SDSU Title IX Lawyer: San Diego State University Defense

This page is for San Diego State University students, and their parents, who have been contacted about a complaint of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, dating or domestic violence, stalking, or other discrimination, harassment or retaliation, and who are the person responding (the respondent). It sets out what SDSU’s own pages say, so you know what is specific to the campus before you talk with an SDSU Title IX lawyer or any other advisor. The systemwide CSU process is explained on the CSU Title IX lawyer page.

The SDSU Offices That Handle Title IX and Student Conduct

Center for Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (CPHD)

CPHD is SDSU’s Title IX and civil rights office. Its home page lists a Title IX Coordinator/DHR Administrator and places the office on the SDSU main campus in Administration 228 (the Administration Building). SDSU’s pages use several labels for the same office: CPHD-Title IX, DHR (Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation), and “the campus Title IX and Civil Rights Office.”

CPHD says it works so that everyone can take part in SDSU programs free from discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and retaliation. It acts under the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. Its complaint process page says the process is “not intended to be an adversarial process between the parties” and says SDSU is committed to treating all parties equitably, with an impartial investigation.

CPHD is not confidential. Its reporting page says “we are not a confidential resource” and that the office may have to share information from reports with other SDSU administrators.

Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities (CSRR)

CSRR is the student conduct office. It posts the Student Conduct Code grounds, the sanctions list, the off-campus jurisdiction page, and the rules on attorneys in student discipline. Its Director is also a Deputy Title IX Coordinator (a title only; no person is named here). CSRR’s Student Discipline page says the Chancellor’s Office governs the student conduct process for all CSU campuses.

SDSU’s pages do not say in one place how work is divided between CPHD and CSRR. CSRR’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response page (last updated 9/30/21) says that if the alleged perpetrator is a student, CSRR will also pursue an investigation through the student judicial process. That page is older than CPHD’s current process map. The process map shows complaints against student respondents under the Nondiscrimination Policy going through CPHD intake, investigation, a hearing, and a decision by the president or designee. Your notice should tell you which office is acting in your case.

How a Matter Starts at SDSU

CPHD’s reporting page says a report can be made with its online forms, in person, by email or by phone, and that a report can be anonymous. Anonymous reports may limit CPHD’s ability to respond. CPHD’s FAQ says SDSU employees who are Responsible Employees must pass potentially prohibited conduct to CPHD, even if a student asks them not to. CSRR’s older sexual assault page (9/30/21) lists other places a report can go, including CSRR, university police, and certain campus officials.

After a report, CPHD says it reviews the report to decide whether the conduct should be addressed under the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. It typically reaches out first to the impacted party to offer support and schedule an intake meeting. Some reports go to other campus departments by referral.

The FAQ answers a question from the reporting side about when the respondent is told. It says CPHD would “almost never inform the person who allegedly caused the harm” when it first receives a report. The one exception it gives is a report describing an imminent safety threat to the campus community. It says CPHD typically meets the reporting party first and tells that person if it decides to engage with the other party.

The CPHD process map describes your side of it. If the Title IX Coordinator accepts a case, the Coordinator sends notice to the parties and offers a meeting to the respondent. SDSU’s pages do not say how many days after a report that notice is sent. The dates in your own notice control.

SDSU Documents and Older Names

• CPHD’s home page (last updated 4/14/26) and complaint process page refer to the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. Its Campus Policies page lists a “CSU Nondiscrimination Policy” and a notice of nondiscrimination on the basis of gender or sex, with no date shown.
• CSRR’s Student Discipline page (last updated 2/10/25) links to Executive Order 1098 and to a “CSU Nondiscrimination Policy.”
• CSRR’s Use of Attorneys page (last updated 5/18/22) cites Executive Order 1098 and refers to discrimination matters “as outlined in Executive Orders.”
• CSRR’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response page (last updated 9/30/21) still refers to Executive Order 1097 and uses the term student judicial process.
• CSRR’s Student Conduct page (10/9/24), Sanctions page (8/16/24) and off-campus jurisdiction page (2/11/22) are older than the CSU Student Conduct Process effective June 5, 2025.

