Volume III: EthicsChapter C: Equal OpportunityResponsible Executive: Vice President for Ethics and ComplianceResponsible Office: Office of the Vice President for Ethics and ComplianceDate Issued: August 14, 2020Date Last Revised: August 12, 2025
ContactsStatement of PolicyReason for This PolicyIndividuals and Entities AffectedExclusionsResponsibilitiesDefinitions (defined terms are capitalized throughout the document)Related Documents, Forms and ToolsWebsite Address for This PolicyHistory and UpdatesAppendix
Vice President for Ethics and Compliance765-494-5830 | vpec@purdue.eduErnest C. Young Hall155 S. Grant St.West Lafayette, IN 47907
Fort Wayne: Office for Civil Rights Compliance260-481-6107 | hr@pfw.edu | HR and OCRC Staff
PNW Hammond Campus: Office for Civil Rights219-989-3169 | civilrights@pnw.edu
PNW Westville Campus: Office for Civil Rights219-785-5545 | civilrights@pnw.edu
West Lafayette: Office for Civil Rights765-494-7255 | ocr@purdue.edu
For all emergencies, dial 911.Non-emergency reports may be made using the contacts below.
Fort Wayne Title IX Coordinator: Christine M. Marcuccilli260-481-6107 | marcuccc@pfw.edu Kettler Hall, Room 1442101 E. Coliseum Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46805
PNW Hammond Campus Title IX Coordinator: Laura Odom219-989-3169 | odoml@pnw.edu Lawshe Hall, Room 2182200 169th St. Hammond, IN 46323
PNW Westville Campus Title IX Coordinator: Laura Odom219-785-5545 | odoml@pnw.eduSchwarz Hall, Room 1501401 S. U.S. Highway 421Westville, IN 46391
West Lafayette Title IX Coordinator: Christina Wright765-494-7255 | titleix@purdue.edu Ernest C. Young Hall155 S. Grant St.West Lafayette, IN 47907
Fort Wayne:
PNW Hammond Campus:
PNW Westville Campus:
West Lafayette:
Purdue University is committed to maintaining an environment that recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding and mutual respect; and encourages its members to strive to reach their potential. The most effective way to work toward preventing Title IX Harassment is through education that emphasizes respect for every individual.
It is essential that Purdue University demonstrate its intellectual and ethical leadership by reaffirming its strong position against Title IX Harassment in all forms. All members of the University community must be able to pursue their goals, educational needs and working lives without intimidation or injury generated by Title IX Harassment.
Title IX Harassment in the workplace or the educational environment is unacceptable conduct and will not be tolerated. Purdue University is committed to maintaining an educational and work climate for faculty, staff and students that is positive and free from all forms of Title IX Harassment. This policy addresses Title IX Harassment toward individuals for reasons of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. The University will not tolerate Title IX Harassment of its faculty, staff or students by persons conducting business with or visiting the University, even though such persons are not directly affiliated with the University.
This policy applies to the programs and activities of Purdue University in the United States, to conduct that takes place on the campus or on property owned or controlled by the University in the United States, at University-sponsored events in the United States, or in buildings located in the United States that are owned or controlled by a Recognized Student Organization.
This policy seeks to encourage faculty, staff and students to report and address incidents of Title IX Harassment. The Procedures for Resolving Complaints of Title IX Harassment, as issued and updated from time to time by the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance, describe the necessary steps for filing complaints of Title IX Harassment.
The University reserves the right to investigate circumstances that may involve Title IX Harassment in situations where the impacted party declines to file a Formal Complaint. In appropriate circumstances, sanctions in accordance with this policy will be implemented where the Title IX Coordinator has filed a Formal Complaint.
To determine whether a particular act or course of conduct constitutes Title IX Harassment under this policy, the alleged behavior will be evaluated by considering the totality of the particular circumstances, including the nature, frequency, intensity, location, context and duration of the questioned behavior. Such behavior must be so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies an individual equal access to a program or activity of the University.
Freedom of thought and expression are the lifeblood of our academic community and require an atmosphere of mutual respect among diverse persons, groups and ideas. The maintenance of mutually respectful behavior is a precondition for the vigorous exchange of ideas, and it is the policy of the University to promote such behavior in all forms of expression and conduct. The University reaffirms its commitment to freedom of speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Accordingly, any form of speech or conduct that is protected by the First Amendment is not subject to this policy. The University reaffirms its commitment to academic freedom, which is essential to its educational mission and is critical to diversity and intellectual life.
Any individual or group of individuals found to have violated this policy will be subject to disciplinary and/or remedial action, up to and including termination of employment or expulsion from the University. Faculty and staff who are determined to have violated this policy also may be held personally liable for any damages, settlement costs or expenses, including attorney fees incurred by the University.
The University strongly encourages students to report instances of Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence or Stalking. Therefore, students who provide information regarding Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence or Stalking will not be disciplined by the University for any violation of the Regulations Governing Student Conduct relating to drug or alcohol possession or consumption in which they might have engaged in connection with the reported incident of possible Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence or Stalking.
