The University of Maryland, Office of Civil Rights & Sexual Misconduct (the Office) was founded in March 2014. The establishment of the Office was preceded by an independent assessment of the University’s response to sexual misconduct and recommendations made to President Loh by the Joint President/Senate Sexual Harassment Policies and Procedures Task Force (Task Force) in August 2013. In October
of 2013, UMD adopted a new Sexual Misconduct Policy that combined the former sexual harassment and assault policies into one comprehensive policy applicable to all University staff, faculty, students and guests. At that time UMD also launched a national search for a Title IX Officer and Investigator to establish an office on Title IX Compliance and to proactively address campus sexual assault. Thus the Office of Civil Rights & Sexual Misconduct is sometimes referred to as the Title IX Office. The Office is an independent office that reports directly to the President of the University. Broadly, the mission of the Office, is to support the University’s commitment to a working and learning environment free from sexual misconduct and relationship violence. The Office is responsible for overseeing and implementing the University’s response to sexual misconduct and includes responsibility for all federal and state regulatory and statutory compliance efforts. The Office:
Works collaboratively across all campus constituents to ensure an immediate, thoughtful and consistent response to sexual misconduct;
Is the University’s designed official for receiving reports of sexual misconduct and resolving them;
Conducts investigations into complaints of sexual misconduct against faculty, staff and students;
Develops and conducts training for faculty, staff and students on sexual misconduct;
Updates University sexual misconduct policies and procedures for reporting, investigation and adjudication processes;
Conducts evaluation of the University’s response to sexual misconduct;
Manages an annual campus wide sexual misconduct public awareness campaign; and
Organizes and facilitates campus wide awareness events.
