If you have received a George Mason University notice under Policy 1202, read the notice and attachments first. The date of alleged conduct helps identify the policy version for deciding whether the conduct was prohibited; the report date helps identify the procedure. A George Mason Title IX lawyer can help you compare those dates and the route named in the notice. For general context, see what Title IX covers and what to do after you have been accused.
This page is a general educational overview. It does not replace legal advice.
Which Policy and Procedure Version Applies
George Mason’s live policy page is University Policy 1202, Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence. The revision was approved and the procedures were updated on November 25, 2025, with the page itself updated January 20, 2026.
Policy 1202 covers more conduct than the federal Title IX sexual-harassment definition. Not every report handled under Policy 1202 is automatically a federal Title IX matter. That distinction matters because if a federal Title IX route is dismissed for scope reasons, a Policy 1202 investigation into the same conduct may still continue. A scope dismissal is not a finding about whether the alleged conduct occurred.
The linked Procedures for Responding to Reports of Policy 1202 Prohibited Conduct states it applies to reports received after January 21, 2025. However, the version of Policy 1202 used to decide whether the alleged conduct was prohibited is the version that was in effect at the time the conduct is alleged to have occurred. This is a distinction worth confirming with your notice, not assuming from the PDF’s upload date or filename.
Report vs. Formal Complaint
A report to the university and a Formal Complaint are not the same thing. A report can lead to supportive measures and an initial assessment without triggering the full investigation and hearing process. A Formal Complaint, once accepted by the Title IX Coordinator, triggers a Notice of Investigation and moves the matter into the structured procedure described below.
Early Steps After You Receive a Notice
Save the complete notice and every attachment. Compare the report date with the procedure’s application statement, and the alleged-conduct date with the Policy 1202 version. Ask the university which versions it has attached to your notice. Do not wait to seek an advisor.
Under Procedure §III.D, each party may have an advisor of choice, including an attorney, as long as that advisor is not also a party or a witness in the matter. The advisor’s role differs depending on the stage: at meetings the advisor generally supports and consults, while at a hearing the advisor has a distinct questioning role, discussed further below.
Under §III.E, either party may request supportive measures at any point in the process. Available measures depend on individual circumstances and are decided case by case. A supportive measure is not a disciplinary finding and does not indicate fault.
The Notice of Investigation
Once the Title IX Coordinator accepts a Formal Complaint, Procedure §V.C requires the Notice of Investigation to include: the known allegations, the applicable version of Policy 1202, the governing procedure, the alleged violations, the presumption of non-responsibility, the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, information about advisor options, evidence-review procedures, supportive measures, a preservation-of-evidence request, and investigator contact information.
Read this notice in full before responding to anyone about the allegations. It is the document that controls your specific case, not a general summary.
Investigation and the Evidence Package
As the investigation proceeds, the university compiles what Procedure §V.G calls the Evidence Package: directly related evidence along with witness interview summaries. Each party has 10 business days from the release of the Evidence Package to review it and submit a written response to the investigator. That response can include new information, additional witnesses, or questions the party wants the investigator to consider.
If the investigator later gathers further evidence, a footnote to §V.H provides another 10-business-day window to review and comment on that additional material. This second window is not automatic in every case; it applies only when additional evidence is actually gathered after the initial package. For a broader look at how investigations unfold, see the investigation process page.
The Final Investigation Report and Hearing
After the investigation concludes, a Final Investigation Report is sent to both parties. Under Procedure §VI.A and §VI.D, the hearing may occur no sooner than 10 business days after that report is sent. This 10-business-day period is lead time before a hearing can be scheduled, not a separate guaranteed window for submitting a written response.
The Notice of Hearing allows parties to submit a response to the Final Investigation Report at any time before the hearing starts. Separately, the notice will typically ask for scheduling availability within five business days. That request concerns hearing scheduling, not the deadline for responding to the report itself. Keep these two tasks distinct when reviewing your notice.
At the hearing, an advisor asks questions on the party’s behalf. If a party does not have an advisor present, the university will provide one for that limited questioning role. That university-provided advisor is not personal counsel and does not offer broader representation.
Appeals: Two Separate Deadlines
George Mason’s procedure sets out two different appeal routes, each with its own trigger. Do not confuse them.
Dismissal appeal. Under Procedure §IV.F, if a complaint is dismissed, a written appeal must be submitted within five business days of the date the dismissal notification was sent. Permitted grounds are limited to: a procedural irregularity that affected the outcome, new evidence not reasonably available at the time of dismissal that could affect the result, or a conflict of interest or bias by the Title IX Coordinator or investigators that affected the outcome. The other party then has five business days after notice of the appeal to respond.
Hearing-outcome appeal. Under Procedure §VII.A, an appeal of a hearing determination must be submitted within five business days from the date the written Notice of Determination is sent, and it must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the last day of that window. The listed grounds are outcome-affecting procedural irregularity, qualifying new evidence, or outcome-affecting conflict or bias involving the Title IX Coordinator, investigators, or Hearing Officer. Disagreeing with the outcome, by itself, is not a valid ground for appeal.
Section VII.B then gives the non-appealing party a separate five-business-day response period that begins once the Notice of Appeal is transmitted. That later window is for the other party to respond, not extra time for the initial appeal.
All of these periods are measured in business days according to the university calendar, not calendar days. Confirm exact dates against your own notice. For more on how appeals work generally, see the appeals overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Policy 1202 report always mean a federal Title IX case?
No. Policy 1202 covers conduct beyond the federal Title IX sexual-harassment definition, so a report may proceed under Policy 1202 even if it falls outside federal Title IX scope.
If my federal Title IX claim is dismissed, is the whole case over?
Not necessarily. A scope dismissal under the federal definition does not automatically dismiss a related Policy 1202 investigation, and it is not a finding about whether the conduct occurred.
How much time do I have to respond to the Evidence Package?
Ten business days from the date the Evidence Package is released, under §V.G. An additional 10-business-day window applies only if further evidence is later gathered, per the §V.H footnote.
When can a hearing be scheduled?
No sooner than 10 business days after the Final Investigation Report is sent to the parties, per §VI.A and §VI.D. You may submit a response to that report any time before the hearing starts.
What are my appeal deadlines?
A dismissal appeal is due within five business days of the dismissal notice being sent. A hearing-outcome appeal is due within five business days of the Notice of Determination being sent, received by 5:00 p.m. on the last day. These are separate deadlines with separate triggers.
Can I have an attorney involved?
Yes. Procedure §III.D permits an advisor of choice, including an attorney, at any stage, provided that advisor is not also a party or witness.
More guides for Virginia schools: Virginia Title IX lawyer.
A Note on This Page
This page is for general educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by George Mason University. Always verify current deadlines and procedures against your own official notice and the university’s published policy. If you need help understanding a specific notice, you can contact us to discuss your situation.