Executive Orders 1095, 1096, 1097 and 1098 are older CSU document names. Some campus pages still use them. CPHD pages still link PolicyStat 16328404 for the Policy, and CSRR’s Student Discipline page links 8453518 for Executive Order 1098. Both older numbers redirect to the current CSU documents (checked October 3, 2026). The current governing CSU documents are summarized below, and your own notice and the current CSU documents control over any older campus page.

SDSU Rules on Attorneys, Advisors, Holds and Hearings

Attorneys and advisors: two kinds of case

CSRR’s Use of Attorneys page states a rule for general student conduct cases. Under Executive Order 1098, it says, “Attorneys are not permitted to attend educational conferences” and generally are not allowed at formal hearings. The exceptions are a hearing where the student has felony criminal charges pending from the same incident, or where CSRR’s recommended sanction is expulsion. In those cases the attorney may attend as an advisor only, and the student must tell CSRR in writing at least five working days before the formal hearing.

The same page then says a different rule applies to a second kind of case. In cases involving sexual misconduct, Title IX-related charges, or discrimination, harassment and retaliation, “students may choose any advisor of their liking, including an attorney.” It says that advisor may accompany the student through all meetings and hearings in that process. That means the attorney limits above are for general conduct cases, and the choose-any-advisor rule is for Title IX and Nondiscrimination Policy cases.

The CSU documents add a limit for Nondiscrimination Policy cases. A party has one Advisor of choice, who may be an attorney. The Advisor may observe and consult but may not answer questions about the subject matter of the investigation for the party.

Holds, withdrawal and where the Code applies

CSRR’s Student Discipline page says SDSU may place an administrative hold on registration and on the release of records and transcripts once a student has been sent written notice of a pending investigation or disciplinary case. It also says SDSU may withhold a degree until the process is complete, including all sanctions. The page cites Executive Order 1098 and does not say how this applies to a Nondiscrimination Policy case, so check your notice. The CSU says interim suspension and sanctions come from the CSU Student Conduct Process.

CSRR’s Student Conduct page says sanctions can be imposed on students who withdraw while a disciplinary matter is pending. Its Sanctions page says a withdrawal with a pending misconduct investigation or disciplinary proceeding is permanently entered on the transcript, and that a resolution agreement cannot waive this. Both pages are dated before the June 5, 2025 Student Conduct Process.

The jurisdiction page says the Student Code of Conduct applies on SDSU campuses (including San Diego, Imperial Valley, Mission Valley and Georgia), online, and off campus at university-related activities. It also covers certain campus-adjacent locations, and any location where the behavior involves physical assault, sexual assault, stalking, harassment or discrimination, among other things.

How the CPHD hearing works

CPHD’s process map says an investigator interviews the parties and witnesses and collects evidence. The parties may review the evidence and add evidence or questions. The investigator then provides a preliminary report and later a Final Investigation Report, which “will not contain any findings” according to the map. A Hearing Officer then oversees a live hearing. In Track 1, each party’s Hearing Advisor asks that party’s questions, and in Track 2 the Hearing Officer asks all questions. The Hearing Officer decides, and if a violation is found the parties may submit statements about sanctions. The Hearing Officer recommends sanctions, and the president or designee issues the decision letter. Under Track 1, the CSU documents say the campus provides a hearing advisor to a party who has none.

Support for Respondents at SDSU

SDSU’s Title IX and student conduct pages do not list a service built specifically for respondents. CPHD’s Available Support page is written for people who experienced prohibited conduct. It lists schedule and course adjustments, temporary leaves and referrals, and also “Mutual or unilateral restrictions on contact between individuals (No Contact Orders).” A no-contact restriction could apply to either side. Ask CPHD in your first meeting how it applies to you.

These are the confidential resources the pages name for students:

• Counseling and Psychological Services is described as a confidential resource. CPHD’s resources page says confidential resources will not share information with CPHD or University Police without your consent.
• Center for Community Solutions and the San Diego Access and Crisis Line are also on the confidential list. The Access and Crisis Line is described as the local crisis call center.

