Equal Employment Opportunity

To accomplish its mission, Allen University seeks to select and employ qualified individuals, and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, firing, compensation or terms, conditions or privileges of employment on the basis of race, color, gender, pregnancy, national origin, religion, age or disability. Reasonable accommodations are made for qualified individuals with disabilities recognized by law, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship or direct threat to Allen University.

Unfavorable speech or actions by employees regarding age, disability, race, color, gender, pregnancy, religion or national origin of other employees, agents, contractors, vendors, clients, or others affiliated with Allen University will not be tolerated. This type of behavior can lead to discipline, up to and including dismissal, at the sole discretion of Allen University.
All employees are expected to comply with our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

Title IX: Discrimination & Sexual Assault

Allen University respects the rights of all members of its campus community, therefore, discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sex or veteran’s status in regard to the administration of all campus programs is prohibited.

What is Title IX?

Pursuant to Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and other applicable federal and state laws in addition to Allen University policy, it is illegal to harass or discriminate against any individual (faculty, staff, student or visitor) on the basis of sex. Specifically Title IX states no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. Sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, and sexual misconduct. Title IX also prohibits retaliation against an individual who, in good faith, asserts his or her rights under Title IX or other applicable federal laws and state laws prohibiting illegal discrimination.

To ensure compliance with Title IX, the University has designated a Title IX Coordinator as the primary contact responsible for developing, adopting and/or assuring the dissemination of the University’s Title IX policy and for making the policy available to the University community and the public. In addition, there is an investigator to investigate complaints and a committee with representatives from across campus to ensure students and athletes are treated equitably as well as maintain compliance.

Any administrator, supervisor, faculty member, including a department chair, or other persons in a position of power over a student who receives notice of a student’s complaint of alleged prohibited harassment, including sexual misconduct, sexual violence, sexual assault or any other criminal behavior based upon sex or discrimination, must immediately report such conduct to the Title IX Coordinator or Police Department. Failure to immediately report any Title IX matter may result in disciplinary action.

Filing a Complaint

Complaints may be initiated at any time with the University’s Title IX Coordinator, who will discuss the matter and designate the formal complaint process. A complainant may choose to submit a verbal complaint however; a written complaint must be submitted to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, via use of the available Title IX complaint form.

Any student who is the victim of sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual misconduct, or sexual assault or discrimination in violation of Title IX or the university’s policies, or who has witnessed discrimination against a student, may obtain information and assistance regarding the University’s policies from the Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources, or The Police Department. Contact Information is as follows:

Nancy G. Rhoads
Title IX Coordinator
Allen University
1530 Harden Street
Gibbs Hall, Office 3
Columbia, SC 29204
803-376-5818
titleixcoordinator@allenuniversity.edu

Police Department

Lt. Brian Tillis, Police Lieutenant
2300 Taylor Street, Campus Mall
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 376-5014
btillis@allenuniversity.edu

Confidentiality

In all instances and to the extent possible, the University will protect the privacy of all parties to a report of sexual misconduct or sexual assault. under federal law, campus officials (with some exceptions to the Counseling) who receive a report of sexual assault,
whether from the student involved or a third party, must share that information with the appropriate University authorities for investigation and follow‐up. The University is obligated under the law to investigate the complaint, to take action to eliminate sexual harassment and sexual assault, prevent its recurrence and address its effects. An administrative investigation under Title IX must be initiated if the University has enough information to reasonably determine key facts, e.g., time, date, location and names of parties involved in an alleged incident. Ordinarily, this administrative investigation will include a review
of statements obtained from party, interviews with both parties, interviews with witnesses as appropriate and review of relevant documentary evidence, and will be conducted by the Title IX Investigator or their designee. The University is obligated and required by law to conduct this investigation regardless of the complainant’s requests.

Prohibition against Retaliation

Retaliation is prohibited and shall be considered a serious violation of Allen University’s anti‐discrimination policies.