I. Policy Coverage
The university is committed to adopting a policy and fostering an environment where no individual may threaten the health, safety, and welfare of a member of the university community, including any person on university property or at a university-sponsored or university-supervised activity, through the commission of an act of sexual misconduct. This section is intended to summarize the university’s sexual misconduct policy. The complete sexual misconduct policy can be found at www.nova.edu
/studentaffairs/index.html.
For purposes of the policy, sexual misconduct encompasses a range of behaviors that create a hostile environment, including acts of dating violence, sex-based discrimination, domestic violence, intimidation, retaliation, sexual assault (including acquaintance rape), sexual exploitation, sex based stalking and sexual harassment.
The purpose and scope of the sexual misconduct policy is to clearly define the university’s position on and prohibition against any acts of sexual misconduct and to inform the university community of the reporting options and programs available for those who experience sexual misconduct, including a victim’s options for maintaining confidentiality. In addition, the policy discusses the educational programs available to the university community on awareness, prevention, and bystander intervention. The policy also addresses the procedures that the university will follow in the event a student or employee fall victim to or witnesses an act of sexual misconduct, including the grievance and disciplinary procedures that the university will follow and the rights afforded to victims and the accused during such investigations and adjudications.
The policy applies to all students, employees, and others in the campus community, regardless of sexual orientation, when it is committed by a student, employee, or a participant in a university program, whenever that sexual misconduct occurs
a. on campus; or b. off campus, if:
1. in connection with a university or university-recognized program or activity; or
2. in a manner that may pose an obvious and serious threat of harm to, or that may have the effect of creating a hostile educational environment for, any member(s) of the university community.
II. Rights Afforded to All Community Members
a. The right to have all acts of sexual misconduct treated with seriousness; and the right, as victims, to be treated with dignity and respect.
b. The right to have any acts of sexual misconduct investigated and adjudicated by the duly constituted criminal and civil authorities of the governmental entity in which the crimes occurred and the right to the full and prompt cooperation and assistance of campus personnel in notifying the proper authorities.
c. The right to be free from pressure that would suggest that victims (1) not report crimes committed against them to civil and criminal authorities or to the campus Public Safety and disciplinary officials; or (2) report crimes as lesser offenses than the victim perceives them to be.
d. The right to be free from suggestions that victims of sexual misconduct not report, or under- report, crimes because (1) victims are somehow “responsible” for the commission of crimes against them; (2) victims contributed to or assumed the risk of being assaulted; or (3) by reporting crimes, they would incur unwanted personal publicity.
e. The right to the full, prompt, and reasonable cooperation from campus personnel in responding to an incident of sexual misconduct.
f. The right to have access to counseling services established by the university or other victim- service organizations.
g. The right to require that campus personnel take the necessary steps or actions reasonably feasible to prevent unwanted contact with, or proximity to, alleged assailants following a report of sexual misconduct, including assistance with academic, workplace, and housing accommodations, if requested and reasonably available.
h. The right of both the complainant and accused to the same opportunities to have others present during a disciplinary proceeding.
i. The right of both the complainant and the accused to be informed of the outcome of any university disciplinary proceeding.
j. The right to be provided with written information regarding the victim’s rights and options following a report of sexual misconduct.
III. Reporting Sexual Misconduct
The NSU community is encouraged to report to the local police (9-1-1) and NSU Public Safety Department (extension 28999 on campus and (954) 262-8999 off campus) all occurrences of sexual misconduct. Professional staff members in the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, Office of Residential Life and Housing, student counseling, the Office of Human Resources, and the NSU Public Safety Department are among those who are trained and willing to assist students and employees who are victims of sexual misconduct. Students aggrieved by a violation of this policy may file a grievance under Title IX. Employees may file a grievance with the Office of Human Resources. All reports of sexual misconduct will be thoroughly investigated by the university Title IX Coordinator or the Vice President of Human Resources or their designees.
Victims of sexual violence have the option to notify—or decline to notify—the proper law enforcement authorities, including NSU Public Safety and local police. Victims also have the option to be assisted by campus authorities in notifying law enforcement authorities if the victim so chooses. Students and employees may be assisted by and should report allegations of sexual misconduct to the following individuals.
For Students For Employees
Title IX Coordinator Gay Holliday
Associate Dean of Student Affairs Rosenthal Building
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314-7796 (954) 262-7281
Office of Human Resources Robert Pietrykowski
Vice President of Human Resources 3100 SW 9th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315-3025 (954) 262-7893
Confidential resources are also available to students and employees.
The Henderson Student Counseling Center
3538 South University Drive (in the University Park Plaza) Davie, Florida 33328
Telephone: (954) 424-6911 or (954) 262-7050 (available 24 hours, 7 days per week) Fax: (954) 424-6915
Counselors in Residence
Office of Residential Life and Housing 3301 College Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33314-7796
Telephone: (954) 262-7052 or (800) 541-6682, ext. 27052
Healthcare Professionals at the NSU Student Medical Center
3200 S. University Drive Davie, Florida 33328 Telephone: (954) 262-1262
NSU Psychological Services Center
Maltz Building 3301 College Avenue Davie, Florida 33314-7796
Telephone: (954) NSU-CARE (678-2273)