A UMass Boston Title IX lawyer can help you identify the procedure in your notice, organize evidence, and prepare for meetings and hearings.
If you are a UMass Boston student named as a respondent, your case runs through the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX under the campus Title IX Grievance Procedure. That procedure covers only formal complaints meeting the federal Title IX definition. Other matters go to the Student Code of Conduct or the non-discrimination policy, so confirm your procedure in writing first.
For background, see what is Title IX and what are my rights as the accused party under Title IX.
Intake: what happens after a report
A formal complaint goes to the Title IX Coordinator in person, by mail, by email, or through the online form, and should describe the conduct, name the respondent if known, and give dates and locations if known. The office takes no walk-ins, so call or email ahead.
Supportive measures such as counseling, deadline extensions, schedule changes, or housing changes are available without a formal complaint, whether or not the conduct occurred on campus or in a program. They are short term services, not findings. Where safety requires it, the university can remove a party on an emergency basis, but the person removed gets written reasons and the right to be heard before or immediately after. Preserve evidence, avoid discussing the case with the other party, and arrange an advisor before your first interview. If campus or Boston police contact you separately, treat that as its own matter and get legal advice before answering.
Investigation: evidence review and the investigative report
A neutral trained investigator reviews the formal complaint under the preponderance of the evidence standard, meaning whether the conduct more likely than not occurred. Before interviewing either side, the investigator provides the procedure and written notice of the allegations, including the date, time, and location if known and the policies allegedly violated.
You get two structured chances to respond in writing. First, you and your advisor receive the gathered evidence and have at least ten calendar days to respond. Second, the investigator drafts a report fairly summarizing the relevant evidence on both sides and shares it ten calendar days before the hearing. After responses arrive, the final report and the parties’ responses go to the hearing officer and both parties, and the matter is referred for a live hearing once the ten calendar days conclude. Every interview, meeting, and hearing notice gives the date, time, location, and participants with enough time to prepare. The sequence is described at Title IX investigation.
Hearing and advisor: who asks the questions
The live hearing is run by a hearing officer with no conflict of interest or bias in the case. It is recorded and transcribed for both sides, all gathered evidence is available for reference, and either side may request a break at any time to confer with an advisor or examine evidence.
Questioning of parties and witnesses runs through advisors during cross-examination. Both sides are strongly encouraged to keep an advisor of their choice through the whole process, and if you select none for the hearing, the university provides one for the limited purpose of asking questions for you. Your advisor may review the evidence and the report but may not share them further without both sides’ written consent. Prepare written question lists with your advisor in advance. More on preparation is at how do Title IX hearings work and Title IX advisor.
Sanctions and appeal
After the hearing, the hearing officer sends a written report to both parties at the same time within seven business days, covering the allegations, the steps taken, the findings of fact, the determination on each allegation with reasons, and remedies and sanctions. For students the published sanctions include exclusion from specified programs or activities, probation, suspension, and expulsion under the Student Code of Conduct.
Either side may appeal the determination or a dismissal within ten calendar days of receiving the decision, extendable for good cause on written notice to both sides. The grounds are a procedural problem that affected the outcome, new evidence that was not reasonably available earlier and could affect the outcome, or a conflict of interest or bias that affected the outcome. The appeal must be signed and in writing to the Coordinator, the other side gets a copy and ten calendar days to respond, and the appeal officer decides in writing to both sides together. See also Title IX appeals and consequences of a Title IX violation.
Dismissal is required if the conduct would not count as Title IX sexual harassment even if proven, did not occur in an education program or activity, or did not occur against a person in the United States. It can also follow a written withdrawal, the respondent’s departure, or an inability to gather evidence. Informal resolution needs the Coordinator’s approval, written consent from both sides, and a trained facilitator, with ordinarily ten calendar days from assignment to reach agreement.
Speak with a UMass Boston Title IX lawyer
If you face a UMass Boston Title IX matter, the calendar day deadlines move quickly. Contact us to discuss your notice, your procedure, and what comes next.
FAQ
Where do I file or answer a UMass Boston complaint?
Through the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, in person, by mail, by email, or through the online form. The office takes no walk-ins, so make an appointment first.
Can I bring a lawyer?
You may bring an advisor of your choice through the whole process. At the hearing the advisor asks questions for you, and the university provides one for that purpose if you choose none.
What does the school have to prove?
That the conduct more likely than not occurred, on the evidence from both sides.
How much time do I get on the evidence?
At least ten calendar days on the gathered evidence, with the investigative report reaching you ten calendar days before the hearing.
How do I appeal?
File a signed written appeal within ten calendar days of receiving the decision. The other side gets ten calendar days to respond, and the appeal officer decides in writing to both sides together.
What sanctions could a student face?
Exclusion from programs or activities, probation, suspension, and expulsion.
Sources (checked 2026-09-22)
- Title IX Grievance Procedure landing page: scope and links to the full procedure, the Student Code of Conduct, and the non-discrimination policy
- UMass Boston Title IX Procedures document (revised August 26, 2025): complaint, investigation, evidence review, hearing, sanctions, informal resolution, appeal
- Policies and Forms page: system and campus policies, complaint form, and related procedures
- File a Complaint page: who may report, office contact, and no walk-in practice
- Resolution Process page: informal and formal tracks with a neutral fact finder
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 University of Massachusetts Boston. Policies change. Confirm the current procedure text before acting.
