If you are looking for a Portland State University Title IX lawyer after receiving a PSU notice, confirm the policy named in that notice and your case-specific deadlines with the Title IX office. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by Portland State University. It is general educational information, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Which Policy Applies to Your Situation
Portland State maintains more than one process that can touch a sexual misconduct allegation, and they are not interchangeable. The version of each policy or code that applies to you can depend on the date of the incident and the date of your notice; check the policy named in your notice and confirm with the Title IX office.
Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy 20-02. PSU’s adopted-policies index lists this policy as revised February 3, 2022. The permanent policy link redirects to the official PDF, which itself shows a cover date of October 15, 2021 alongside a February 3, 2022 adoption history. Those two dates on the same document do not tell you, by themselves, which version governs an older incident. If your notice references Policy 20-02, ask PSU’s Title IX office to confirm in writing which version applies to your matter, the exact charge, the route being used, and the relevant dates.
Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment Policy 12-01. If the alleged conduct does not fall within Policy 20-02’s defined Title IX jurisdiction, Policy 12-01 may still cover it. A student matter outside Policy 20-02 may also use the conduct-code process, so ask PSU to identify the policy and procedure separately.
The student conduct code. PSU’s Code of Student Conduct and Responsibility is described in its own text as effective for conduct occurring on or after July 1, 2026. Under that code, PSU’s Senior Conduct Officer refers sexual misconduct reports to the Title IX Coordinator, and if Policy 20-02 applies, its process controls instead of the code. If 20-02 does not apply, the code may.
The student conduct office page describes the July 2026 transition in terms of when a case is received, while the code itself describes it in terms of when the underlying conduct occurred. These descriptions differ. Ask PSU which code version governs your specific notice rather than assuming either trigger settles it.
Do not assume that ordinary student conduct appeal deadlines apply to a Policy 20-02 matter, or the reverse. Each process has its own rules.
Report Versus Formal Complaint
Under Policy 20-02, a report is not the same thing as a formal complaint. A report can trigger outreach and supportive measures without necessarily opening a formal grievance process. A formal complaint is what typically starts the investigation and hearing track. If PSU dismisses a matter from the Title IX process, that dismissal is not itself a finding that no university rule was broken; other avenues, such as Policy 12-01 or the conduct code, may still be available.
Early Steps to Take
If you have received any notice referencing sexual harassment or sexual misconduct at PSU, consider taking these steps promptly:
- Preserve the notice itself and any record of when and how you received it.
- Identify the alleged conduct date, the exact policy and charge cited, and which procedure PSU says applies.
- Preserve relevant text messages, emails, social media exchanges, and other documents that may relate to the allegation.
- Ask PSU in writing for the specific dates and deadlines that apply to your matter. Do not rely on general summaries, including this one, for your actual deadline.
- Consider consulting an advisor early, even before an investigation is underway.
- Read every report and hearing notice carefully as it arrives, and calendar the dates PSU gives you.
Do not ignore a notice. Confirm the applicable deadline and respond within it.
Investigation and Evidence Review
For matters proceeding under Policy 20-02, the investigation includes a defined evidence review stage. Section VII.4.2.12 gives parties and their eligible advisors access to the draft investigation report and to evidence directly related to the allegations, along with a 10-Day period to review and comment before the report is finalized. Under Policy 20-02, a "Day" means a business day, Monday through Friday, excluding PSU holidays and emergency closures, so weekends and closures do not count toward that window.
Section VII.4.2.16 separately requires that the final investigation report be provided at least 10 Days before a hearing. This is a distinct stage from the comment period above, not the same 10-day clock counted twice.
Hearing and Advisor Requirements
Section VII.7.1 states that a hearing under Policy 20-02 occurs no sooner than 10 Days after the final report, subject to an exception described in the policy. Again, this is a separate stage from the report-comment period and the final-report timing rule described above.
At a live hearing under Policy 20-02, cross-examination is conducted by an advisor, not by the party personally. If you do not have an advisor, PSU will assign one to you. You may instead choose your own advisor, including an outside attorney, at your own arrangement. This page does not represent that PSU provides an attorney or that PSU matches the qualifications or experience of the other party’s advisor. Whether an assigned advisor or a chosen one, understanding how cross-examination works before the hearing date matters.
Supportive Measures
Supportive measures may be available to students involved in a Title IX matter. Ask the Title IX office what measures may be available in your situation and how to request them.
Appeals
For a hearing outcome under Policy 20-02, Section VII.14.3 allows either party to submit a written appeal by email to the Title IX Coordinator within 10 Days of delivery of the Notice of Outcome. Section VII.14.2 limits the permissible grounds for appeal, so not every disagreement with the outcome qualifies. If an appeal advances, Section VII.14.6 gives the other party five Days after notice of the appeal from the appeal decisionmaker to submit a response. Section V.7.5 of Policy 20-02 also lets a party appeal a dismissal under these appeal procedures, but a dismissal comes with its own written notice, so confirm your date from that notice. An ordinary conduct-code matter follows a different notice and appeal route.
The filing window and the other party’s response window have different triggers. The appeal grounds are a separate eligibility requirement, not a deadline. This page does not calculate your personal appeal deadline. Confirm your exact dates with the Title IX Coordinator’s written notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a report the same as being formally charged?
No. A report can lead to supportive measures and outreach without automatically becoming a formal complaint. Ask PSU which stage your matter is in.
Does a dismissal mean I did nothing wrong?
A dismissal from the Title IX process under Policy 20-02 is not a finding that no university rule was violated. Other policies, such as 12-01 or the conduct code, may still apply.
Can I cross-examine the other party myself at a hearing?
No. Under Policy 20-02, cross-examination at a live hearing is conducted through an advisor, not personally by a party.
Will PSU give me a lawyer?
PSU will assign an advisor if you do not have one, but this page does not state that PSU provides an attorney. You may choose your own advisor, including an attorney, on your own arrangement.
Which policy and procedure apply to my case?
That depends on the conduct date, the nature of the allegation, and PSU’s jurisdictional determination. Policy 12-01 and the conduct code can both be relevant outside Policy 20-02. Ask the Title IX office to confirm the policy and procedure in writing.
What should I do first after receiving a notice?
Preserve the notice, identify the exact charge and policy cited, gather relevant documents, and ask PSU in writing for your specific deadlines before taking further action.
Next Step
If you would like to discuss your situation, you can reach out through our contact page.
More guides for Oregon schools: Oregon Title IX lawyer.
Disclaimer
This page is general educational information only, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Portland State University. Procedures and deadlines change; always confirm current requirements directly with PSU’s Title IX office using your written notice.
