Sexual Misconduct Policy

Reporting And Resources

Reporting And Resources

How to Report

The Title IX Coordinator will review all Prohibited Conduct allegations and make a determination if the conduct meets the criteria set forth by the 2020 Final Rule Title IX regulations.

Any PLU community member who believes they have been subjected to Prohibited Conduct is an Impacted Party, and is encouraged to report such a concern. Individuals may report Prohibited Conduct in several ways:

  • Submit a report online: anyone is able to electronically submit a report via the online Incident Reporting Form. Impacted Parties can remain anonymous; however, the Title IX office will only be able to act on as much information as is given.
  • Contact the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Coordinators via email or phone: 
  • Jennifer Childress-White, Assistant Dean of Students, Title IX Coordinator (childrjl@plu.edu, titleix@plu.edu, or 253.535.7361)
  • Gretchen Howell, Director for HR, Deputy Title IX Coordinator (crosgrgm@plu.edu, or 253.535.7329)
  • Eva Frey, Dean of Students, Deputy Title IX Coordinator (eva.frey@plu.edu, or 253.535.7462)
  • Submit a report via mail to Pacific Lutheran University at:
    Title IX Coordinator
    Pacific Lutheran University, 12180 Park Avenue S, Tacoma, WA 98447
  • PLU community members may make a report directly to local law enforcement officials by calling 911, or through contacting Campus Safety at 253-535-7441 (non-emergency line) /253-535-7911 (emergency line), who can assist in filing a report with local law enforcement.
  • With the exception of staff who are identified as Confidential Resources because of their licensure, all faculty, staff, administration, Resident Assistants, and Campus Safety student employees are considered “Responsible Employees”, also referred to Mandatory Reporters, for all incidents related to Prohibited Conduct. They are required to file a report when they have knowledge of, or have received information alleging potential Prohibited Conduct. 

There is no time limit on making a report, or submitting a Formal Complaint, but prompt reporting is encouraged in order to provide support to those impacted, and to secure appropriate evidence and information. Allegations regarding active students, staff, or faculty will be subject to the direct application of university policy and university authority, whereas graduates or those no longer enrolled or employed by PLU may require alternative pathways for response. Any person with knowledge of an alleged Prohibited Conduct is encouraged to report concerns or information to any of the above listed individuals.

All of the above individuals are considered private sources. This means the offices will keep the information as private as possible, but certain procedures will need to be followed once reported.

Confidentiality and Confidential Resources

Confidentiality. The University will make reasonable and appropriate efforts to preserve an Impacted Party’s and Respondent’s privacy and to protect the confidentiality of information. Should an Impacted Party request confidentiality, the Title IX Coordinator will inform the Impacted Party that the University’s ability to respond may therefore be limited – but that where feasible, the University will take reasonable steps to prevent Prohibited Conduct and limit its effects

The Title IX Coordinator will further inform the Impacted Party that it is not possible to provide confidentiality in all cases and that the University’s decision to share information with others is subject to the balancing test described below in Section VII. In summary, although the University’s goal is to limit the number of individuals who may learn about an allegation of Prohibited Conduct or an investigation, the University cannot guarantee confidentiality in all matters.

Confidential Resources

Should an individual not be prepared to make a report, but is seeking information and wanting a confidential resource, there are several options available. Individuals can explore different options without initiating further action from the University. The University encourages pastoral counselors and professional counselors, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform the parties they are counseling of any procedures to report crimes on a voluntary, confidential basis for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. These individuals/offices cannot and will not report the matter further, and reporting to any of these individuals/offices does not put the University on notice that Prohibited Conduct may have occurred.

  • Pacific Lutheran University Confidential Advocate
    • Website: Advocacy Services
    • Telephone: 253-535-8204
    • Office: Center for DJS, Anderson University Center 150
  • Pacific Lutheran University Counseling Services
    • Email: counseling@plu.edu
    • Telephone: 253-535-7206
    • Office: Anderson University Center 300
  • 988 Lifeline – for mental health emergencies (call or text 24/7)
  • TimelyCare – immediate access to mental health and medical care (24/7 app/online/phone)
  • Pacific Lutheran University Student Health Services
  • Pacific Lutheran University Campus Ministry
    • Email: cmin@plu.edu
    • Telephone: 253-535-7465
    • Office: Anderson University Center 190
  • Pierce County Sexual Assault Center – Rebuilding Hope
  • Pierce County Domestic Violence Helpline
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline
    • 1-800-656-HOPE
Private Resources

A report to the University may be made to any of the following offices or individuals. These are trained individuals who will initiate the University’s responsive action to a Prohibited Conduct report. While not bound by confidentiality, these resources will maintain the privacy of an individual’s information within the confines of the Title IX applicable processes

