If you are looking for a Fresno State Title IX lawyer after being named in a report to the Office of Compliance and Civil Rights (OCCR), start with the written notice. This page explains the published CSU procedures for student respondents. The version and track that govern your case must be confirmed from your notice and the university.
Which Policy and Track Applies to Your Case
Fresno State, as part of the CSU system, currently references more than one governing document for sexual-misconduct and sex-discrimination allegations involving students. The CSU policy index describes a student procedure effective March 4, 2025, but the linked PolicyStat record shows an older ID. The student respondent procedure itself currently displays an ACTIVE status and a March 4, 2025 effective date, alongside separate metadata showing a past expiration date. There is also a distinct interim nondiscrimination policy that covers different subject matter.
Across the California State University system, student cases are handled under the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy with its Track 1 attachment and the Student Respondent Procedures with Addenda A and B. The track assigned to a case and the dates involved affect the steps, including whether a hearing is required. To read how the systemwide rules work in full, see the California State University systemwide Title IX process.
Because of these inconsistencies in the public-facing documents, do not assume that the March 2025 student procedure governs every current case. The nondiscrimination policy and index also draw a line between conduct alleged on or after August 1, 2024 and the student procedure’s own complaint-filing effective date of March 4, 2025, which the procedure states is not retroactive.
In practical terms, this means the specific policy version, the date of the alleged conduct, and the date the complaint was filed all matter. Before assuming which rules apply, a student should confirm the current, applicable version directly from the university’s written notice or from OCCR, and should not rely solely on this page.
Report, Complaint, and Track Assignment Are Different Steps
OCCR’s reporting page covers sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, dating or domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and stalking. It is important to understand that a report, a formal complaint, a supportive measure, and a responsibility finding are separate events, each with its own procedural consequences. Receiving a report does not automatically mean a formal complaint has been filed, and a supportive measure is not a finding of responsibility.
For a complaint against a student under the Nondiscrimination Policy, the Title IX Coordinator first assesses whether Track 1 applies under the policy’s federal sexual-harassment criteria. If Track 1 does not apply, the student procedure distinguishes a Track 2 hearing path for the listed sexual-misconduct allegations from a Track 3 non-hearing path for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation outside those categories. The applicable policy and track affect the process and timeline. Do not assume that every case has the same hearing or advisor-questioning rules.
Early Steps After You Receive Notice
If you receive written notice that you are the subject of a complaint, read it carefully and note every date it contains. Do not delay responding to a deadline stated in your notice. Because tracks and timelines differ, confirm the applicable policy and deadline from the notice and OCCR before relying on general guidance.
At this stage, it can help to:
- Confirm which track (Track 1, Track 2, or Track 3) is identified in your notice.
- Note whether the complaint concerns conduct that occurred before or after the relevant policy effective dates.
- Begin organizing any documents, messages, or names of witnesses relevant to the allegation.
- Identify an advisor, since the procedure allows a respondent to have one.
Investigation and Evidence Review
In the student procedure’s non-Track-1 process, the investigator shares a preliminary investigation report and relevant evidence with both parties. The parties have ten Working Days to review the evidence and respond. The procedure’s timeline starts this period when the preliminary report is sent to the parties. This is a working-day count, not a calendar-day count. Confirm the specific due date in the case notice.
Advisors and the Hearing Process
Where a matter proceeds under the Track 2 hearing path, the hearing addendum requires that notice of the hearing be provided at least 20 Working Days before the hearing date. This advance notice period is separate from the ten-Working-Day evidence review period described above, and the two should not be confused with each other.
Respondents may have an advisor present during the process. The scope of an advisor’s role, including any questioning role at a hearing, depends on the track and the specific procedure provisions that apply to that track. This page does not promise that every case will include a hearing or advisor-led questioning, since that depends on the track assignment made in your matter.
Supportive Measures
The procedure allows supportive measures for a complainant or respondent to preserve access to university programs or provide support during a complaint process. They are separate from a finding of responsibility. If a measure affects you, ask OCCR what it requires and how to request a review or change under the applicable procedure.
Appeals
Student procedure Addendum B provides ten Working Days to file an appeal. The trigger date for this window depends on the type of case:
- For non-hearing (Track 3) cases, the ten-Working-Day appeal period runs from the date of the Notice of Investigation Outcome.
- For hearing (Track 2) cases, the ten-Working-Day appeal period runs from the date of the Final Decision.
These are two separate triggers tied to two separate types of case outcomes, and they should not be combined or confused. Separately, a dismissal of a complaint carries its own distinct notice and appeal trigger, which is not the same as the outcome-based appeal window described above. Track 1 matters follow their own separate rules, which differ from the student procedure’s Track 2 and Track 3 provisions. Always calculate any appeal deadline from the actual date stated in your own written notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the March 2025 student procedure apply to my case?
It may or may not, depending on the date of the alleged conduct and when the complaint was filed. Given inconsistencies in the current public policy documents, confirm the applicable version through your written notice or OCCR before relying on any single source.
What is the difference between a report and a formal complaint?
A report is information that reaches OCCR. A formal complaint is a distinct step that can lead to an investigation. Receiving a report does not mean a formal complaint has been filed against you.
Will I get a hearing?
Under the non-Track-1 student procedure, Track 2 requires a hearing and Track 3 does not. Track 1 has separate hearing rules. Confirm which track the university assigned to your case.
How much time do I have to review the evidence?
In the non-Track-1 process, the parties have ten Working Days to review the evidence after the preliminary investigation report is sent. Confirm the due date in your notice.
How much time do I have to appeal?
Ten Working Days under Addendum B, counted from the Notice of Investigation Outcome in non-hearing cases, or from the Final Decision in hearing cases. Dismissal appeals have their own separate trigger.
Should I wait before responding to a notice?
No. Do not delay responding to any deadline in a notice you receive. Confirm dates directly from your notice and act within the stated windows.
Disclaimer
This page is for general educational information only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. This page is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by California State University, Fresno or the California State University system. Procedures, policy versions, and deadlines can change; always confirm current requirements from official university notices and sources before acting. If you have questions about your specific situation, you may contact us.
