Health
and Safety, Facilities Management, and Counseling and Testing Center.
The
institution has an Emergency Operations Center and follows the National
Incident Management System method of emergency planning. There are multiple planning documents,
programs, services, and policies in place including student health services,
emergency preparedness and emergency response plans, code blue phones,
anti-hazing, biosafety plans, building inspections, boat operator safety, drug
and alcohol policy, and students of concern team resources. There also are multiple training programs
such as required annual sexual harassment training for all employees. The required Annual Safety Report is published
by the institution.
The
institution did not address whether it has had an investigation by the U.S.
Department of Education Office of Civil Rights for possible violations alleging
sexual violence.
In response to the Off-Site Review Committee’s inquiry as
to whether the institution has had an investigation by the U.S. Department of
Education Office of Civil Rights, there were no cases filed with the Dallas
Office for Civil Rights for the time frame from January 1, 2010 – November 29,
2019, involving the specific issue of Title IX, sexual violence.
Additionally, Mr. Paul Thomas is the Title IX
Officer for the University. The Title IX Officer has full authority over
enforcement as it relates to sexual harassment and other prohibited sexual
conduct.
Teressa LeDay is the Title IX Coordinator for
the University. The Title IX Coordinator is the designated agent of the University with primary
responsibility for coordinating University Title IX compliance efforts. The
Title IX Coordinator’s responsibilities are critical to the development,
implementation, and monitoring of meaningful efforts to comply with Title IX
legislation, regulation, and case law. Additionally, the Title IX Coordinator
oversees monitoring of University policy in relation to Title IX legal
developments; implementation of grievance procedures, including notification,
investigation and disposition of complaints; provision of educational materials
and training for the campus community; conducting and/or coordinating
investigations of complaints received pursuant to Title IX; ensuring a fair and
neutral process for all parties; and monitoring all other aspects of the
University’s Title IX compliance.