Student Sexual Misconduct Reports 2020-21 and 2021-22
Report Overview
The Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct (OCRSM) supports the University’s commitment to a working and learning environment free of discrimination and harassment. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. OCRSM oversees the institutional response to all reports of sexual harassment and discrimination under the University of Maryland’s Policy and Procedures on Sexual Harassment and Other Sexual Misconduct.
As the 50th Anniversary of Title IX is celebrated in 2022, OCRSM continues to offer sexual assault prevention and policy training programs to the campus community while providing Supportive Measures and conducting fair and equitable investigations and adjudications of sexual misconduct complaints. This report contains information on services provided by OCRSM and how the University responded to student reports of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, stalking, dating and domestic violence, as well as information about training and educational programs and Supportive Measures provided by OCRSM staff.
In 2020 and 2021, OCRSM, like many university offices across the country, saw a reduced number of on-campus sexual misconduct reports and an increase in off-campus and virtual sexual misconduct reports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The contrast in data between pre- and post-COVID periods is apparent in the increased number of sexual harassment and discrimination reports received once the campus community returned to full in-person operations in Fall 2021.
The University also implemented new federal Title IX regulations in August 2020 that required significant changes to its Title IX Policy and Procedures to ensure compliance. OCRSM led a Title IX Policy Working Group comprising campus constituents to develop the updated Policy and Procedures and educate the campus on the changes.
In 2023, the University expects the U.S. Department of Education to release updated Title IX regulations. OCRSM will continue to work with the campus community to seek input and revise the Policy and Procedures while promoting a safe and equitable environment free of discrimination and harassment.
These reports review student-related data for two academic years at the University between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022.