Student Sexual Misconduct Report 2019-20

Overview

The Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct (OCRSM) oversees the University of Maryland’s response to all reports of sexual misconduct made in connection with University-sponsored programs and activities involving members of the University community when the sexual misconduct impedes equal access to any education program or activity, or adversely impacts the education or employment of a community member, regardless of where the conduct occurred; and/or that otherwise threatens the health and/or safety of a member of the campus community. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. Sexual harassment and assault are defined as forms of sex discrimination.

The mission of the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct (OCRSM) is to support the University’s commitment to a working and learning environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination. Whenever a campus community member is directly impacted by any form of sexual misconduct, sexual violence, gender-based discrimination, discrimination or harassment based upon a legally protected status, OCRSM strives to meet the individual’s needs through outreach, intake, the facilitation of interim protective measures, a referral to campus and community off-campus resources, and, when appropriate, investigations. In cases where an individual does not pursue an investigation or where OCRSM does not deem an investigation appropriate, OCRSM still remains connected to the affected parties in numerous ways. 

OCRSM promotes awareness of one’s rights and responsibilities in the campus community and serves as a significant resource. By treating each other with respect and dignity and engaging in learned bystander intervention, OCRSM stresses the need to prevent harmful situations from occurring. All campus constituents play a vital role in the prevention of any form of sexual violence. 

The 2019–20 OCRSM report marks the sixth edition of a publicly available report specifically representing student data since the establishment of the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct in 2014. This report presents student data, training, education and outreach for the period beginning July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. This reporting period included the transition to entirely online education per Gov. Larry Hogan’s direction to University System of Maryland (USM) institutions on March 19, 2020, in response to COVID-19.  

During this reporting period, the U.S. Department of Education released the Title IX Final Review on May 6, 2020. Those Title IX regulations took effect on August 14, 2020. Please note this reporting period does not coincide with the effective date for the new Title IX Regulations. OCRSM’s 2020-21 report will present student data for 34 CFR Part 106-Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance as published in the Code of Federal Regulations. This report shows a composite of activity for a selected period.