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5.1 Reports and Notice

5.1.1 Reports of misconduct in violation of this Code may be made in writing and should be submitted as soon as possible after the incident takes place and under most circumstances, should be submitted within one (1) calendar year. Failure to make a timely Report may hinder the University’s ability to effectively investigate and take disciplinary action against the Responding Student

a. Reports and appeals alleging University Facility Standards violations listed in section 3.3 occurring in on-campus University housing facilities may be handled by the PCB, a Student Conduct Administrator, or their designee, as provided in section 1.22 and section 5. Alleged University Facility Standards violations that do not occur in on-campus University housing facilities shall be handled by a University Conduct Officer, a Student Conduct Administrator from the Dean of Students staff, or their

b. Reports alleging alcohol violations shall be handled as follows:

    1. Citations issued by TCU Police, regardless of location, shall be handled by a University Conduct Officer, Student Conduct Administrator from the Dean of Students staff, or their designee, who will notify the Responding Student of their right to discuss the alcohol violation If the Responding Student fails to respond to this notification within three (3) days, the alcohol violation citation issued by TCU Police shall become a determinative Code violation finding against the Responding Student. Appeals of alcohol violation citations issued by TCU Police shall be handled by a University Conduct Officer, a Student Conduct Administrator from the Dean of Students staff, or their designee, as appropriate.
    2. Alleged alcohol violations not issued by TCU Police, which occur in on-campus University housing facilities, may be handled by the PCB, a Student Conduct Administrator, who is a member of the University Housing and Residence Life or Fraternity and Sorority Life staff, or their designee based upon the Responding Student’s choice of process, as outlined in section 1.22 and section 5. Appeals of alleged alcohol violations issued in on-campus University housing facilities, but not by TCU Police, may be handled by the PCB, a University Conduct Officer, or their designee except as provided in section 5.11.1.
    3. Alleged alcohol violations that do not occur in on-campus University housing or are not citations issued by TCU Police shall be handled by a University Conduct Officer, a Student Conduct Administrator from the Dean of Students staff, or their designee.

Alcohol violation outcomes shall be imposed as outlined in section 3.2.11. When reports of alleged alcohol violations are made simultaneously with another reported Code violation, all reported misconduct may be handled comprehensively by a University Conduct Officer, Student Conduct Administrator, or their designee.

c. Reports alleging violations of the University’s Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, and Retaliation Policy (Policy 1.008), as provided in section 3.2.16, by any student, including those enrolled in the TCU School of Medicine, shall be directed to the Office of Institutional Equity for an initial inquiry, the implementation of any appropriate interim measures, and when appropriate, an investigation, as provided in the University’s Responding to Reports of Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, and Retaliation Policy (Policy 1.009). Misconduct occurring on or before August 13, 2020, will be addressed using the Prior Policy. Reports by students may be made to any faculty member or University official, however, reporting directly to the Office of Institutional Equity is strongly All University employees, with the exception of confidential resources as defined in Policy 1.008, are mandatory reporters and must report such allegations directly to the University Title IX Coordinator, as mandated by law.

    1. If no Complaint is submitted by the Complainant or the Office of Institutional Equity against the Responding Student as a result of an initial inquiry into reported misconduct under section 2.16 and Policy 1.008, the reported misconduct may be referred to the Dean of Students office for consideration of other violations of this Code.
    2. If an investigation into a Complaint regarding reported section 3.2.16 misconduct by the Office of Institutional Equity indicates that the facts material to the allegations against a Responding Student, even if true, would not violate Policy 1.008, the reported misconduct may be referred to the Dean of Students office for consideration of other violations of this Code. This referral to the Dean of Students office will be made only after both parties are given an opportunity to appeal the Complaint dismissal, as provided in Policy 1.009.
    3. If additional conduct that may violate this Code is discovered by the Office of Institutional Equity while completing an investigation, as provided in Policy 1.008, the Office of Institutional Equity will refer the matter to the Dean of Students office for consideration of other violations of this Code. Based on this referral, the Dean of Students may handle the potential violations of this Code as a separate conduct matter or include the potential violations to the pending case investigated by the Office of Institutional Equity. Should the Dean of Students add potential violations to a pending case, the investigation by the Office of Institutional Equity will serve as the investigation, as required under section 5.2.
    4. After the Office of Institutional Equity completes an investigation into a Complaint regarding reported section 3.2.16 misconduct according to Policy 1.009, the Office of Institutional Equity shall refer the Complaint to the Dean of Students office for determination of whether the Responding Student is in violation of this Code and appropriate outcomes and/or remedies. The Office of Institutional Equity will electronically provide the final Investigative Report, any written party responses, and all evidence to the Dean of Students office for consideration, according to the resolution process provided in section 5.
    5. An investigation by the Office of Institutional Equity is considered closed when the matter is transferred to the Dean of Students to determine through a Title IX Conduct Panel if the Responding Student is in violation of this Code and assign outcomes and/or remedies, as appropriate, or other appropriate resolution provided in section 5.

d. Reports alleging academic misconduct shall be directed to the appropriate faculty member, department chair, or Academic Dean. Information regarding academic misconduct will be centrally maintained by the Dean of Students office.

e. Reports of alleged misconduct involving students enrolled in the TCU School of Medicine other than alleged violations of Policy 008 shall be directed to the Dean of Students office for resolution of any Code violations. Such Reports of misconduct regarding a TCU School of Medicine student shall also be reviewed by the School of Medicine Student Progress and Promotion Committee to determine and resolve any School of Medicine Honor Code violations or breaches of professional ethics.

f. All other Reports of misconduct involving students, including when any confusion exists, should be directed to the Dean of Students office.

5.1.2 Notice to students under section 5, including notice advising of a Report and/or Complaint of misconduct, scheduling the resolution of a Report and/or Complaint, and notifying a Complainant (in Title IX conduct cases) and/or Responding Student of the conclusion of a Report, Complaint, or appeal and any outcomes imposed, if applicable, may be made in writing by email, regular mail, or hand-delivered letter. Email communication is an official communication for the University. The official Registrar’s “local address” will be used for mailing purposes during the academic year, and both the “local address” and “home address” will be used during holidays, summers, or after a student is permanently absent from the University.