Dating Violence – Violence committed by an individual who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the Reporting individual’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the individuals involved in the relationship. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse. Dating violence does not include acts covered under the definition of domestic violence.

Domestic Violence – A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed: (a) by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim; (b) by an individual with whom the victim shares a child in common; (c) by an individual who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner; (d) by an individual similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the felony or misdemeanor crime of violence occurred; (e) by any other individual against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that individual’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the felony or misdemeanor crime of violence occurred.

Gender-Based Discrimination – Discrimination that involves treating someone unfavorably because of that person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Gender-Based Harassment – A wide range of offensive behaviors (verbal or non-verbal actions of aggression, intimidation, and hostility) based on gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. These behaviors do not need to be of a sexual nature but must place the receiving person in reasonable fear of physical harm, or objectively disrupt or interfere with their employment, education, or other activities related to their role at the University.

Non-Consensual Intimate Touching – Any unwelcome intentional sexual touching of another, which does not constitute sexual violence, without the consent of the other person or in circumstances in which the person is unable, due to incapacitation, to give consent.

Non-Consensual Intimate Penetration – category of sexual assault defined as any anal, vaginal, or oral penetration with an object or body part by a person(s) upon another person, without the consent of the other person or in circumstances in which the person is unable, due to incapacitation, to give consent.

Pregnancy Discrimination – Unfavorable treatment due to pregnancy or parental status.

Quid Pro Quo Harassment – An employee of the University conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the University on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;

Relationship Violence – Relationship Violence encompasses both dating and domestic violence. Dating violence is violence or a threat of harm between people who have or have had a relationship of a romantic or intimate nature, not living together in the same household. Domestic violence is violence or a threat of harm between family members or individuals living in the same household.

Retaliation – Any adverse action or behavior (or attempted adverse action or behavior) imposed against an individual as a result of their participation/ involvement in an investigation. To be retaliatory, the action or behavior must have a materially adverse effect on an individual’s employment, academics, living environment, or mental well-being. Allegations of retaliation should be immediately reported to the Title IX Coordinator; any individual responsible for retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action.

Sexual Assault – A form of sexual misconduct that includes a broad range of sexual acts that are unwanted by one party and do not have the knowing consent of all parties involved. Sexual Assault can be categorized as either Non-consensual Intimate touching or Non-consensual Sexual Penetration. Specific types of Sexual Assault include (but are not limited to): forcible touching, kissing, fondling, oral copulation, and intimate partner violence.

Sexual Exploitation – Taking non-consensual sexual advantage of an individual for the purpose of sexual gratification, financial gain, retribution, personal advantage, or any other illegitimate purpose. Examples include (but are not limited to) the following: observing, photographing, recording, or streaming another individual’s identifiable nudity, private parts, or sexual activity without their knowledge or consent – or – allowing another to observe, photograph, record or stream consensual sexual activity without the knowledge or consent of those in the act, causing or attempting to cause the incapacitation of another for the purpose of taking sexual advantage, distributing sexually explicit materials of another without their consent and/or the consent of the recipient, and knowingly exposing another to a sexually transmitted infection/disease without their knowledge/consent.

Sexual Harassment – Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed at a person that places another person in reasonable fear of physical harm, or objectively disrupts employment, education, research, living, or other activities.

Stalking/Cyberstalking – A course of conduct committed with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person that either place the person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to, that person, an immediate family member, a spouse or an intimate partner of that person; or causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a person listed above.