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Policy on Title IX and Sexual Misconduct

This policy applies to all members of the Touro University (“Touro”) community, including students, faculty, and administrators as well as third parties (i.e. vendors, and invitees). Discrimination or harassment of any kind in regard to a person's sex is not tolerated at our institution. Information and/or training regarding this policy is available to students, faculty, and staff.

Touro promotes an environment in which the dignity and worth of all members of the community are respected. It is the policy of Touro that sexual intimidation of students and employees is unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated.

Title IX Grievance Policy

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits any person in the United States from being discriminated against on the basis of sex in seeking access to any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The U.S. Department of Education, which enforces Title IX, has long defined the meaning of Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination broadly to include various forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence that interfere with a student’s ability to equally access our educational programs and opportunities.

This Title IX Grievance Policy became effective on August 14, 2020, and only applies to formal complaints of sexual harassment alleged to have occurred on or after August 14, 2020. Alleged conduct that occurred prior to August 14, 2020 will be investigated and adjudicated according to the Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Policy then in effect.

Title IX Coordinator

Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment), in person, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report.

Contact Information for the Title IX Coordinator:

Matthew Lieberman
3 Times Square, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 646-565-6000 x55667
Email: Matthew.Lieberman@touro.edu

Such a report may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number or electronic mail address, or by mail to the office address listed for the Title IX Coordinator.

When Title IX Applies

The Title IX process will apply when all of the following elements are met:

  1. The conduct is alleged to have occurred on or after August 14, 2020;

  2. The conduct is alleged to have occurred in the United States;

  3. The conduct is alleged to have occurred in Touro’s education program or activity; and

  4. The alleged conduct, if true, would constitute covered sexual harassment, as defined under Title IX, as:

    1. an employee conditioning educational benefits on participation in unwelcome sexual conduct (i.e., quid pro quo);

    2. unwelcome conduct that a reasonable person would determine is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the educational institution’s education program or activity; or

    3. sexual assault (as defined in the Clery Act); or dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking (as defined in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)).

If the alleged misconduct meets these requirements, then the Title IX grievance process applies and the Potential Complainant may file a Formal Complaint or their prior Complaint submission will become a Formal Complaint. For the purposes of this Title IX Grievance Policy, “formal complaint” means a document – including an electronic submission - filed by a complainant with a signature or other indication that the complainant is the person filing the formal complaint, or signed by the Title IX Coordinator, alleging sexual harassment against a respondent about conduct within Touro’s education program or activity and requesting initiation of the procedures consistent with the Title IX Grievance Policy to investigate and adjudicate the allegation of sexual harassment.

If the alleged misconduct does not meet these Title IX requirements, it requires a mandatory dismissal under Title IX, but it may be addressed by the broader Touro Sexual Misconduct Policy or another applicable Touro policy.

For more details surrounding the Title IX Grievance Policy please see: https://www.touro.edu/title-ix-policy/

Sexual Misconduct

Touro prohibits discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment. The prohibition against discrimination extends to employment and third-parties. Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature and can include sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct. Environmental harassment (sometimes referred to as hostile environment) is sexually harassing conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive to limit an individual’s ability to participate in or receive benefits, services, or opportunities at Touro. This can include persistent comments or jokes about an individual’s, sex; verbal behavior, including insults, remarks, epithets, or derogatory statements; nonverbal behavior, including graffiti, inappropriate physical advances short of physical violence such as repeated and unwanted touching; and assault, including physical violence or the threat of physical violence.

New York Law also defines these acts as crimes if any of them are engaged in with a person who  is incapable of consent either because of the person's age or because the person is mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless. Therefore, sexual abuse, sodomy, and rape are sex crimes and violators will be prosecuted in accordance with New York Penal Law.

Retaliation against any individual who made a complaint will not be tolerated.

To officially file charges for an act of sexual assault or rape, please contact the Office of Institutional Compliance If the alleged perpetrator is a student, you can initiate disciplinary action against this individual. All incidents must be reported within six (6) months of their occurrence.

All divisions of Touro seek to foster a collegial atmosphere in which students are nurtured and educated through close faculty-student relationships, student camaraderie, and individualized attention. Discrimination or harassment of any kind is anathema to Touro’s mission, history, and identity. Touro will resolve any identified discrimination in a timely and effective manner, and will ensure that it does not recur. Compliance with Touro’s policies and procedures is a necessary step in achieving a safe environment in our educational community. The policies set forth were developed to promote a safe educational environment in compliance with the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and a high-quality campus life.

Those believing that they have been harassed or discriminated against on the basis of their sex, including sexual harassment, should contact the Office of Institutional Compliance immediately. When Touro has notice of the occurrence, Touro is compelled to take immediate and effective corrective action reasonably calculated to stop the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and as appropriate, remedy its effects.

This policy applies to all members of Touro, including students, faculty, and administrators as well as third parties (including, but not limited to, vendors, invitees, etc.). Information and/or training regarding this policy are available to students, faculty, and staff. In addition, information about this policy will be available on Touro’s website.

Complaints may be filed by contacting the Office of Institutional Compliance:

Phone: 646-565-6000, ext. 55330
Email: compliance@touro.edu

For Further Information: Students are strongly urged to read the full policy at https://www.touro.edu/sexual-misconduct-policy/

Students are also urged to read the Annual Security and Fire Report at https://www.touro.edu/departments/campus-security/clery-reports/2024_Touro_ASR.pdf

Additional information about this policy will be available on Touro’s website. Students may contact the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education for inquiries concerning the application of Title IX as well as the implementation of its regulations. The Office for Civil Rights can be contacted using the following information:

U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
32 Old Slip, 26th floor
New York, NY 10005
Phone 646-428-3800
Fax 646-428-3843
Email: OCR.NewYork@ed.gov