The same page says many other campus resources are non-confidential, and employees there may be required to report what they learn to CPHD or University Police. The Economic Crisis Response Team is listed in that group.

Complainant-only resource: Survivor Advocacy Services (Survivor Advocates) is confidential and separate from CPHD. It serves people who experienced sexual misconduct, dating or domestic violence, stalking or sexual exploitation. It is not listed as a respondent service.

Related guides: California Title IX defense attorney Title IX investigation guide Title IX advisor guide

The CSU process in brief

The Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy applies its definitions to alleged misconduct that occurs on or after August 1, 2024, and the Student Respondent Procedures apply to complaints filed on or after March 4, 2025, so the dates in your own notice control which version governs you. Under the Procedures, a case against a student opens with a Notice of Investigation, and Track 1 uses a notice of allegations that must reach the respondent at least 5 Working Days before an interview. Track 1 covers conduct that meets the Policy’s Title IX definition of Sexual Harassment, occurred in the United States and occurred in a university education program or activity, and it ends in a live hearing. Track 2 covers sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual exploitation and stalking that do not fit Track 1, and it also requires a live hearing. Track 3 covers other discrimination, harassment and retaliation complaints, has no hearing, and ends with the investigator’s final determination in a Notice of Investigation Outcome. The parties get 10 Working Days to review the evidence with the preliminary investigation report, and the standard of proof is preponderance of the evidence. Sanctions are decided by the campus president or designee under the CSU Student Conduct Process. An appeal goes to the Civil Rights Appeals Unit at the CSU Chancellor’s Office within 10 Working Days after the Notice of Investigation Outcome or Final Decision, and either party may appeal in sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking complaints, while only the non-prevailing party may appeal in discrimination, harassment, prohibited consensual relationship or retaliation complaints. For the full process, read our CSU Title IX lawyer page.

Official SDSU Title IX Resources

• SDSU Center for Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (CPHD)
• SDSU Title IX Formal Complaint Resolution Process
• SDSU Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities: Use of Attorneys
• SDSU Survivor Advocacy Services
• Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy (with Track 1 attachment)
• Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy: Student Respondent Procedures (with Addenda A and B)

Last verified: October 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About SDSU Title IX Cases

Which office will contact me?

Most likely CPHD, the Title IX and civil rights office in Administration 228. Its process map says that if the Title IX Coordinator accepts a case, the Coordinator sends notice to the parties and offers the respondent a meeting. CSRR is the student conduct office, and its Director is also a Deputy Title IX Coordinator, so check which office signed your notice.

Is CPHD confidential?

No. CPHD says it is not a confidential resource and may share report information with other SDSU administrators. Counseling and Psychological Services is described as confidential. Survivor Advocacy Services is confidential too, but it serves people who experienced harm.

Can a lawyer be my advisor at SDSU?

For sexual misconduct, Title IX-related charges, and discrimination, harassment and retaliation matters, CSRR’s page says students may choose any advisor, including an attorney. The general student conduct rule that limits attorneys at conferences and hearings is for other kinds of cases. Under the CSU documents, an Advisor may observe and consult but may not answer questions about the investigation for you.

Is there free advisor or respondent support at SDSU?

SDSU’s pages do not list a free advisor program or a service specifically for respondents. For a Track 1 hearing, the CSU documents say the campus provides a hearing advisor if a party has none. You can ask CPHD at your first meeting what is available to you.

What if I withdraw or get a hold?

CSRR’s pages say SDSU may place a hold on registration and records, and may withhold a degree, after you receive written notice of a pending case. They also say sanctions can be imposed on students who withdraw while a matter is pending, and that such a withdrawal is entered on the transcript. These pages predate the June 5, 2025 CSU Student Conduct Process, so check your notice and the current document.

How long do I have to appeal?

Under the CSU appeal rules, you have 10 Working Days after the Notice of Investigation Outcome (non-hearing cases) or the Final Decision (hearing cases). Under Track 1, the 10 Working Days run from the date of the decision letter. Working Days are Monday through Friday, excluding official holidays and campus closures. Whether you can appeal depends on the type of complaint, so check the appeal rules in the CSU summary above and your own decision letter.