If you are looking for an Auburn University Title IX lawyer after receiving a Title IX notice, this page explains the process described in Auburn’s current public policy. It is general educational information, not legal advice, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Auburn University. Check the policy version and route named in your own notice.
Which policy applies to your situation
Auburn’s February 27, 2026 Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy governs conduct that meets the policy’s definition of sexual harassment and occurred within Auburn’s education programs and activities in the United States. This policy is linked from Auburn’s policy hub.
Conduct that falls outside that scope may instead be addressed under Auburn’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment. That policy says reports of sex discrimination against a student are handled only under the procedures in the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy. A single incident may also lead to charges under both policies.
Because the applicable policy and procedure depend on the specific charge, do not assume which route applies based on this page. Look at your actual notice. Under the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy, it must give known details of the alleged conduct and include a copy of or link to that policy. The policy version that applies can depend on your notice and on the date of the alleged incident, and Section XXXIX of the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy lets Auburn apply policy revisions to an active case. Check which version your notice cites. If the route or version is unclear, ask the coordinator’s office which policy, version, and procedure apply.
Report versus formal complaint
Auburn’s policy distinguishes several stages: a report, a formal complaint, supportive measures, an investigation, and a finding. A report does not by itself start the formal investigation and adjudication process. A formal complaint requests that process, though Auburn may dismiss a complaint that falls outside this policy’s scope and may refer the matter to another office.
Supportive measures are non-disciplinary and are supposed to be reasonably available. A respondent may request supportive measures even before receiving formal-complaint notice, and the policy states that they are offered once the respondent does receive that notice. If you need adjustments to housing, class schedules, or campus access while a matter is pending, ask about supportive measures early.
What happens when a formal complaint is filed
Once the Title IX coordinator receives a formal complaint, the university is expected to transmit written notice to the parties within five business days after the coordinator receives that complaint. This five-business-day period is Auburn’s internal action period. It is not a deadline for anything the respondent has to do.
The notice itself should identify the known parties, the alleged conduct, the known date and location, the presumption of non-responsibility, the right to an advisor, and the right to review evidence. Save this notice and any related emails or messages. Check the notice and later university communications for the response dates that apply to your case. The policy also sets some periods after a specific event, such as evidence transmission or receipt of a determination.
Investigation and evidence review
Under the policy, Auburn carries the burden of gathering evidence rather than placing that burden on the parties. Section XVI.A of the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy states that Auburn strives to complete an investigation within 30 to 45 business days of when notice was transmitted, but the policy is clear that the actual length can vary. Auburn’s University Disciplinary Process FAQ gives the same goal as 30 to 45 days without saying business days. No one can promise you a fixed completion date, and you should be cautious of anyone who does.
Before the investigative report is finalized, both parties are given access to evidence directly related to the allegations. Under Section XVI.D of the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy, each party has 10 business days from the point that evidence is transmitted to submit a written response explaining why certain evidence should be included or excluded.
If new evidence is relevant and timely, the investigation may reopen so the other party can review and comment. That comment period may be extended by up to 10 business days. This is not an automatic second 10-day window every time; it applies specifically to a reopened review involving new material.
Advisor and hearing
Under the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy, a live hearing is the default format unless both parties voluntarily agree to administrative adjudication instead. If a hearing is scheduled, the investigative report must be made available to the parties at least 10 business days before the pre-hearing conference or the hearing itself. Separately, the notice you receive will set its own deadline for submitting a written response to that report. That response deadline is not fixed by policy language and will be stated in your specific notice, so don’t rely on a general number from this page.
Every party may bring an advisor of choice, and that advisor can be an attorney, though an attorney is not required. At the hearing, it is the advisor, not the party personally, who asks the other side and any witnesses direct questions. If a party does not have an advisor and requests one, Auburn will provide a hearing advisor without charge.
The hearing officer decides the outcome using a preponderance of the evidence standard, meaning the officer determines what is more likely than not to have occurred.
Dismissal, determinations, and appeals
The policy separates a dismissal of a complaint from a determination made after investigation or hearing. Under Section XX of the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy, if you receive a dismissal notice, a hearing determination, or an administrative determination, you have seven business days from the date you receive that notice to file an appeal.
Under the same section, if the coordinator accepts an appeal as timely and based on a permitted ground, the other party is notified and has seven business days from that notification to submit a written opposition.
Auburn’s respondent FAQ describes the appeal window as "seven days" without saying whether those are business or calendar days. The Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy says seven business days. Because these documents word the deadline differently, use the deadline stated in your own notice and confirm it promptly with Auburn’s Title IX office.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to have an advisor at the hearing?
No. Policy sections XVIII.A and XXI allow any advisor of your choosing, including an attorney, but an attorney is not required. If you don’t have an advisor and ask for one, Auburn will provide a hearing advisor at no charge.
Can I request supportive measures before receiving formal-complaint notice?
The policy states that a respondent may request supportive measures before receiving formal-complaint notice, and that they are offered once that notice is received.
How long does Auburn have to investigate?
The Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy says Auburn strives to complete an investigation within 30 to 45 business days from when notice was transmitted, and Auburn’s University Disciplinary Process FAQ says 30 to 45 days without saying business days. The policy also states that the actual timeframe can vary. There is no guaranteed completion date.
What standard of proof is used at a hearing?
The hearing officer applies a preponderance of the evidence standard, meaning whether something is more likely than not to have happened.
How much time do I have to appeal a determination?
The Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy says seven business days from when you receive the dismissal notice, hearing determination, or administrative determination. Auburn’s respondent FAQ says "seven days" without naming the unit. Use the deadline in your own notice and confirm it with Auburn’s Title IX office. This is a different clock than the response periods during evidence review, so don’t confuse the two.
What if my situation involves conduct that seems to fall under a different Auburn policy?
Check your notice for the specific policy and procedure cited. Some conduct is addressed under Auburn’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment rather than, or in addition to, the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy.
A note on timing
Nothing on this page should be read as advice to wait, delay, or ignore any notice or deadline you receive from Auburn. If you have received a notice, the safest step is to read it carefully, preserve it, and track every date it lists.
More guides for Alabama schools: Alabama Title IX lawyer.
Disclaimer
This page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by Auburn University. Procedures, deadlines, and terminology can change; always confirm current requirements against Auburn’s official policy and the specific notice you received. If you have questions about your situation, you can contact us.