This policy may not be used to bring charges against any faculty, staff, students or Recognized Student Organizations, including fraternities, sororities and/or cooperatives, in bad faith. Disciplinary action will be taken against any person or group found to have brought a charge of Title IX Harassment in bad faith or any person who, in bad faith, is found to have encouraged another person or group to bring such a charge. In addition, individuals who, in bad faith, provide false statements or evidence, or who deliberately mislead a University official conducting an investigation under this policy may be subject to discipline under this policy or another University policy or process.
Making a good faith report of Title IX Harassment that is not later substantiated is not considered a false statement. Similarly, a determination regarding responsibility, alone, is not sufficient to conclude that any individual made a materially false statement in bad faith.
The University prohibits Retaliation against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX, or because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in a Title IX Harassment investigation, proceeding or hearing.
The University offers education and primary prevention, risk reduction and awareness programs for students, faculty and staff concerning Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence and Stalking.
This policy augments, but does not supersede, other University policies covering discrimination or harassment. Although Title IX Harassment as described and prohibited by this policy includes a wide range of behavior, it does not include certain harassing or discriminatory conduct, even though that conduct may be otherwise unlawful, offensive or prohibited by other University policies.
This policy is designed to prevent and sanction incidents of Title IX Harassment within the Purdue University community. The University believes that Title IX Harassment is repugnant and inimical to our most basic values.
As a land-grant university, Purdue University is committed to the principles of equal opportunity in education and employment. We take seriously our responsibility to provide leadership in ensuring that equal opportunity is the norm rather than an aspiration.
This policy helps to promote this commitment through compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
All Purdue University community members.
There are no exclusions to this policy.
Vice President for Ethics and Compliance
Chancellors
Vice Presidents, Vice Chancellors, Vice Provosts and Deans
Title IX Coordinators
Mandatory Reporters
Administrators, Supervisors, and Individuals and Offices Designated as a Resource for Assistance with Title IX Harassment
Individuals Who Believe They Have Experienced or Witnessed Title IX Harassment
All defined terms are capitalized throughout the document. Refer to the central Policy Glossary for additional defined terms.
Consent/Consensual Affirmative, clear communication given by words or actions that shows an active, knowing and voluntary agreement to engage in mutually agreed-upon sexual activity. Consent is given freely and voluntarily. Consent may not be inferred from silence, passivity or when an individual is Incapacitated or otherwise prevented from giving Consent as a result of impairment due to a mental or physical condition or age. No Consent exists when there is a threat of force or physical or psychological violence.
Although Consent may be given initially, it may be withdrawn at any point without regard to activity preceding the withdrawal of Consent.
The voluntary nature of Consent will be subject to heightened scrutiny in circumstances where someone who has power or authority within the University over another person engages in a sexual relationship with that person.
Dating Violence Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim.
Domestic ViolenceFelony or misdemeanor crimes of violence (including threats or attempts) committed:
Incapacitated/Incapacitation A mental state in which an individual cannot make rational decisions because they lack the capacity to give knowing Consent (e.g., to understand the who, what, where, why and how of their sexual interaction). Such Incapacitation may be caused by alcohol or other drug use, sleep or unconsciousness. Intoxication is not equivalent to Incapacitation.
Mandatory Reporters Individuals employed by the University who hold a title of or equivalent to President, Chancellor, vice president, vice chancellor, vice provost, dean, department head and director, as well as employees in supervisory or management roles, and staff who have authority to institute corrective measures on behalf of the University.
Retaliation Any overt or covert act of reprisal, interference, restraint, penalty, discrimination, intimidation or harassment against any person or group for reporting or complaining of Title IX Harassment, assisting, participating, or refusing to participate in the investigation of a complaint of Title IX Harassment, or enforcing this policy.
Sexual Assault An offense that meets the definition of rape, fondling, incest or statutory rape as used in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. As indicated in the National Incident-Based Reporting System User Manual from the FBI UCR Program, a sex offense is “any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.”
Rape: The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.
Fondling: The intentional touching of the clothed or unclothed body parts without consent of the victim for the purpose of sexual degradation, sexual gratification, or sexual humiliation; or the forced touching by the victim of the actor’s clothed or unclothed body parts, without consent of the victim for the purpose of sexual degradation, sexual gratification, or sexual humiliation. Fondling includes instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of age or incapacity due to temporary or permanent mental or physical impairment or intoxication for the purpose of sexual degradation, sexual gratification, or sexual humiliation.
Incest: Sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
Statutory Rape: Sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.
Stalking Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to:
For the purposes of this definition:
Title IX Harassment Conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:
Board of Trustees resolution dated December 18, 2010
Policies
Procedures for Resolving Complaints of Title IX Harassment
University Title IX website
Regulations Governing Student Conduct:
Websites for governing bodies with oversight for applicable laws and regulations:
www.purdue.edu/policies/ethics/iiic4.html
August 12, 2025: Updated the definition of fondling within the definition of Sexual Assault to match federal guidance.
June 30, 2025: Further clarified false statements and the definition of Domestic Violence.
April 21, 2025: Clarified that good faith reports are not considered false if unsubstantiated. Updated links and references.
October 1, 2024: Contacts section updated.
August 1, 2021: Interim status removed.
August 14, 2020: Policy adopted.
There are no appendices to this policy.