Title IX

An offense that meets the definition of dating violence, or domestic or family violence.

Dating Violence

Physical, sexual, or verbal abuse or violence, or threat of abuse or violence, committed by an individual who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the Complaining Party. The existence of such a relationship will be determined based on the type and length of the relationship and the frequency of interaction between the individuals involved in the relationship. A casual acquaintanceship or ordinary socializing between two individuals does not constitute a romantic or intimate relationship. This definition does not include acts covered under Domestic or Family Violence.

Domestic Violence or Family Violence

Physical, sexual, or verbal abuse or violence, committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the Complaining Party, by an individual with whom the Complaining Party shares a child in common, by an individual with whom the Complaining Party is cohabiting (or has cohabited) with a spouse or intimate partner, by an individual similarly situated to a spouse of the Complaining Party under the Domestic or Family Violence laws of the state of Texas, or by any other individual against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that individual’s acts under the Domestic or Family Violence laws of the state of Texas.

Unwelcome, sex-based verbal or physical conduct that:

• Such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or education; 

• Such conduct is used as a basis for decisions affecting employment or education; or

• Such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with the individual’s work or educational performance or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment. To constitute an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment, the compliance of conduct must be either severe, persistent, or pervasive.

Engaging in private or sexual acts in a publicly viewable location, such that it is offensive to accepted standards of decency, including, but not limited to: exposing one’s genitals or private areas; public urination; public defecation; and/or public sex acts.

An act that deprives a member of the University Community of their right of access to campuses and facilities and/or of participation in education, services, programs, operations, employment, benefits, or opportunities with the university on the basis of the person’s sex.

Sexual contact or intercourse with an individual without that individual’s consent, including sexual contact or intercourse against an individual’s will or in a circumstance in which an individual is incapable of consenting to the contact or intercourse. Sexual assault includes non-consensual sexual contact and non-consensual intercourse.

Nonconsensual Sexual Contact.

Intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any object or part of one’s body of another’s private areas without consent. Sexual Contact includes: intentional contact with the breasts, buttock, groin, or genitals; touching another with any of these body parts; making another touch you or themselves with or on any of these body parts; or any other intentional bodily contact in a sexual manner.

Nonconsensual Sexual Intercourse.

Sexual penetration or intercourse, however slight, with a penis, tongue, finger, or any object, and without consent. Penetration can be oral, anal, or vaginal.

Taking non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for the benefit of one’s self or a third party.

A course of conduct directed at a specific individual that would cause a reasonable individual to fear for the individual’s safety or the safety of others or would cause that individual to suffer substantial emotional distress.