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Can UCF Investigate My Concerns?
OPTIONS FOR INVESTIGATION
Interested in investigation?
UCF reviews all reports of alleged misconduct seriously. Our primary concern is to ensure that individuals who have experienced sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking receive resources and support.
An individual may choose to file a report with law enforcement to have their concerns addressed. Additionally, a Complainant may request an investigation into alleged violations of UCF’s Nondiscrimination Policy or Title IX Grievance Policy with the Office of Institutional Equity. Generally, OIE can only investigate complaints made against UCF-affiliated respondents (such as students or employees). Retaliation against any person for making a report or participating in an investigation is strictly prohibited. And remember, you do not have to make a formal report or press charges to receive medical care, academic or other support.
File a report with UCF Title IX
You can file an online report HERE
You can also file a report with UCF’s Title IX Coordinator:
Amber Abud
Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)
12701 Scholarship Drive, Suite 101
Orlando, FL 32816-0030
OIE Investigative Procedures
If you choose to file a report with OIE, we want you to understand the process involved.
Title IX Grievance Policy Investigation Procedures
Investigation Procedures for Allegations Against Students
Investigation Procedures for Allegations Against Employees
What to expect if you participate in an OIE investigation involving a UCF respondent
The first thing to expect are some terms and words used by the investigator: you are the complainant and the accused individual is the respondent (because they are responding to the report made). The second thing to expect is that you continue to have choices in this process: you can choose to stop participating at any time. Also, at no point during the investigation will you be asked to appear for any meeting at which the respondent is present. Although the investigation is not confidential, it is treated in a private and discreet manner.
What happens first?
First, you will meet with an investigator to discuss your rights and options. You do not have to decide right away if you want an investigation.
In you request an investigation and OIE can investigate, the investigator’s focus is to gather as much information as possible: from you, from the respondent, and from any other individual who might have relevant information (witnesses). The investigator will ask you for as much information as you feel comfortable sharing about the incident. You will be asked to provide information through a written statement and/or in-person interview. If you participate in an in-person interview, you will have the opportunity to review and sign off on your statement to ensure accuracy.
What about the respondent?
The Office of Institutional Equity will notify the respondent that a report was made and that an investigation has been initiated. The respondent will meet with the investigator and learn about the investigation process, their options, and the nature of the allegations. The respondent will also have the option to submit a written statement or participate in an in-person interview to respond to the allegation. If the respondent participates in an in-person interview, they will have the opportunity to review and sign off on their statement to ensure accuracy.
What other information is the investigator gathering?
The investigator will identify and speak to other people, either those people that you or the respondent names as being important for the investigator to speak with, or people that we learn about during the course of our investigation. At all times, the investigator is gathering as much information as possible about the incident(s). This includes relevant text messages, phone logs, social media exchanges, emails, investigator visits to the location where incident(s) occurred and more – whatever you or anyone else involved is able to share and whatever the investigator independently is able to gather.
As the investigator is collecting all of this information, they may need to return to you, the respondent, or a witness to ask follow-up questions. The investigator will try to minimize the number of times they need to speak to you about your experience, but in the course of the investigation, certain moments or details become very important and additional information may be needed.
Because the investigation process can be stressful, the investigator will continue to refer you to support resources on campus and in the community.
How does the investigator make a finding? And how will I find out about it?
The investigator will review all of the information gathered during the investigation and will make findings on whether there is a preponderance of evidence – whether it is more likely than not – that the respondent committed an act of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship violence, or stalking. When the findings are complete, both you and the respondent will have an opportunity to review the report. The report will then be sent to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (in the case of student respondents) or management (in the case of employee respondents) for further action.
If the matter was investigated under the Title IX Grievance Policy, a live hearing is required to determine whether university policy was violated. Please see the Title IX Grievance Policy for more information on the live hearing process.