Sexual Misconduct Policy
The University of Richmond is a community of students, staff, and faculty based on trust and respect for one another. Therefore, the University of Richmond prohibits sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct is non-consensual contact of a sexual nature and includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault, rape, harassment, or stalking.
Definitions
- Sexual Assault: Physical contact of a sexual nature against the will of an individual by the use of force, threat, intimidation, or by taking advantage of the victim’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness. Sexual assault can include, but is not limited to, sexual battery (intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of a person’s genitals, breast, thighs, or buttocks), object penetration, and sodomy.
- Rape: Sexual intercourse accomplished through the use of force, threat, intimidation, or by taking advantage of the victim’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness.
- Harassment: Harassment is the creation of a hostile or intimidating environment, in which verbal or physical conduct, because of its severity and/or persistence, is likely to interfere significantly with an individual’s work or education, or affect adversely an individual’s living conditions on campus. Sexual harassment refers to such conduct of a sexual nature (for more information see the University’s policy against harassment and discrimination).
- Stalking: Stalking is unwanted conduct that includes, but is not limited to, watching, following, “texting”, calling, emailing, “instant messaging”, or other contact that occurs more than once and causes fear of harm to the victim and/or his or her family.
Rights & Protections of the Victim & Accused
- As students of the University, both the victim and accused student have the right to support services on campus through the Richmond College and Westhampton College Dean’s Offices, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Chaplaincy, the Student Health Center, University of Richmond Police Department (URPD), and the Office of Student Development.
- Because of the seriousness of sexual misconduct, the judicial procedures for University Hearing Board has been modified to insure that such cases are pursued with sensitivity as well as fairness to protect the victim and the accused.
- Sexual assault, rape, and stalking are punishable by both civil and criminal legal action. The institution encourages victims of sexual misconduct to also pursue appropriate remedies through law enforcement agencies.
- The University prohibits retaliation of any sort. Any act of retaliation including, but not limited to, harassment, abuse, threat, or intimidation toward the victim, the accused, or any witness who makes a report is forbidden. The University encourages witnesses of sexual misconduct to report such behavior to URPD, the Richmond College Dean’s Office or Westhampton College Dean’s Office. Any student found responsible for an act of retaliation may face suspension from the University.
Procedural Options through the University
Make a complaint of sexual misconduct with the victim’s dean’s office or URPD which can (if the victim chooses to move forward) result in a formal charge against the accused through the University judicial system. While the accused student has three options to resolve any charges against him or her (accept responsibility with the dean; have the case heard by the University Hearing Board; or resign from the University), the victim should be prepared to participate in a University Hearing Board (see University Hearing Board Procedures for more details).