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Understanding the Title IX process

This FAQ page is designed to address common questions from students about Title IX cases at the University of Mississippi.

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Frequently Asked Questions for Students About the Title IX Process

Find information below to help you understand your role in the process and explore your options.

No. As long as you are over the age of 17, it is your choice whether you want to go to the police. If someone else is concerned about your safety or believes you are in danger, that person may call the police. Generally, it is your option to press charges.

In most cases, no. FERPA is a federal law that protects information about you and your access of University services.

No. If you get a phone call or email from a University employee and do not want to discuss your experience, please respond and let the employee know you do not want to discuss the incident.

Depending on their relationship to the University, they may be obligated to report to the Interim Title IX Coordinator, Marissa Watson. The Title IX Coordinator will reach out to you to offer you supportive measures and accommodations and talk to you about potentially starting an investigation. You have the right not to speak with the Title IX Coordinator, although there may be circumstances in which the EORC Investigators will investigate allegations without your participation.

If you decide not to file a formal complaint, all campus resources remain available to support you, and supportive measures are available to parties with or without the filing of a formal complaint. Please contact the Title IX Coordinator for assistance with supportive measures. Or, alternatively, for complainants, as well as individuals who are alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment, please contact Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support, and Education (CASE). For individuals who have been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment, please contact UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy.

Equal Opportunity & Regulatory Compliance/Title IX Office

The EORC/Title IX Office is responsible for addressing and responding to allegations of sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, and other sexual misconduct. Accordingly, the EORC Office conducts investigations into formal complaints alleging a violation of the University’s Title IX or Interpersonal Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policies, and provides supportive measures and accommodations to parties, with or without the filing of a formal complaint.

  • Marissa Watson, the Interim Title IX Coordinator, is the appropriate University official to contact to make a report or formal complaint of sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, relationship violence, or other sexual misconduct.
Individuals who are alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment under the University’s Title IX Policy or its Interpersonal Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy should contact the Title IX Coordinator to file a formal complaint using the contact information below.

The University Police Department (UPD)

To file a criminal complaint or request a protective order, contact UPD.

File an anonymous Clery report

Under the Jeanne Clery Act, the University has to report annual statistics including the number of sexual assaults that happen on campus. If you would like to report an incident so it will be included in the annual report, you can report the incident to Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support, and Education (CASE), the Title IX Coordinator, or UPD.

University Counseling Center 

The University Counseling Center assists students, including both complainants and respondents, with emotional support and therapeutic services through one-on-one sessions and groups.

Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support, and Education (CASE)

Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support, and Education (CASE) assists complainants with any support and referrals they need, from supportive measures and accommodations to consultation about all of the different campus and community options.

UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy  

UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy assists respondents with any support and referrals they need, from supportive measures accommodations to consultation about all of the different campus and community options.

Retaliation against an individual who initiates a report or formal complaint, participates in an investigation, or pursues legal action, is prohibited. Accordingly, the University nor any person may intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX or University policy, or because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under University policy.

Intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination, including charges against an individual for code of conduct violations that do not involve sex discrimination or sexual harassment, but arise out of the same facts or circumstances as a report or complaint of sex discrimination, or a report or formal complaint of sexual harassment, for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX or University policy, constitutes retaliation.

Submit a Title IX Report Anytime

If you or someone you know may have experienced a Title IX or IVSM violation, you can report it confidentially using the form below. Take the first step toward support and resolution by submitting your report today.

What do I do if ...

You may still have questions. Below you'll find answers related to possible courses of action you can take.

If you are concerned that you or someone else is in danger of imminent physical harm, contact law enforcement immediately.

  • If you are on the Oxford campus, the University Police Department can be reached at (662) 915-4911 or (662) 915-7234.
  • If you are in the Oxford city limits, you can reach the Oxford Police Department by calling 911 or (662) 232-2400.
  • If you are in Lafayette County, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office can be reached by calling 911 or (662) 234-6421.

