At Grand Canyon University (GCU), we are committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from gender or sexual discrimination so members of the GCU community can fully access and benefit from the university's programs and activities. Learn more about the sexual misconduct policies at GCU.
GCU is also committed to upholding Title IX, which prohibits sexual discrimination in education programs that receive federal funding; nearly all colleges and universities benefit from federal funding.
Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator
Title IX Coordinator
For Title IX concerns, contact:
Jennifer Lech, PhD
Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and University Registrar
3300 W. Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85017
602-639-5900
titleix@gcu.edu
Deputy Coordinators
For students:
Tim Griffin
Dean of Students
602-639-6647
tim.griffin@gcu.edu
For faculty and staff:
Patti Stoner
Director of Human Resources
602-639-6744
patti.stoner@gcu.edu
For athletics:
Jamie Boggs
Director of Athletics
602-639-6611
jamie.boggs@gcu.edu
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Building 400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Phone: 800-421-3481
Fax: 202-453-6012
TDD: 800-877-8339
ocr@ed.gov
Title IX is a federal mandate that protects students attending educational institutions from sex discrimination. The law says that students cannot be denied participation in any school program solely based on their sex. Take a look at frequently asked questions about Title IX to learn more about this policy.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The university, while reserving its lawful rights where appropriate to take actions designed to ensure and promote the Christian principles that sustain its mission and heritage, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, gender, veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable law, and where members of the GCU community can fully access and benefit from the university's programs and activities. It is the purpose of the university to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith.
The Law
"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 educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." -Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
The Basics of Title IX
- Title IX is a federal civil right that prohibits sex discrimination in education.
- It does not apply to female students or athletic programs only. It prohibits sex or gender discrimination in all educational activities or programs.
- A school must be proactive in ensuring that its campus is free from sexual-based discrimination, harassment or violence.
- Title IX protects students from facing retaliation, from any source, as a result of involvement with Title IX.
- Title IX applies to institutions that receive federal financial assistance from ED, including state and local educational agencies.
- The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) enforces institutions' compliance with Title IX standards. Learn more at ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html
Claimant: The person who is alleging a violation of the Gender-Based and Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Respondent: The person whose actions are alleged to have violated the Gender-Based and Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Sexual Harassment
- Any unwelcome, gender or sex-based verbal or physical conduct that is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates a hostile environment.
- It interferes with or limits someone's ability to participate in any GCU program and/or activity.
- Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when there are unwelcome sexual advances and rejection/refusal results in a negative educational or employment action.
Non-Consensual Sexual Contact (or Attempts to Commit)
Non-consensual sexual contact is any intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any object, by one person upon another, that is without consent and/or by force.
Sexual contact includes:
- Intentional contact with the breasts, buttocks, groin or genitals, or touching another with any of these body parts, or making another touch you or themselves with or on any of these body parts.
- Any intentional bodily contact in a sexual manner, though not involving contact with/of/by breasts, buttocks, groin, genitals, mouth or other orifice.
Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse (or Attempts to Commit)
Non-consensual sexual intercourse is any sexual intercourse, however slight, with any object, by one person upon another, that is without consent and/or by force.
Intercourse includes:
- Vaginal penetration by a penis, object, tongue or finger; anal penetration by a penis, object, tongue or finger; and oral copulation, no matter how slight the penetration or contact.
- Non-consensual sexual intercourse includes sexual assault, defined by ASRS 13-1406, as intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with any person without consent of such person.
Sexual Exploitation
Sexual exploitation occurs when someone takes non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for their own benefit, or for the benefit of anyone other than the one being exploited, and the behavior does not otherwise constitute sexual misconduct.
Examples of sexual exploitation include, but are not limited to:
- Invasion of sexual privacy
- Prostituting another student
- Non-consensual videotaping or audiotaping of a sexual activity
- Non-consensual voyeurism of otherwise consensual sexual activity
- Engaging in voyeurism
- Knowingly transmitting an STI, STD or HIV
- Exposing one's genitals or breasts in non-consensual circumstances; inducing another to expose their genitals or breasts
- Sexually based stalking and/or bullying
Other Misconduct Offenses When Based on Sex or Gender
- Domestic and Dating Violence: Any assault, violence or abuse between those in an intimate relationship to each other.
- Stalking: A course of conduct that is intentionally and knowingly directed towards another person, if that conduct would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person's safety or the death of that person or their immediate family.
- Bullying: A repeated and/or severe aggressive behavior that is likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control or diminish another person.
Sex Discrimination
Sex discrimination is a form of harassment that involves treating someone unfavorably because of that person's sex. Sex discrimination also can involve treating someone less favorably because of their connection with an organization or group that is generally associated with people of a certain sex, or because of the person's non-conformance with sex stereotypes.
Sexual Harassment
- 67 percent of students reported experiencing harassment on campus.
- 61 percent witnessed another student being harassed on campus.
- Only 17 percent of students said that they reported harassment to a person of authority.
- 46 percent of students indicated that harassment was the source of disappointment with their college experience.
- 20 percent reported that harassment limited their ability to concentrate in class.
- 23 percent said that harassment prevented them from attending class or other social activities on campus.
Sexual Violence
- It is estimated that the percentage of completed or attempted rape victimization among women in higher educational institutions may be between 20 percent and 25 percent over the course of a college career.
- Nine out of 10 victims of rape and sexual assault in college know their offender.
- Off-campus sexual victimization is much more common among college women than on-campus victimization. Of victims of completed rape, 33.7 percent were victimized on campus and 66.3 percent off campus.
- Freshmen and sophomores are at greater risk for victimization than juniors and seniors.