All university employees are required to report any act of sexual misconduct or sexual assault to the university Title IX coordinator. The only exceptions to this policy are university identified confidential resources.

Confidential resources are given federal authorization to provide trusted advice to individuals who are subject to an allegation of sexual assault and not disclose any information obtain in the discussion.

Amnesty Statement

Samford’s goal is to encourage the reporting of sexual assault incidents so that those affected can receive the support and resources needed. Therefore, values violations by a complainant may be exempt from disciplinary action in situations where the reported sexual misconduct or harassment also occurred, provided that such violations did not jeopardize the health or safety of others.

The following points provide guidance to assist a student who experiences an act of relationship violence:

Student reports a sexual assault

• In most situations when a student wants to talk about an act of sexual misconduct, the conversation might begin with “Can I talk with you about something?” If you are not a university identified confidential resource, before the student starts talking you should indicate “I am here to assist you. However, please know if you tell me anything related to sexual misconduct I will have to report that information to university Title IX Coordinator. If you want to talk with someone privately and confidentially, I can direct or take you to a confidential resource.”
• Amnesty policy: a student who reports a sexual assault complaint will not be held accountable for a values violation provided the conduct of the complainant does not jeopardize the safety of another or the university.
• Student indicates she/he is a victim of sexual assault:
  • Inform the complainant that he/she can make an official report with Public Safety or the university Title IX coordinator. Although a student files a report with Public Safety, the student does not have to initiate criminal action. If a report is filed with the Title IX coordinator, the Title IX coordinator will initiate an investigation that may lead to university action.
  • Direct the student to the Student Handbook to review the Title IX misconduct policy and its enforcement.
  • The student may want to talk with an attorney about their options.
  • Direct the student to university counseling or the office of spiritual life; staff in these offices are equipped to assist students to make the decision to report or not report a violation.

Student indicates he/she has been accused of a sexual assault

• Inform the responder that he/she can make a statement to Public Safety or to the university Title IX coordinator. When a student indicates he/she has been accused of sexual assault violation, the Title IX coordinator with initiate an investigation that may or may not lead to university action.
• Inform the student that he/she may want to seek legal advice from an attorney.
• Direct the student to university counseling or the office of spiritual life; staff can advise the student as to their best option to respond to the allegation.

In order to eliminate elements of a hostile educational environment, the Title IX Coordinator may initiate any or all of the following:

• No contact order – the complainant and responder are instructed to have no further contact unless specifically approved by the Title IX Coordinator.
• Residence hall reassignment – due to the nature of the incident or allegation, a student’s campus residence hall assignment may be changed to provide the student with a better feeling of safety.
• Classroom and/or course modification – in some instances where the complainant and responder are in the same class, the elimination of a hostile education environment will require one or both individuals being moved from the current classroom or course.
• Reasonable attendance adjustment – in conjunction with discussion with the professor, the university counselor and the Title IX Coordinator, curriculum attendance may be subject to realistic modifications.
• Campus restriction – the protection of a student’s educational environment may require restricting access to another who has no legitimate educational interest in a particular area of campus. In some situations, restriction may entail the creation of a schedule when the complainant and the responder can be in a particular area of campus (i.e. cafeteria).

The Jeanne Clery Act is federal legislation that informs individuals about crimes that occur on campus or the immediate surrounding area of university property or where university activities take place. On an annual basis Samford University compiles crime statistics that are available for review by anyone who desires to have information about crime and fire statistics on or near any Samford University property. Under the Clery Act, Samford University must identify campus security authorities (CSA) on campus.

Travel Information for Clery Report

A CSA is any employee who possess significant responsibility for student campus activities. Activities include student housing, student discipline, campus activities and programs, and student organizations. Examples of a CSA include:

• Director of housing/residence life
• Director of Greek Life
• Residential life staff including student staff
• Director of athletics, coaches, trainers, etc...
• Student judicial officers, student conduct, VP of Student Affairs
• Student center administrators
• Officials who oversee student extracurricular activities
• Faculty advisors to student groups/organizations

Employees who are not a CSA include:

• Faculty who does not advise a student group
• University support staff (clerical, maintenance and food service workers)
• University health physicians or nurses
• Employees who are exempt when acting in their assigned employment role within the scope of a professional license or religious assignment (a faculty advisor who is a licensed counselor, would be required to report a crime if they are not hired as a university counselor). Examples:
  • Pastoral counselor recognized by a religious organization to provide confidential counseling
  • Professional licensed mental health counselor

Clery reportable crimes that must be reported to the Public Safety office include:

• Criminal offense
  • Homicide
  • Sexual assault (forcible and non-forcible sex offenses)
  • Robbery
  • Aggravated assault
  • Burglary
  • Motor vehicle theft
  • Arson
  • Violation
    • Liquor violation
    • Drug violation
    • Weapon violation
    • Hate crime
      • Larceny-theft
      • Simple assault
      • Intimidation
      • Destruction/damages/vandalism of property
      • Other crime
        • Domestic violence
        • Dating violence
        • Stalking incidents

These crimes must be reported if they occur:

• On campus – including student residential buildings
• On public property adjacent to and accessible from campus
• On non-campus property owned or controlled by the university

Pursuant to federal legislations – Title IX policy and the Jeanne Clery Act - all university employees, except Samford University identified confidential resources, are required to report any act of sexual misconduct or sexual assault. University personnel identified as confidential resources are university counselors Richard Yoakum and Susie-Hannah Williams; university health provider; and ministers to students Taylor McQueen and Todd Oakley. All other employees are considered a Campus Security Authority – CSA.

CSAs are university personnel who have significant contact with students.

This section is being developed.