Our commitment to a safe and respectful campus

Washburn University upholds a strong commitment to creating and maintaining a campus environment free from sexual harassment, discrimination and misconduct. We take all reports seriously and respond promptly, equitably and with care for all parties involved.

Title IX policy

Washburn University is committed to providing an environment for individuals to participate in its education programs or activities free from sexual harassment or discrimination.

Sexual harassment is prohibited by Federal Law (commonly known as
Title IX) and by University policy.

Complaints of sexual harassment can be filed at any time, there is no filing deadline.

Members of the University community are encouraged to submit complaints of Sexual Harassment as soon as possible, preferably within six months of the incident or event that is the subject of the complaint. Delay in reporting an incident of Sexual Harassment may make it more difficult to secure evidence and witnesses to the incident, making it more difficult for the University to address the complaint. Delay in bringing a complaint also limits the University’s ability to stop recurrence of the harassment and ensure the safety and well-being and the University community.

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Confidential reporting

  • Not ready to make a formal report? You can talk with confidential campus or community resources to get support and information.
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Supportive & interim measures

  • Survivors can request changes to academic, living, transportation and working situations on campus.
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How to file a complaint

  • You have the right to report discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct. Learn how to start the process.
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Complaint process

  • Learn how Washburn reviews, investigates, and resolves complaints—and how long each step typically takes.

The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the Title IX policies

Michelle Godinet

Michelle Godinet

Title IX Equal Opportunity Director
Steven Bryant-Collier

Steven Bryant-Collier

Associate Dean Student Life, Washburn Tech
Danielle Dempsey-Swopes

Danielle Dempsey-Swopes

Associate Dean for Student Affairs, School of Law

Read the full policy

Read the full Title IX policy in Section A of Washburn University's Policies, Regulations and Procedures Manual (WUPRPM).

A note about consensual and familial relationships

Washburn University values professionalism, integrity, and fairness in all academic and workplace settings. To prevent conflicts of interest, favoritism, or the appearance of exploitation, employees and students must report any consensual or familial relationships where one person has authority over the other—such as teaching, supervising, advising or evaluating. Certain relationships, like those between faculty or staff and students they oversee, are not permitted. When a relationship is reported, the University works with those involved to create a mitigation plan that helps manage potential conflicts. Prompt disclosure provides a safe-harbor from discipline for failing to report, while failure to report may lead to corrective action. All reports are handled confidentially and retaliation is strictly prohibited.

Retaliation

No person may intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual (including any individual who intervened to stop or attempt to stop sexual harassment) for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX or the corresponding regulations, or because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this regulation or opposed this regulation or a practice under this regulation because it is discriminatory.

Any person who believes they have been retaliated against should report the retaliatory behavior to the Title IX Coordinator. Retaliation charges resulting from matters under this Title IX process shall be investigated and resolved through this Title IX process. Learn more about how to file a complaint.

FAQS

Yes. Washburn University offers amnesty for alcohol and drug violations in cases involving sexual violence or other forms of sex-based discrimination or harassment. Students who report an incident will not be disciplined for alcohol or drug use that occurred during the incident.

This policy encourages students to report sexual harassment, assault or misconduct without fear of punishment for related substance use. (See section 16.4.1.4 of the Title IX Regulations and Procedure in the WUPRPM)
Whether something is "objectively offensive" is determined using the reasonable person standard. For example, if you ask someone out for a date, the person you have invited may perceive this as being unwelcome and find the invitation offensive. However, the behavior must be looked at objectively in terms of how a reasonable person in the same situation as the individual who was invited out on a date would view the behavior (see 16.2.17). The reasonable person standard looks at how would most people in the invitee’s situation view the behavior, this is the objective view. Most people would not view a single request inviting someone on a date as offensive, so this would not meet the objectively offensive standard of the definition. (See section 16.2.17 of the Title IX Regulations and Procedure in the WUPRPM)

The University Title IX Policy applies to programs and activities that the University has substantial control over and it also includes any building owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the University. If the sexual harassment occurs while attending a University controlled/sponsored event even though it is off-campus, the Title IX Policy would be applied. (See section 16.2.9 of the Title IX Regulations and Procedure in the WUPRPM)

If the event was off campus and the University did not have control over the event or the building where the event was held, the Title IX Policy would not be applied. (See section 16.5.2 of the Title IX Regulations and Procedure in the WUPRPM)

However, supportive measures would still be available and referrals may be made to other offices at the University. (See section 16.4.5 of the Title IX Regulations and Procedure in the WUPRPM)
Sexual harassment that occurs outside the United States is not covered under the Title IX Policy. However, supportive measures would still be available and the incident would be referred to other offices on campus for resolution (e.g., Student Life, International Programs). (See section 16.2.9 of the Title IX Regulations and Procedure in the WUPRPM)
The Title IX Coordinator will only share information with the complainant, respondent, decision-maker, and the advisors for the complainant and respondent. The Title IX Coordinator will take precautions to maintain the record of the investigation and the decision-maker’s final report for seven years in a confidential manner.  The witnesses will know who the complainant and respondent are so that they can provide testimony regarding the allegations.  All parties are asked to maintain the confidentiality of the complaint and only to share information about the complaint with persons with a need to know about the complaint (e.g., advisor, law enforcement, witnesses, etc.). The University cannot require total confidentiality of all persons involved in the process.  We do request that each person respect the privacy of others and refrain from discussing private information unnecessarily. However, the University cannot control what people involved in the complaint may share. If there are supportive measures, confidentiality will be limited to the extent necessary to provide the supportive measures. (See section 16.4.5 of the Title IX Regulations and Procedure in the WUPRPM)
Consent is a conscious and freely-made decision by each party to engage in agreed upon forms of sexual contact. Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs would not necessarily incapacitate an individual to the point they could not make a conscious and freely-made decision. Incapacitation is a mental or physical state where someone cannot make rational, reasonable decisions because they lack the capacity to give knowing consent (e.g., to understand the who, what, when, where, why, or how of their sexual interaction). (See section 16.2.4 and 16.2.10 of the Title IX Regulations and Procedure in the WUPRPM)
Materially false statements or evidence means that the person knew the statement or evidence was false and the statement or evidence would be considered relevant. If the decision-maker at the end of a formal (live) hearing determines the respondent was not responsible, this finding does not mean the evidence or statement was materially false. (See section 16.2.11, 16.2.13 and 16.3.5 of the Title IX Regulations and Procedure in the WUPRPM)
Because of the complexity involved in determining whether a student would be viewed as a student or an employee, all complaints involving student employees should be referred to the Title IX Coordinator.

More Resources

See more community and on-campus resources.
Resources (PDF)

Seek then Speak

Seek then Speak is a tool for sexual assault survivors and support people.
Seek then Speak

Unisex bathrooms

A map of unisex and accessible restrooms on campus.
Unisex bathroom map (PDF

GET IN TOUCH WITH Equal Opportunity

Equal Opportunity
Morgan Hall, Room 200K
1700 SW College Ave
Topeka, Kansas 66621

Phone & Email
785.670.1509
eodirector@washburn.edu

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