A College of Staten Island Title IX lawyer can help a CSI student respondent understand the campus reporting offices, protect evidence rights during the CUNY investigation, and prepare for the hearing and any appeal.
CSI administers the system-wide CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct through its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Building 1A, and the campus student handbook ties that policy together with the Henderson Rules and the Article XV bylaws. That combination gives respondents three campus documents to check against the system rules. Because that policy implements the May 2020 federal regulations, and later federal changes were vacated in court, confirm in writing whether your matter runs as Title IX or Non-Title IX. Hearing basics are at how do Title IX hearings work.
Intake and reporting at the College of Staten Island
Reports go to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Building 1A Room 205 on the 2800 Victory Boulevard campus. The office investigates matters under the CUNY policies it links, so it is the correct first contact for supportive measures and filing questions. Campus pages also point to an online incident reporting portal shared across CUNY.
The disciplinary track needs a signed Formal Complaint alleging Title IX Sexual Harassment and requesting investigation, by document, email, or online form with a physical or digital signature. Where the first report falls short, the Coordinator must explain how to file, and may sign a complaint for safety reasons. Without one within a reasonable time, the matter may be closed, with later filing still allowed.
Supportive measures reach both parties immediately, with or without a complaint, and are non-disciplinary and non-punitive. Options include counseling, course adjustments, escort, mutual contact restrictions, and schedule or housing changes. The CSI Counseling Center in Building 1A Room 109 provides free confidential counseling with in person and video sessions plus round the clock telephone access. Written challenges to measures that directly affect a party are decided within seven policy days. Emergency removal needs exceptional circumstances, an individualized safety and risk analysis, and notice with a prompt challenge chance. From the start, preserve messages, photos, location records, and witness names, avoid contact with the other party, and retain an advisor before the first interview. Early guidance is at after you have been accused.
Day counts in this guide mean policy days. A policy day is a calendar day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a federal or state holiday.
Investigation: how the record is built
The Coordinator investigates promptly, thoroughly, and impartially, interviewing parties and witnesses with relevant information and reviewing documents and evidence. The college holds the burden of proof and of gathering sufficient evidence, while both sides may submit evidence, propose witnesses, and suggest questions. An advisor of choice, including an attorney, may attend every meeting, with reasonable advance written notice of each.
Respondents receive two formal review opportunities. Before the report is finalized, both sides get the directly related evidence, including items the college will not rely on, and have ten policy days to respond in writing. At least ten policy days before any hearing, each side receives the finished report and may file a written response shared with the committee and the other party. Title IX investigations target completion within 120 policy days, with written notice of delays and reasons. Treatment records stay out without voluntary written consent. The preponderance of the evidence standard applies, or more likely than not, with a presumption of non-responsibility. Investigation preparation is at title-ix-investigation.
Hearing and advisor: who asks the questions
A finished Title IX investigation leads to a live hearing, targeted within sixty policy days after investigation, in person or by video keeping everyone visible and audible. A three member Adjudication Committee from the CUNY-wide panel decides, with no member sitting on a home campus case. Student cases join a faculty member or administrator with a student member under a chairperson.
Both sides get at least seven policy days written notice at the CUNY email address and mailing address on record, with itemized allegations and possible penalties. Each side may take one adjournment of reasonable length without explanation, with further requests at least five policy days early at the chair’s discretion.
Advisors alone conduct cross-examination, putting all relevant questions including credibility challenges orally and in real time, while parties never question each other directly. The chair rules on relevance before each answer and explains exclusions. A party arriving without an advisor is provided one for cross-examination, and respondents may remain silent without adverse inference. A printed passage barring reliance on statements that skip cross-examination was revoked by a 2021 revision appended to the policy under a federal court order, so admissible statements may now be weighed regardless. Advisor strategy is at title-ix-advisor.
Sanctions for CSI student respondents
Findings apply preponderance to the report, testimony, and hearing evidence. Student penalties run from warning through suspension or expulsion from CUNY, and a suspension of one term or more bars the respondent from all other CUNY units while it runs. The written determination is due within fifteen policy days after the hearing, or twenty policy days with multiple parties, and must state findings, policy application, sanctions, complainant remedies, and appeal rights. Suspension or expulsion adds a transcript notation of that outcome after a code of conduct finding. Withdrawal mid-case changes nothing. The student is barred from other CUNY units until resolution, carries a pending charges transcript note, and may be heard in absentia. Wider fallout is at consequences of a Title IX violation.
Appeals
Either party may appeal the determination or penalty to the University Title IX Director within fifteen policy days after delivery. Grounds are procedural irregularity affecting the outcome, new evidence unavailable at the hearing that could affect the outcome, conflict of interest or bias affecting the outcome, and disproportionate penalty. The other side is notified within five policy days and has fifteen policy days to respond, and the Appeal Committee decides in writing within fifteen policy days after that window. Dismissals carry their own five-policy-day appeal, and the Coordinator pauses rerouting until it is decided. Appeal mechanics are at title-ix appeals.
Respondent checklist for CSI cases
- Confirm your track in writing, Title IX or Non-Title IX.
- Engage an advisor before the first interview, with five policy days notice for an attorney at the hearing.
- Request supportive measures through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and challenge adverse measures in writing.
- Preserve messages, photos, location records, and witness names, plus a dated timeline.
- File written responses in both ten-policy-day windows, on the evidence and then the report.
- Prepare cross-examination topics with your advisor and review the exhibits on arrival.
- Diary the fifteen-policy-day appeal deadline and request the hearing recording at once.
CSI cases combine a close knit campus with system-wide rules. Contact us to discuss your notice and what comes next.
FAQ
Where do I report at CSI?
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Building 1A Room 205 handles reports and Formal Complaints, with an online incident reporting portal as a written alternative.
Can I bring a lawyer?
Any advisor of choice, attorney or not, may attend every stage. Only advisors cross-examine, and the college supplies one for that role if you have none.
What must the college prove?
That a violation more likely than not occurred, with evidence gathering on the college and a presumption of non-responsibility until the end.
What sanctions do CSI student respondents face?
Warning through suspension or expulsion from CUNY, with transcript notation for suspension or expulsion and exclusion from other CUNY units during longer suspensions.
How do I appeal?
File a written Notice of Appeal with the University Title IX Director within fifteen policy days after the determination arrives, citing a permitted ground.
Sources (checked 2026-09-22)
- CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct: Formal Complaint, investigation, hearing, sanctions, appeal
- CSI Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: campus Title IX office and policy links
- CSI Counseling Center: confidential counseling and round the clock telephone access
- CSI Student Handbook: Henderson Rules, Article XV, policy references
- CUNY Combating Sexual Misconduct hub: directory contacts and Bill of Rights
Disclaimer
This page is general information only, not legal advice, and reading it creates no attorney-client relationship. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the City University of New York or the College of Staten Island. Policies change; confirm the current procedure text before acting.
