Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is a Catholic institution, sponsored by the Congregation of Divine Providence. The staff and faculty at OLLU place a high commitment to the core values of community, integrity, trust, and service, and it is our policy to provide an educational experience and workplace free of sexual misconduct. OLLU prohibits sexual misconduct, which includes sex and gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and violence, including acts of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, which may also constitute crimes. OLLU has a responsibility to address sexual misconduct in accordance with several federal laws including, but not limited to, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Violence Against Women Act, the Clery Act and the Campus Save Act as well as Texas state laws, including Ch 51 of the Texas Education Code.
University programs and activities that receive federal funding must comply with all federal and state laws. No individual shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity operated by the University. These programs and activities may include, but are not limited to admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, student services, counseling and guidance, discipline, classroom assignment, grading, vocational education, recreation, physical education, athletics, housing and student employment.
OLLU not only complies with all state and federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, and federal government contracts/programs, but it has also instituted comprehensive education and primary prevention programs as well as grievance procedures which strive to ensure integrity and trust when complaints regarding sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking emerge.
Victims of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking have a right to report the incident to OLLU and to receive a prompt and equitable resolution of the report. Victims of a crime have a right to choose whether to report the crime to law enforcement, to be assisted by OLLU in reporting the crime to law enforcement or to decline to report the crime to law enforcement. Nevertheless, it is important that a victim go to a hospital for treatment and preservation of evidence, if applicable, as soon as practicable after the incident. Preserving evidence may assist in proving that the alleged criminal offense occurred or may be helpful in obtaining a protection order.
We believe that all human beings are inherently sacred and deserve dignity and respect and every community member is expected to be respectful in all interactions as part of the learning experience.
New Federal Title IX Regulations
On Friday, April 19, 2024, the Department of Education released the long-awaited final Title IX regulations, under the Education Amendment of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The new regulations were supposed to be effective on August 1, 2024. However, these regulations are currently not in effect due to an injunction issued by the Texas courts.
The injunction was granted as part of ongoing legal challenges to certain provisions of the new regulations. The court has decided to temporarily halt the implementation of these regulations while it reviews the legal arguments presented. As a result, our institution, along with others across the country, will continue to follow the 2020 Title IX regulations until further notice.
More information about the unpublished new Title IX regulations is available from the U.S. Department of Education at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/newsroom.html.
View Full Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy and Grievance Procedures
Reporting Title IX Sexual Misconduct
Victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, or persons who have information regarding these crimes, are strongly encouraged to immediately report the incident to the OLLU Police Department, or police department within the jurisdiction of the incident. OLLUPD will report acts of sexual misconduct to the OLLU Title IX Coordinator.
Notice of alleged policy violations, or inquiries about or concerns regarding the Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy may be made using any of the following options:
- File a Title IX Sexual Misconduct incident report at any time, using the Title IX reporting form
. File a complaint with, or give verbal notice to, the Title IX Coordinator may be
made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number
or email address, or by mail to the office address, listed for the Title IX Coordinator.
Anonymous reports are accepted but may require more information to investigate. OLLU tries to provide supportive measures to all Complainants, which is impossible with an anonymous report. Because reporting carries no obligation to initiate a formal response, and as OLLU respects Complainant requests to dismiss complaints unless there is a compelling threat to health and/or safety, the Complainant is largely in control and should not fear a loss of privacy by making a report that allows OLLU to discuss and/or provide supportive measures. Even if sanctions against a particular individual cannot be sought, anonymous reports can assist the Title IX Coordinator in identifying areas of campus concern and can lead to positive systemic changes. NOTE: OLLU employees cannot fulfill their mandatory reporting requirements by reporting anonymously.
OLLU encourages anyone impacted by or experiencing sexual misconduct to talk to someone about what happened, so they can get the support they need and OLLU can respond appropriately. To obtain confidential resources and advocacy, contact the OLLUCares Confidential Advisors at ollucares@ollusa.edu.
- Complaints regarding students or employees can also be made externally to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) http://www.ed.gov/ocr and complaints involving employees to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) https://www.eeoc.gov/contact-eeoc .
Resources
University and Community Support Resources
Title IX Coordinator
The Title IX Coordinator is designated by OLLU to ensure compliance with Title IX and authorized to coordinate OLLU’s efforts to comply with its responsibilities under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Act. The Title IX Coordinator oversees OLLU’s efforts related to the intake, investigation, resolution, and implementation of supportive measures to stop, remediate, and prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation prohibited under the Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy. The Title IX Coordinator may designate Title IX Deputy Coordinators or other appropriate administrators for specific tasks.
The Title IX Coordinator
Guadalupe (Lupita) Marquez, PdD, MLS
Compliance Officer/Title IX Coordinator
Our Lady of the Lake University
411 S.W. 24th Street
Moye Hall, Room 312
San Antonio, TX 78207
Office - 210-431-4122
Cell - 210-214-2764
titleIX@ollusa.edu
Title IX Deputy Coordinators
The Title IX Deputy Coordinators are available to serve all constituents at OLLU. You are not required to go to the coordinator assigned to you as you can go to whoever you feel most comfortable. The Title IX Deputy Coordinators may reach out to the Title IX Coordinator and to other Title IX Deputy Coordinators within the OLLU community for assistance and to coordinate complaint investigation and resolution as they deem necessary and appropriate. Please note that all online faculty, staff and students should submit complaints to the San Antonio Campus contacts. Reports involving the Rio Grande Valley and Houston campuses will be investigated jointly by the contact on that campus and the San Antonio campus contacts.
Title IX Deputy Coordinators for Complaints Involving Students in Online and San Antonio Campus Programs:
Brittany Chozinski, PhD, Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology
Moye Hall, Room 203, San Antonio Campus
bachozinski@ollusa.edu
210-528-7119
Haley Holzem, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance
UWAC, Room 101D, San Antonio Campus
hrholzem@ollusa.edu
210-431-4150
Christine Somersett, Director of Center for Student Involvement
Main Building, Room 123, San Antonio Campus
cjsomersett@ollusa.edu
210-528-6811
Title IX Deputy Coordinator for Complaints Involving Students in Houston Campus and Rio Grande Valley Programs:
Cindy Mata-Vasquez, Director of RGV and Houston Campuses
Rio Grande Valley Campus
Office - 956-887-7350
cmata@ollusa.edu
Title IX Deputy Coordinators for Complaints Involving Employees:
Maria “Bonnie” Becerra, Human Resources Manager
Main Building, Room 125B, San Antonio Campus
mbecerra15@ollusa.edu
210-431-4045
Patricia Gomez, Assistant Director of Human Resources
Main Building, Room 125G, San Antonio Campus
pagomez@ollusa.edu
210-431-5550