Section Three
IMPORTANT UNIVERSITY POLICIES
POLICY ON SEXUAL ASSAULT
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This discussion includes:
This policy statement supplements Stanford University's policy on sexual harassment by providing policy and procedures specifically concerning sexual assault. This policy was enacted by Stanford University in accordance with California State Law, Assembly Bill 3098, Postsecondary Education: Student Safety, July 1990. The policy is summarized below; see Administrative Guide Memo 23.3 (http://adminguide.stanford.edu/23_3.pdf) for the full text of the policy.
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Policy Summary
Sexual assault by force or coercion, including deliberate coercion through the use of drugs or alcohol, is absolutely unacceptable at Stanford University. Any member of the Stanford community who commits sexual assault at or upon the grounds of the University, or at any of the University's off-campus facilities or activities, or at the facilities or activities of any affiliated student organization, will face maximum institutional sanctions, in addition to any prosecutions external authorities may undertake. Stanford University is committed to providing information on services, resources, and treatment available to victims of sexual assault. For the purposes of this statement by the University, "sexual assault" includes, but is not limited to, rape, forced sodomy, forced oral copulation, rape with a foreign object, sexual battery, or threat of sexual assault.
This policy was approved and authorized by the President and is administered under the authority of the Director of Human Resources. Questions of policy interpretation should be addressed to an Employee Relations Representative. Possible violations of the policy should be brought to the attention of the Manager of Labor Relations via a written grievance (see Guide Memo 22.10, pdf file).
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Procedures
Information About Options
The University offices responding to charges of sexual assault will inform victims, at a minimum, of the options of criminal prosecution, civil prosecution, the disciplinary process, the appropriate grievance procedure, the availability of mediation, alternative housing assignments, and academic assistance alternatives.
Case Management
Both informal procedures and formal grievance procedures for case management of sexual assault charges are provided in the University's Policy on Sexual Harassment, appearing as Administrative Guide Memo 23.2; in the University's Policy on Sexual Assault, appearing as Administrative Guide Memo 23.3; and in Understanding Stanford's Sexual Harassment Policy (available at http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ocr/shpo/). (Administrative Guide memos are on the web at http://adminguide.stanford.edu; your department administrator should also have a copy.) Those responsible for the procedures should keep victims informed of the status of any disciplinary proceedings and the results of any disciplinary action or appeal, providing that the victim agrees in advance, in writing, to treat this information as confidential. The Office of the Dean of Students is available to help student victims deal with academic difficulties that may arise because of the victimization and its impact.
Notification
With the consent of the victim, charges of sexual assault received by University offices or personnel shall be communicated promptly to the Department of Public Safety (telephone 9-911 for emergency response or 723-9633 during normal business hours), or, if the victim is a student, to the Campus Sexual Assault Response and Recovery Team at Cowell Student Health Service (telephone 723-3785).
Legal Reporting Requirements
Health care professionals are expected to fulfill legally mandated reporting requirements.
Information Requests and Confidentiality
The University offices responding to charges of sexual assault have established protocols for protecting confidentiality and for handling inquiries from the press, concerned students, and parents.
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