  • Pacific Lutheran University Campus Safety
  • Pacific Lutheran University Title IX Coordinator
  • Pacific Lutheran University Student Rights and Responsibilities
    • Email: srr@plu.edu
    • Telephone: 253-535-7462
    • Office: Wellbeing Services and Resources, 121st and Park Avenue S
  • Pacific Lutheran University Campus Life
    • Email: engage@plu.edu
    • Telephone: 253-535-7200
    • Office: Anderson University Center 161
  •  Pacific Lutheran University Human Resources
    • Email: humr@plu.edu
    • Telephone: 253-535-7185
    • Office: Hauge Suite 110

Reports to Law Enforcement

The University encourages anyone who believes they have experienced a violation of this Sexual Misconduct Policy to make a report through the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. PLU Campus Safety is willing and able to assist with referring Impacted Parties to this resource. The University also encourages Impacted Parties to be aware of the importance of preserving evidence that may assist in providing information that an alleged criminal offense occurred or may be helpful in obtaining a protection order. An Impacted Party may also, in their discretion, decline to notify law enforcement officials

Impacted Parties also have the right to seek other forms of relief from civil authorities, such as no contact orders, restraining orders, or similar. As set out in Section VI:A of this policy, the University may enact such no contact orders and take such other Interim Measures to assist the Impacted Party.

Anonymous Reports

The University welcomes members of the PLU community to submit anonymous reports of Prohibited Conduct, however, the University may not be able to fully address anonymous reports unless sufficient information is furnished, thus enabling the University to conduct a meaningful and fair investigation. If you are defined as a mandatory reporter, you must report and cannot be anonymous. The University takes anonymous reports seriously and will address the concern in whatever steps it deems appropriate, in the University’s sole discretion, and in the best interest of the overall University community.

The University will take steps to protect the confidentiality of the Impacted Party and others involved in the reporting process. Publicly available recordkeeping, including Clery Safe Campus Act reporting and disclosures will be done without personal identifying information about the Impacted Party. Additionally, the University will maintain as confidential as possible any accommodations or protective measures provided to the Impacted Party, to the extent that maintaining such confidentiality would not impair the ability of the institution to provide the accommodations or protective measures.

Certain situations may require the Title IX Coordinator to file a formal complaint on behalf of the University when Prohibited Conduct is reported that meets the definition of the 2020 Final Rule Title IX regulations, specifically conduct deemed “so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive”, or when there is an assessed threat to campus or individual safety. In these situations, anonymous reports may be included in those Title IX Coordinator complaints.

Complete confidentiality is not granted to individuals who choose to submit a formal complaint. Fundamental fairness and due process principles require that a Respondent knows the details of the allegations made against the Respondent, to the extent the details are known, to provide adequate opportunity for the Respondent to respond. In order for a grievance process to accurately resolve allegations that a Respondent has perpetrated sexual harassment against a Complainant, the Complainant’s identity must be disclosed to the Respondent, if the Complainant’s identity is known. However, the University will keep the identities of the Complainant, Respondent, and witnesses as private as possible, and unknown to anyone not involved in the grievance process, except as permitted by FERPA, or required by law.

Advisor/Support Person

The above resources can be utilized by both the Complainant(s) and the Respondent(s) for cases involving allegations of Prohibited Conduct. Throughout all Prohibited Conduct reporting and grievance processes, individuals are allowed to be accompanied by an individual of their choice as defined below:

  • Advisor – for sex-based harassment complaints involving a formal review process defined by the 2024 Final Rule Title IX regulations

The Complainant and the Respondent in an incident that meets the 2020 Final Rule Title IX criteria will have the right to an advisor of their choice, who may be, but need not be, an attorney. Parties may only select one advisor per grievance process; and if the party does not have an advisor present at the live hearing, the university will provide a trained member of the PLU community to serve in that capacity free of cost. An advisor’s role is to provide guidance through the Formal Process, and conduct cross-examination on the party’s behalf, as applicable. Parties are not permitted to conduct cross-examination themselves. The advisor may attend all meetings and interviews, but may not talk on behalf of the advisee. The party and the advisor may confer at reasonable times during the hearing as determined in the sole discretion of the Decision Makers.

 

  • Support Person -for incidents that are not sex-based harassment, but are sex discrimination or in the Student Code of Conduct purview

In regards to a Prohibited Conduct incident being responded to through other applicable university processes, parties may select one support person per conduct process. The support person must be a current member of the PLU community. A request should be made to the appropriate office at least 24-hours prior to the scheduled grievance meeting. If the request is approved, all parties involved in the Review Meeting will be afforded the same opportunity to have a support person present.

A support person is present for emotional support only and may not speak on the party’s behalf. The party and the support person may confer at reasonable times as determined in the sole discretion of the Review Officer(s).

Respect for Medical Amnesty Provisions

It is in the best interest of the PLU community for students and employees to report cases of Prohibited Conduct. The University wants to eliminate barriers for those hesitant to report incidents to university officials out of fear of being held accountable for policy violations, because of that, an individual who reports Prohibited Conduct, either as a Complainant or a Reporter, will have the University’s focus of the investigation on the Prohibited Conduct reported.