Policies and resources in place for survivors of campus sexual violence

Texas Baptist universities have similar—although not identical—policies in place for students who report incidents of sexual violence, and they have varied resources available for survivors.

One common denominator at all the schools is a desire to provide varied avenues to encourage students to report sexual abuse or harassment, and also to channel all complaints to a Title IX coordinator, who is held responsible and accountable.

Related articles about Title IX:

Sexual assaults at Baylor prompted other schools to examine policies

Texas Baptist universities educate students about sexual assault prevention
 

Title IX is the law that states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Baylor University was thrust into the national spotlight by reports of sexual assault, and the university has taken significant steps to implement changes. But the other universities affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas also have policies and resources related to sexual violence.

Wayland Baptist University

A page on the Wayland Baptist University website offers multiple phone numbers for students to call, not only at the main campus in Plainview, but also at a dozen other Wayland campuses. 

The Wayland site also includes an online complaint form a student can complete and personally deliver, mail or email to the Title IX coordinator. 

Wayland also informs students they have the right to file a separate criminal complaint with local law enforcement.

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor website similarly includes a page with detailed information. It instructs students with immediate safety concerns to call 911 first and then contact campus police.

Students are invited to make a report in person, by email or by mail to the vice president of human resources, who serves as UMHB Title IX coordinator, or to the dean of students or associate athletic director.

Baptist University of the Américas

Baptist University of the Américas encourages students to report any incident to the vice president of student services, who works as the Title IX coordinator.

Houston Baptist University

At Houston Baptist University, a student can report an incident to any faculty or staff member on campus, President Robert Sloan said.

“Faculty and the athletic staff have been instructed—and general staff are being instructed within the new training modules—to then report the issue to the university’s Title IX coordinator,” Sloan said. “Student life would then be brought in, as well, to provide support services.

“The student handbook clearly states any issue should be communicated to the office of the associate provost for student life or the university’s Title IX coordinator’s office.”

Hardin-Simmons University

At Hardin-Simmons University, any student who experiences, observes or hears about an incident involving sexual harassment or violence is urged to contact the dean of student engagement, who serves as the university’s Title IX coordinator. Students who are victims of any act of sexual violence on or off campus are urged to contact the Hardin-Simmons University Police Department.

“The university has a ‘blue light’ program, allowing students to press a button at a blue light station to directly contact university police if they have a safety or security issue on campus,” said Stacey Martin, Title IX coordinator at HSU.

Detailed information is available on a Title IX page of the HSU website. 

Howard Payne University

Howard Payne University invites students who need to report an incident of sexual assault to seek help from any residential life staff person, the HPU Department of Public Safety or any other university official. In an emergency, they are urged to call 911.

“Students are encouraged to report to local law enforcement, including HPU DPS, the dean of students and/or the Title IX coordinator,” said Kyle Mize, assistant vice president for communications. “Students are encouraged to report sexual violence immediately. Reports may be made by telephone, email, regular mail or in person.”

Students who are engaged in overseas study programs are instructed to contact the study abroad coordinator.

Dallas Baptist University

At Dallas Baptist University, a victim may directly contact the Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinator by email, phone or in person. Other potential points of contact include resident assistants, resident directors, the dean of students, the vice president for student affairs or any staff member in the student affairs office.

East Texas Baptist University

At East Texas Baptist University, students can report an incident to the Title IX coordinator or one of the deputy coordinators, any university faculty or staff member, a campus counselor, pastoral or ministry staff or to the director of security, compliance and accountability.

Students can find detailed information on at a Title IX page on the ETBU website.  It includes first steps and options regarding reporting, getting medical attention, preserving evidence and seeking counseling support.

Counseling and support for survivors

“In the event that a student is sexually assaulted, the university provides ongoing counseling services through the ETBU Counseling Care Center and spiritual development office,” said Heather Hadlock, vice president for student affairs and Title IX coordinator at ETBU. As needed, ETBU also refers students to off-campus counselors and organizations such as the Women’s Center of East Texas.

All Texas Baptist universities provide victims access to counseling—either through on-campus counseling services or through off-campus counselors. Hardin-Simmons, for example, partners with the Regional Crime Victim Center at Hendrick Health System to provide additional help to survivors.

While BUA does not have an on-site counselor, the school has funds available to allow student referrals to professional counselors in the area, said Mary Rangel, vice president of student services.

Law enforcement

The involvement of law enforcement depends on two factors—the age and the desire of the victim of sexual assault.

“University officials respond to every incident of sexual abuse that is reported,” Hadlock said regarding ETBU. “These incidents are only reported to local law enforcement if the victim wishes to do so. As an adult, the victim makes the choice as to whether or not they will report to local law enforcement. In the case that the victim is a minor, the university would report the incident to local law enforcement, as required by law.”

If a student wants to report to the local police, university officials will provide the victim contact information for the police department and offer assistance in filing the report.

“If the institution determines an individual to be a threat to the safety of others, measures are taken to address the situation with local law enforcement, while protecting the rights of the victim.”

Informed about the investigative process

At DBU, university officials seek to inform students about “the steps in the process that happen should an investigation occur, so that they know the process will be handled in a timely and fair manner, with a goal to provide help and counseling for them, as well as resolution to the incident,” President Adam Wright said.

“Likewise, sexual assault is a criminal matter, and we want the student to be able proceed with a criminal investigation with the local police if they choose to do so. With this in mind, we have a victim advocate who will work with our Title IX coordinator and the DBU Police Department to ensure that the victim is able to connect with the proper local police department if they want to press charges. The victim advocate will also help provide the victim with connections to medical help, our counseling center and other important resources.”

Campus police in partnership with local law enforcement

Personnel with the DBU Police Department are trained in handling reports of sexual abuse. However, they do not handle any incident in isolation from other law enforcement agencies.

“DBU has agreements in place with multiple local law enforcement agencies, and because of the robust resources available to those agencies in the investigation of sexual crimes, the DBU Police Department has a policy of referring all cases of sexual assault, sexual violence, or other serious sexual crimes to the Dallas Police Department,” Wright said.

“The Dallas Police Department will assume primary investigative responsibility for all reports of sexual violence, with DBU’s Police Department providing support to the DPD in any investigation relative to support services, collection and/or preservation of evidence, and coordination between any criminal investigation and an investigation conducted pursuant to Title IX.”

Victim advocate at DBU

At DBU, resources for survivors of sexual assault include a victim advocate to walk alongside the victimized student.

“As a Christian institution, we feel a deep calling to help victims in loving, caring and tangible ways,” Wright said. “Thus, we have designated a victim advocate who is assigned to help provide resources and support for victims throughout the investigation process.”

The victim advocate helps connect the victim with medical attention, local police, the university’s counseling center and other vital resources. The advocate also helps the victim understand how to make a report to the Title IX coordinator and know about the appropriate dates for hearings or meetings associated with the case.

“In every situation, the Title IX coordinator, in coordination with our vice president for student affairs and vice president for executive affairs, will first assess whether interim measures need to be taken to protect the victim,” Wright said.

Those measures could include a no-contact order, revision of academic schedule or accommodations regarding exams and assignments, change in housing arrangements, a change in work schedule or job assignment or removing the respondent from campus.

“These interim measures are important in helping to ensure the safety of the victim while the investigation is ongoing,” he said.