The Title IX Office receives and responds to reports of dating and domestic violence, non-consensual relationships, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and stalking involving members of the JMU community. Reports regarding other forms of discrimination on the basis of sex, or on the basis of another protected class, may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity.
A report is any notice received by the Title IX Office, orally or in writing, that describes an alleged instance of sexual misconduct (Policy 1340) or Title IX sexual harassment (Policy 1346) by or against a student, employee, affiliate, or visitor, whether or not the individuals involved are identified by name.
Anyone may report to the Title IX Office, or contact the Title IX Office for a consultation about reporting, in any of the following ways.
- Complete the online reporting form
- Call 540-568-5219
- Email titleix@jmu.edu
- Visit our office in Holland Yates Hall, 4th floor
- Send mail to us at Title IX Office, Attn: Title IX Coordinator, MSC 7806, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
See Initial Actions Upon Receipt of a Report below for next steps.
All university employees, except those designated as confidential resources or those otherwise exempt under policy, are responsible for disclosing to the Title IX Office any reports of behavior that may constitute sexual misconduct (Policy 1340) or Title IX sexual harassment (Policy 1346) received within the course of their employment. If you are unsure of your status or whether the information you received falls under university policy, please contact the Title IX Office to consult.
For more information, see Responsible Employee Reporting below.
Additional Information
Upon receipt of a report, the Title IX Office will contact the complainant(s), if possible, to discuss the availability of supportive measures and to explain the process for filing a formal complaint should the complainant(s) so choose. In cases of anonymous reports, the university's ability to respond may be limited.
A complainant is not required to file a formal complaint in order to request supportive measures, and unless a requested supportive measure directly involves the respondent (e.g., a two-way no-contact order), the Title IX Office will generally not contact the respondent(s) in response to a report.
The Title IX Office will also identify any immediate health or safety concerns raised by a report. The specific procedures the university uses to determine if emergency removal is justified for a respondent can be found in Policy 1115: Violence Prevention.
If the report alleges sexual violence, the Title IX Office will refer the report to the Sexual Violence Review Committee to determine if the report should be sent to law enforcement to protect the health or safety of any individual. (Va. Code § 23.1-806) The complainant’s wishes, if known, will be considered in determining whether a report will be shared with law enforcement. If a disclosure to law enforcement is deemed necessary, the Title IX Office will notify the complainant(s).
If a report alleges another form of conduct prohibited by university policy and/or law, except those afforded amnesty as described below, the Title IX Office may refer the information directly to the university authority responsible for receiving and responding to those reports and/or law enforcement. The Title IX Office will notify the complainant(s) of any referrals.
The Title IX Office does not assess or determine responsibility for policy violations alleged in reports or formal complaints. The presumption is that no policy violation has occurred unless proven otherwise at the conclusion of a campus adjudication process by a preponderance of the evidence.
A complainant may choose to make a report to the Title IX Office and may also choose to make a report to law enforcement. Reports to law enforcements are separate and distinct from reports to the Title IX Office. A complainant may pursue either or both of these reporting options simultaneously.
- Individuals who wish to pursue a criminal process should contact the JMU Police Department, the Harrisonburg Police Department, or the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office directly.
- Individuals who wish to seek a protective order, which is separate and distinct from a two-way no-contact order through the Title IX Office, may contact law enforcement directly or seek assistance in contacting law enforcement through Victim Advocacy Services or the Collins Center.
- Complainants may request campus safety escort services directly through the JMU Police Department or through the Title IX Office.
- For individuals who have experienced dating or domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the JMU Police Department Complainant’s Rights outlines recommended actions, such as evidence preservation, and the rights they can expect when reporting to law enforcement.
The university prohibits retaliation against a group or individual exercising rights under and/or participating in, or refusing to participate in, any procedures under Policy 1340 or Policy 1346. Retaliation constitutes a form of misconduct and may result in sanctions separate from, and not dependent on, the outcome of any report or formal complaint.
Any individual may make a report of retaliation to the Title IX Office. Claims of retaliation against students will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (OSARP). Claims of retaliation against employees and affiliates will be referred to Human Resources or Academic Affairs, as applicable. OSARP, Human Resources, and Academic Affairs will evaluate and adjudicate retaliation claims according to standard procedures for alleged misconduct. Procedures for retaliation claims will be prompt and equitable.
All employees of the university are responsible employees except for those designated as a confidential resource or otherwise exempted in Policy 1340 or Policy 1346.
If a responsible employee, within the course of their regular, paid duties, receives information regarding an incident of sexual misconduct or Title IX sexual harassment involving a member of the JMU community, the responsible employee must report all relevant information directly to the Title IX Office as soon as practicable.
Relevant information includes all details about the alleged incident that the complainant or third-party reporter has shared and that the Title IX Office will need to make an initial assessment, such as the names of the respondent, the complainant, and other individuals who are potential witnesses and the date, time, and location of any incidents that were disclosed to the responsible employee.
The responsible employee is encouraged to take appropriate steps to address the immediate needs of the individual making the report but will not investigate allegations or pressure the complainant to disclose information not freely given to the responsible employee.
The responsible employee must inform any individual who has disclosed information concerning an alleged incident of sexual harassment that as a responsible employee, they are required to disclose the information to the Title IX Office. If the complainant or third-party reporter is requesting confidentiality or to remain anonymous, the responsible employee can share that request with the Title IX Office but cannot withhold the identity of the complainant or third-party reporter from the Title IX Office.
Referring the report to a confidential resource, law enforcement, or a university authority other than the Title IX Office does not fulfill the responsible employee’s reporting obligation.
- If an individual discloses an experience of dating or domestic violence, non-consensual relationship, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, or stalking to you, you are encouraged to listen and refrain from offering your opinions. Do not ask the individual for more information beyond what they voluntarily provide, unless necessary to address immediate safety concerns.
- If timing allows, you may gently interrupt the individual to let them know that you are required to report to the Title IX Office. Let them know that there are confidential resources on campus if they would prefer to speak to someone who is not required to report. Offer to connect them to Victim Advocacy Services (students), the Counseling Center (students), the Collins Center (students and employees), or another confidential resource.
- You may assure the individual that a report to the Title IX Office does not mean that they will have to take any particular action and that in general the person alleged to have caused harm will not be notified. It means the individual who reported will be given access to support and information regarding their options.
- Let the individual know what information you will be sharing and who you will be sharing it with. Keep the information confidential beyond what you are required to share.
- Share that the Title IX Office will send the individual an introductory email with information about resources but that the individual is not obligated to respond.
- Follow the established reporting protocol for the office or department you are working in and report to the Title IX Office.
- Consider checking back with the individual a short time later and offer to connect them with support resources if they would like.