A complainant initiates the formal complaint process by filing a formal complaint with the Title IX Office. The formal complaint must be in writing and include the complainant's physical or digital signature. Formal complaints may be filed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week by completing, signing, and emailing the JMU Title IX Office formal complaint form to titleix@jmu.edu.

A complainant is not required to use the formal complaint form to file a formal complaint and may instead choose an alternative written format such as a letter or email, but the letter or email must include all information in the items on the formal complaint form and must include the physical or digital signature of the complainant. Title IX Office location and mailing address.

The decision to initiate a formal complaint will generally rest with the complainant. Filing criteria/eligibility may vary according to policy. Individuals who wish to initiate a formal complaint are encouraged to review the policy applicable to their complaint prior to filing.

Third parties may not initiate a formal complaint process for a complainant and complaint must include the complainant's physical or digital signature. Upon receipt of a formal complaint, the Title IX Office will reach out to the complainant to confirm that the complainant filed the complaint for themselves. Guidelines for who can initiate a formal complaint process may vary by policy. Third parties may and are encouraged to report alleged incidents of sexual misconduct or Title IX sexual harassment to the Title IX Office using our online reporting form. 

If the university determines there is an elevated risk to individual or campus safety, the university may elect to override the preference of a complainant and instruct the Title IX Coordinator to move forward with initiating a formal complaint and to conduct an investigation. The Title IX Coordinator will not serve as the complainant in such cases. The complainant will be informed of the decision and invited to participate in the process.

The filing of a formal complaint is meant to be an accessible process without barriers. The Title IX office invites complainants who may not be able, for any reason, to file a formal complaint in the format recommended in these procedures to contact the Title IX office for assistance.  Such assistance is not to be in any way construed as pressure to file a formal complaint or a presumption on the part of the Title IX office that a violation of policy has occurred.

Upon receipt of a written formal complaint, The Title IX Office will contact the complainant to confirm receipt of the formal complaint, verify that the complainant completed and submitted the formal complaint for themselves, confirm the complainant's choice of procedures (may choose to initiate either an investigation and hearing process or, if available, an alternative resolution process), review the procedures that will be used to investigate the formal complaint, including the right to bring an advisor of choice to any formal complaint meeting and proceedings, and discuss reasonably available supportive measures and resources. The Notice of Allegation generally will not be sent until the complainant has responded to confirm requested information.