Notice of Rights to Complainants

This information is for individuals making the complaint.

This notice of rights is for informational purposes only and does not replace LSC policy or procedure.

Notice of Rights and Options for Complainants

If you have experienced sexual misconduct (also referred to as “Title IX Harassment”), you have rights and options. The College broadly categorizes sexual harassment in two categories: (1) sexual harassment excluding sexual violence and (2) sexual violence. Sexual violence includes sexual assault, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, dating violence, and/or gender-based stalking.

If you experience sexual violence

• You may file a report with Lone Star College Police Department;
• You may report the incident to one of the College’s Responsible Employees (see below); and or
• You may report the incident to one of the College’s Campus Security Authority (“CSA”, see below).
• See Also: Preserving Evidence

If you experience sexual harassment excluding sexual violence

• You may report the incident to one of the College’s Responsible Employees (see below).

College Personnel Receiving Reports

• Lone Star College Police Department. The College’s Police Department may be contacted by dialing 5911 on any college phone or calling (281) 290-5911. The Emergency Communications (Dispatch) office is always operational—24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. They receive calls for service, both emergency and non- emergency. Title IX Coordinators (see below) can also assist you in notifying the police if you choose.
  • EMERGENCY NUMBER: 281.290.5911
  • NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER: 832.813.6800
• The College’s Responsible Employees. The College’s Responsible Employees are
  • (i) the College’s Police Department,
  • (ii) a Chief Student Services Officer, or
    • (iii) a Title IX Coordinator.

Nothing in the Policy Manual, Procedures, or this notice restricts a complainant’s option to go directly to a law enforcement agency.

• • The Chief Student Services Officer at a particular college will typically be the Vice President of Student Success, Vice President of Student Services, or Vice President of Enrollment Management.
  • The College has two Title IX Coordinators. The College’s Student Deputy Title IX Coordinator (if the respondent is a student) can be contacted at Student-Compliance@lonestar.edu or (832) 813-6614. The College’s Employee Title IX Coordinator (if the respondent is an employee) can be contacted at HR-Compliance@lonestar.edu or (832) 813-6520. If the respondent is a third party, the complainant’s status governs which Title IX Coordinator to contact.
• The College’s Campus Security Authorities (“CSA”). The College’s CSAs include the Responsible Employees along with Deans, Directors, and Advisors.

How to File a Report

• A report can be made using a College complaint form and sent to the appropriate College personnel:
  • Sexual Violence Complaint (Form 1A)
    1st  page, “page 10 of 19”
  • Sexual Harassment (Excluding Sexual Violence) Complaint (Form 2A)
    5th  page, “page 14 of 19”
  • Third Party Sexual Harassment Complaint (Form 3A)
    8th  page, “page 17 of 19
• A report can be made using Lone Star College’s EthicsPoint² report line:
• Ethicspoint Website
  • United States Toll-free: 1-855-233-3143
  • Indonesia/LSC-Jakarta: 001-801-10 (not available for cellular phones, use public phones allowing international access). At the English prompt, dial: 866-384-4277.

²EthicsPoint is NOT a 911 or Emergency Service: Do not use this site or these numbers to report events presenting an immediate threat to life or property. Reports submitted through this service may not receive an immediate response. If you require emergency assistance in the United States, please call the College Police at 281.290.5911. If you are off campus, call 911.

Once the report is filed iwth the appropriate College personnel:

• The College will open an investigation and speak with you about the Report, services the College can provide, and what College policy and procedure will be used for the investigation.

Interim Measures

• There are a number of Interim Measures the College may take following a Title IX report in order to protect the College and community including but not limited to a No Contact  Order.
• No Contact Order:
  • If the Respondent you named is an employee, a student, or otherwise has a connection to Lone Star College, you have the option to request an administrative No Contact order through the College. An appropriate College official will determine if a No Contact Order is warranted. This order is an official notice to the accused party (Respondent) that he or she is not to contact you. When a No Contact Order is issued, the Complainant is also instructed not to contact the Respondent. An administrative No Contact Order is not a legal order, but it is enforceable on College property. A violation of a No Contact Order may be classified as retaliatory and may result in conduct or disciplinary action.
• Interim Measures are at the College’s discretion.

Preserving Evidence

• It  is  important  to  preserve  evidence  in case  you decide  (now  or  later)  to  pursue  an  administrative investigation with the College and/or a criminal investigation with the police. Examples of evidence include photos; electronic documentation like texts, e-mails, voicemails, and social media posts; written notes and clothing worn during a sexual assault. If you have been sexually assaulted, you have the right to go to the hospital in the first 96 hours after the assault for a forensic medical examination.3 If you choose to go to the hospital for this examination, do not bathe, douche, brush your teeth, or drink, as you may destroy evidence. Save clothing from the assault in a paper bag because plastic degrades evidence.

Investigation

• If the Respondent is an employee, a student, or otherwise has a connection to Lone Star College, you may pursue a prompt, fair, and impartial administrative investigation and resolution, which will be conducted by College officials responsible for preparing the College’s  response.
• Lone  Star  College may  have  an  obligation  to  further  review  and investigate  the  information it receives related to this incident without your consent or participation. You will be notified if the College needs to investigate further. In such a circumstance, your identity will be protected to the extent  possible.
• If  you  request  anonymity,  the  College  will  determine  whether  it  can  honor  your  requests  while  still providing a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for the College’s community members, including the complainant. Your personally identifying details will be shared with the necessary College officials who can assist with the review and remedy of the reported incident. Identifying information in any subsequent reports will be kept confidential to the extent permissible by law. Please see more about confidentiality information:
  • LSC Policy for Sexual Harrassment, Assault, Violence, and Discrimination
  • LSC Procedures for Sexual Harrassment, Assault, Violence, and Discrimination

• If the Respondent is an employee, a student, or otherwise has a connection to Lone Star College, both you and the Respondent are entitled to the same opportunities to have an advisor present during the College administrative proceeding to address this matter, including the opportunity to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by an advisor of your choice.
• College policy, federal law and state law prohibit retaliation in any form against any student, employee, faculty member, vendor, customer, or other person participating in a College program or activity who complains or makes an allegation or who participates in any investigation of discrimination or harassment. Any retaliation should be promptly reported to the Title IX Coordinator.

Hearing Result

• If the Respondent is an employee, a student, or otherwise has a connection to Lone Star College, both you and the Respondent will be simultaneously informed in writing of the outcome of any College administrative proceeding that arises from an allegation of sexual misconduct. Reasonable efforts will be made to deliver the outcome to these individuals  contemporaneously.

Additional Resources Available

• You have the option to access counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, and other services as they are available on campus and/or in the community. Please refer to the resource information  in  Policy  VI.F.1.04  Available  Reporting  Resources  (a)  Internal  Resources  and  (b)  External Resources. If you need additional support in the form of counseling, accommodations, or other assistance, please contact the Title IX Coordinator.
  • You may request assistance with changing your academic and/or working situation at Lone Star College from  the  respective  Title  IX  Coordinator.  Examples  of  assistance  may  include  accommodations  such  as transferring to another class, moving your campus office location, and academic support services. The Title IX Coordinator will determine if the accommodations you request are reasonably  available. You will receive reasonable accommodations, even if you choose not to report the incident to police or pursue an investigation with the College.
  • You have the option to inquire about a civil protection order or other legal orders of protection through the appropriate court or tribunal with jurisdiction. If you obtain a protection order, it is your responsibility to notify Lone Star College Police and the respective Title IX Coordinator. Please note that without this notification, the College will have no knowledge of the protection order.