A Quick Guide To the Safe Academic & Work Environment, Sexual Misconduct, and Title IX Policies

The following excerpts are from the Mars Hill University Student Handbook. Please see the handbook for complete policies and definitions.

Members of the Mars Hill University community, guests, and visitors have the right to be free from all forms of sex/gender harassment, discrimination, and misconduct, examples of which can include acts of sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. All members of the campus community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. The university believes in zero tolerance for sex/gender-based misconduct. Zero tolerance means that when an allegation of misconduct is brought to an appropriate administrator’s attention, protective and other remedial measures will be used to reasonably ensure that such conduct ends, is not repeated, and the effects on the victim and community are remedied, including serious sanctions when a responding party is found to have violated this policy. This policy has been developed to reaffirm these principles and is intended to define community expectations and Mars Hill University’s model procedures.

The university’s sex/gender harassment, discrimination and misconduct policies are not meant to inhibit or prohibit educational content or discussions inside or outside of the classroom that include controversial or sensitive subject matters protected by academic freedom. Academic freedom extends to topics that are pedagogically appropriate and germane to the subject matter of courses or that touch on academic exploration of matters of public concern.

The university’s Title IX Coordinator oversees compliance with all aspects of the sex/gender harassment, discrimination and misconduct policy. The Coordinator reports to the President of the university, and is housed in the office of Human Resources. Questions about this policy should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator. Anyone wishing to make a report relating to discrimination or harassment may do so by reporting the concern to the university Title IX Coordinator:

Jennie Matthews
Director of Human Resources / Title IX Coordinator
Nash Education Building Room 209
(828) 689-1197
jmatthews@mhu.edu

Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination also have the right to file a formal grievance with government authorities:

Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
US Dept. of Health and Human Services – Southeast Region
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303-8909 Customer Response Center (800) 368-1019
Fax (202) 619-3818 TDD (800) 537-7697
Email: ocrmail@hhs.gov

In the event that an incident involves alleged misconduct by the Title IX Coordinator, reports should be made directly to the University President, Tony Floyd, J.D. at tony_floyd@mhu.edu.

Anonymous Title IX Reporting Form