Frequently Asked Questions

Title IX is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities that receive Federal funds. Under Title IX, every institution must designate an employee as a “The Title IX coordinator” who is responsible for ensuring compliance with Title IX.

Bernard Dufresne, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Equity/Title IX Compliance serves as the University’s Title IX Coordinator. Bernard is available by phone at (212) 346-1310 and email at bdufresne@pace.edu.

All Pace University employees, excluding clinical staff in the Counseling Center, University Healthcare, and the Office of Sexual and Interpersonal Wellness, are required to notify the Title IX Coordinator when the employee has information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment. However, a person who wishes for the University to take action, is strongly encouraged to report directly to the Title IX Office.

The University is committed to maintaining an environment free from all forms of sexual misconduct.

For information about how the University responds to concerns about sex-based misconduct that occur on or after August 1, 2024, please refer to the Pace University's Sex-Based Misconduct Policy and Procedure 2024 (PDF).

For information about how the University responds to concerns about sex-based misconduct that occurred on or before July 31, 2024, please refer to the Pace University's Sex-Based Misconduct Policy 2020 (PDF).

Pace University wishes to make all members of the University Community aware of the various reporting and confidential and non-confidential resources available.

Confidential resources on campus. A confidential resource provides emotional support and/or medical services and maintains confidentiality. A report to a confidential resource does not result in a University investigation or any other University action to respond to the incident.

Office the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator ensures that reports and complaints of sexual misconduct are handled properly in a prompt, equitable, and timely manner. The Title IX Coordinator is also available to answer any questions that members of the University community may have about the Sex-Based Misconduct Policy and to assist them in gaining access to available resources and understanding their rights.

Safety and Security. The Office of Safety and Security ensures the safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors of Pace University by providing a 24-hours a day, 365 day per year security presence on the University’s New York City and Westchester campuses.

If an incident is reported to the Title IX office, the Title IX Coordinator reaches out to the complainant to check in with them, offer them resources and support and provide information about the University’s grievance process, including how to file a formal complaint. The complainant can decide whether they want to pursue a formal investigation, whether they just want to register the concerns with the Title IX office or whether they want to seek out support, but do not want the University to take any further action.

References made to confidentiality refer to the ability of identified confidential resources to not report crimes and violations to law enforcement or college officials without permission, except for extreme circumstances, such as a health and/or safety emergency or child abuse.

References made to privacy mean Pace University offices and employees who cannot guarantee confidentiality but will maintain privacy to the greatest extent possible, and information disclosed will be relayed only as necessary to investigate and/or seek a resolution and to notify the Title IX Coordinator or designee, who is responsible for tracking patterns and spotting systemic issues. Pace University will limit the disclosure as much as practicable, even if the Title IX Coordinator determines that the request for confidentiality cannot be honored.

Supportive Measures are offered by the Title IX Coordinator to both parties in order to provide support to students on campus. Some examples include counseling services through the Pace Counseling Center, modifications to work or class schedules, changes in class, work, housing, or extracurricular or any other activity etc. These are items you can request without filing a complaint.

The informal resolution process is available to both parties at any time prior to a determination or finding being made. You do not need to file a complaint in order to engage in an informal resolution. Both parties need to provide consent to participate.

If both parties consent to participate in the Informal Resolution process, the University will assign a facilitator. An Informal Resolution leads either to an agreement between the parties or no agreement. If an agreement is reached the case is closed. If an agreement is not reached, the Title IX office will work with Complainant on next steps.

A complainant or respondent is permitted to request the presence of an advisor of choice. An advisor of choice is a person selected by the complainant or respondent to advise and accompany the complainant or respondent throughout the investigation and adjudication process. An advisor of choice may be any person, including an attorney. The institution does not appoint or pay for an advisor of choice. Advisors may attend all meetings and proceedings with their advisee; however, they cannot speak on behalf of their advisee or submit documents on behalf their advisee and must comply with the University’s rules of decorum

Pace University will provide for adequate, reliable, and impartial investigation of complaints. If a formal complaint is filed, the Title IX Office will send a notice of charges letter to both parties notifying them of the violation and the grievance process. An investigator will meet with the Complainant, Respondent and witnesses to gather relevant information. Both parties will be able to review the evidence and provide a written response. A live hearing will be scheduled where the Decision-maker/Hearing Panel will ask questions of the parties and witnesses and then make a determination of responsibility.

Yes. Pace University has an obligation to appropriately evaluate all complaints, regardless of whether there is a concurrent complaint before law enforcement. This process is an administrative process that is different from the criminal justice process. Per New York state law, it is required that Pace University’s process run concurrently with a criminal justice investigation and proceeding, however, temporary delays are allowed as requested by external municipal entities while law enforcement gathers evidence. Temporary delays should not last more than ten days except when law enforcement specifically requests and justifies a longer delay.

The University maintains discretion to continue an investigation when a Respondent withdraws or leaves the University while the grievance process is pending. In such circumstances, Pace University may proceed in absentia, and any decision and sanction will be binding on the Respondent, pending appeal. When Pace University is notified of a Respondent’s withdrawal, the University must place a notation on the Respondent’s transcript that the Respondent “withdrew with conduct charges pending.” If the Respondent is subsequently found not responsible at a hearing, the transcript notation will be removed. If the Respondent is subsequently found responsible at a hearing and the sanction is either suspension or expulsion, the transcript notation will be adjusted accordingly.

Formal hearings can either take place in-person or virtually depending on the circumstances.

The hearing provides an opportunity for the hearing officer to question the parties and witnesses, review evidence, and involves the Hearing Officer asking the submitted and approved questions to both parties.

Live hearings are not public, and the only individuals permitted to participate in the live hearing are as follows: Decision-Makers/Hearing Panel, Complainant, Respondent, Investigator, Witnesses, and Advisors.

Evaluation of complaint: 25 days

Investigation: 120 days