TAMIU Student Handbook 2019-2020

Page 1 4. The investigative process shall be thorough, impartial, and prompt. The timeline provided throughout this section refers to University business days. a. Once a complaint is received by the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity/Title IX Coordinator (hereinafter referred to as “Coordinator”) or Deputy Title IX Coordinator (hereinafter referred to as “Deputy”), the Coordinator must notify the System Ethics and Compliance Office that a complaint has been received. b. The Coordinator must promptly conduct a review of the complaint. During this review, the Coordinator and/or Deputymay collect evidence including, but not limited to, documentation, statements, and interviews from the complainant, respondent, and witnesses. c. Upon completing the review of the complaint, the Coordinator will determine whether or not to proceed with an investigation. i. If information is sufficient, the Coordinator will assign an investigative authority to conduct an investigation and will hold an investigation planning meeting within 5 University business days. ii. If information is insufficient, the Coordinator, in consultation with the System Office of General Counsel, may conduct an inquiry into the circumstances of the complaint and: (a) dismiss it as baseless; (b) close it for insufficient information to investigate; or (c) refer it to another office which has responsibility for such complaints. d. During the investigation, the investigative authority will review the complaint, collect additional evidence, and make a determination based on the preponderance of the evidence. Upon completion of the investigation, the investigative authority will draft an Investigation Report and provide it to the Coordinator within 30 University business days of receipt of the complaint. e. The Coordinator will conduct an initial review of the draft Investigation Report and provide feedback to the investigative authority. The investigative authority will have 5 University business days to return the draft Investigation Report to the Coordinator, who will, in turn, provide it to the System Office of General Counsel and the System Ethics and Compliance Office for review. f. Upon approval by the System offices, the Coordinator will provide both the complainant(s) and respondent(s) to the fullest extent permitted by law, an unredacted copy of the Investigation Report prior to a decision being rendered by the adjudicators g. Within 5 University business days of receipt of the final Investigation Report from the Coordinator, the adjudicating administrators will render a written