The hospital that serves the University, the city of Oxford, and Lafayette County, is Baptist Memorial Hospital and can be reached by calling 911 or (662) 232-8100. The number 911 should only be used for emergencies.

if you want to have evidence collected, you can contact:

  • The Student Health Center on the Oxford campus offers Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exams Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
  • The Baptist Memorial Hospital can do evidence collection 24 hours a day. If possible, take the clothing you were wearing with you, and do not shower or eat before seeking to have evidence collected.

You can have evidence collected up to 96 hours (four days) after an incident has occurred. The hospital will notify the police; however, you do not have to discuss what happened with the police unless you choose to do so.

The most common law enforcement agencies that interact with the University community are the University Police Department, the Oxford Police Department, and the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office.

  • If you are on the Oxford campus, the University Police Department can be reached at (662) 915-4911 or (662) 915-7234.
  • If you are in the Oxford city limits, you can reach the Oxford Police Department by calling 911 or (662) 232-2400.
  • If you are in Lafayette County, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office can be reached by calling 911 or (662) 234-6421. The number 911 should only be used for emergencies.

If you would like the University to investigate what happened, contact the Interim Title IX Coordinator, Marissa Watson. The EORC Office is located in 120 Lester Hall.

The Interim Title IX Coordinator can be reached by email at mwatson9@olemiss.edu or titleIX@olemiss.edu, or by phone at (662) 915-7045.

Depending on the circumstances, the University can provide numerous services, including academic accommodations, housing accommodations, counseling, health care services, parking services, police escorts, no-contact orders and other options.

  • Either the Title IX Coordinator, a CASE advocate, or a UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy advocate, can help provide these accommodations.

The University may also be able to recommend off-campus services.

The University has several options available for counseling services.

  • The University Counseling Center is located on the Oxford campus and is available to University students and employees. The Counseling Center does not charge for its services.
  • The University’s Psychological Services Center is located on the Oxford campus and is available to University students and employees and the general public. The Psychological Services Center charges users for its services on a sliding scale.
  • The University has a Student Health Center located on the Oxford campus that offers psychiatric services and general medical care. There is no charge to see a physician or nurse practitioner.
  • Family Crisis Services offers free counseling services off-campus as space allows.

Contact information for these resources can be found in the Get Help Now tab.

Advocates are individuals provided by the University who work with complainants or respondents of interpersonal violence or sexual misconduct.

  • For complainants, as well as individuals who are alleged to have experienced conduct that could constitute sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, or interpersonal violence, the University has an Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support, and Education (CASE) located in Longstreet 309 on the Oxford campus. Please call (662) 816-5377 to speak to an advocate.
  • For individuals who have been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment (respondents), the University has UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy. Please call (662) 915-7248 to speak to an advocate.

The Counseling Center, Student Health Center and Psychological Services are granted privilege by Mississippi law.

  • Privilege means that in most circumstances employees in those offices are prohibited by law from sharing your information without your permission.
  • Privilege applies to all individuals over the age of 18 but does not cover minors.

In addition to employees with privilege, University policy allows workers in Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support, and Education (CASE) as well as in UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy to keep information private in most circumstances. Most other employees on campus are required to report all information about sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, and other sexual misconduct to the Interim Title IX Coordinator.

If you choose to seek a medical exam for the sake of evidence collection (SANE exam), the medical provider probably will notify law enforcement so the evidence can be collected and preserved.

  • You do not have to discuss what happened with the police unless you choose to do so.
  • You are also able to complete an evidence collection kit anonymously, and your kit would be stored under a code provided by the Student Health Center or Baptist Hospital.
  • If you are seeking a medical exam for other reasons, the information you provide to the medical staff generally will be protected by law.

Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi is an advocacy service that is not affiliated with the university. Family Crisis Services will not share information with the university and generally will keep your information private unless you provide consent.

The Student Health Center on campus provides all of these services. You may call for an appointment at (662) 915-7274 or walk in to be seen.

  • You do not have to disclose to front desk personnel the reason you are seeking health care.

The physician, nurse practitioner or nurse you speak with cannot share anything about the incident with anyone else. Baptist Memorial Hospital also provides these services.