If you are a UNLV student named in a Title IX complaint, a UNLV Title IX lawyer can help you read the notice and identify the process that applies. This page explains the steps, evidence rules, and timing in the policy currently linked from UNLV’s website. It does not predict how any individual case will turn out. Your own notice and the policy version applicable to your case should guide your next step.
Which Policy Applies to Your Case
UNLV’s Title IX Compliance page points to the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Handbook, Title 4, Chapter 8, Section 13, as the policy that governs Title IX sexual harassment complaints. The version currently linked from UNLV’s live page is marked Rev. 324 (08/26). That revision marking does not establish which version applies to an individual case. Compare the policy named in your notice with the current posting. If they differ, ask the Title IX office to confirm the controlling version in writing and keep a copy of the answer.
Section 13 is organized into parts. Subsections A through C cover non-Title IX discrimination and harassment complaints. Subsection D covers Title IX sexual harassment specifically. UNLV’s Office of Equal Employment and Title IX confirms that Title IX and non-Title IX concerns follow separate processes. If your notice references a different subsection, or if UNLV’s Student Conduct Code is also mentioned, do not assume both tracks work the same way. The 2026 Student Conduct Code states that the NSHE discrimination/harassment policy is applied first to decide whether a Title IX or Equal Employment policy violation occurred, and the Conduct Code then supplies sanctions through its own educational-response process. The deadlines below come from Section 13, Subsection D, not from general student-conduct appeal periods.
For general background on what Title IX covers, see What Is Title IX.
Report vs. Formal Complaint
A report and a formal complaint are not the same thing. A report simply tells the university that something happened. A formal complaint, under §D.2(e), is a document filed by a complainant or signed by the Title IX Coordinator that specifically requests an investigation. Only a formal complaint triggers the full investigation and hearing process described in this page.
Supportive measures, however, do not require a formal complaint. Under §D.2(f), supportive measures are non-disciplinary and non-punitive. The policy allows them to be offered, where appropriate and reasonably available, to either party before or after a complaint is filed, or even if no complaint is ever filed. §D.3 requires equitable treatment and access to supportive measures for both complainant and respondent. The policy gives examples such as mutual no-contact directives or schedule and housing changes, but it does not guarantee any specific measure in every case. If you believe you need a supportive measure, ask the Title IX office directly and get the response in writing.
If you have just been notified that you are a respondent, see After You Have Been Accused for a broader orientation to this stage.
Early Steps After Notice
Once a formal complaint is filed, §D.6(a) requires UNLV to send known parties written notice that identifies the parties, the alleged conduct, the date and location if known, and states that the respondent is presumed not responsible. The notice must also give enough time to prepare a response and must describe advisor rights. If additional allegations come up later, §D.6(b) requires a further notice covering those.
Read this notice carefully and note every deadline it states. Do not wait to respond, and do not assume you can request more time later. If the alleged conduct, timeframe, or response deadline is unclear, ask the investigator or Title IX Coordinator in writing before the deadline passes.
Separately, §D.7(a) requires the university to dismiss a Title IX formal complaint if the conduct, even taken as true, does not meet the definition of Title IX sexual harassment, did not occur within UNLV’s education program or activity, or did not occur against a person in the United States. §D.7(b) lists other situations where dismissal is permitted, though not required. A Title IX dismissal does not necessarily end the matter. The policy allows the conduct to still be addressed under another NSHE or institutional policy. Review your written notice for any reference to dismissal grounds; don’t assume how the case will be classified.
Investigation and Evidence
Under §D.8, UNLV carries the burden of gathering evidence and proving the case. Both parties may present witnesses and evidence, and both may have an advisor, who is allowed to be an attorney but does not have to be. Both parties may inspect evidence directly related to the allegations.
The policy has three distinct timing rules around evidence and the hearing:
- §D.8(g): once evidence is shared with the parties, each party has 10 days to submit a written response before the investigative report is finalized. The policy states "10 days" without specifying business or calendar days. Confirm with the investigator how the office is counting them in your case.
- §D.8(h): the completed investigative report must be provided to the parties at least 10 days before the hearing or determination. Separately, any written response to the investigator must be submitted at least 3 days before the live hearing.
These are three distinct windows tied to evidence sharing, report distribution, and the hearing date. Track each one on its own; missing one does not extend another.
For more detail on how investigations typically unfold, see The Title IX Investigation Process.
Advisor and Hearing
Section D.9 describes a live hearing conducted by a hearing officer who is separate from the Title IX Coordinator and the investigator. Each party’s advisor asks the questions; the parties do not conduct cross-examination themselves. If you do not have your own advisor for the hearing, UNLV will appoint one for you at no cost, but the policy specifies that this appointed advisor is not an attorney. UNLV providing an advisor is not the same as UNLV providing legal representation, and you may choose to bring your own advisor, including an attorney, at your own arrangement.
The hearing may be held in person or virtually, and the policy describes options for parties to be in separate rooms. The rules about what happens when a party does not attend, and which prior statements can still be used, are detailed and fact-specific. Do not assume that a party’s absence automatically excludes everything they said earlier.
The standard of proof throughout is preponderance of the evidence, meaning the decision-maker must decide whether it is more likely than not that the conduct occurred, per §D.5(m) and §D.10. After the hearing, §D.10(a) requires a written determination within 14 calendar days of the live hearing.
Appeals
§D.11(a) allows a party to appeal a responsibility determination, or a dismissal of a Title IX formal complaint, within seven calendar days, on the grounds listed in the policy. The clause does not state a more precise notice-delivery trigger. Use your written notice to confirm the start date, and ask the Title IX office promptly if it is unclear.
§D.11(b) gives both parties an equal opportunity to submit a written statement supporting or challenging the outcome within seven calendar days of the outcome. It also calls for a written appeal decision within ten calendar days of receiving a written statement. Do not add the statement period to the initial seven-day appeal period in §D.11(a) or assume one begins after the other. Confirm how both requirements apply from your written notice.
For a general explanation of how appeals work, see Title IX Appeals.
Separately, §D.12 allows informal resolution after a formal complaint is filed and before a determination is reached, but only with voluntary, informed, written consent from both parties. Informal resolution is not available for allegations that an employee sexually harassed a student.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a report automatically become a formal complaint?
No. A report notifies the university, but a formal complaint under §D.2(e) is a distinct step that specifically requests an investigation.
Can I get supportive measures without a formal complaint?
Yes, potentially. §D.2(f) allows supportive measures to be offered to either party even without a complaint being filed, though availability depends on the circumstances.
Will UNLV provide me a lawyer?
No. UNLV will appoint a hearing advisor at no cost if you don’t have one, but the policy states that advisor is not an attorney.
How long do I have to respond to shared evidence?
§D.8(g) gives 10 days to submit a written response before the investigative report is completed.
How soon after the hearing will I get a decision?
§D.10(a) requires a written determination within 14 calendar days of the live hearing.
How long do I have to appeal?
§D.11(a) allows seven calendar days to appeal a determination or dismissal, on the listed grounds. Confirm the exact start date in your written notice.
A Note on Getting Help
Reviewing your written notice, evidence timelines, and hearing rights with someone familiar with this process can help you avoid missed deadlines. If you want to discuss your situation, see Contact Us.
More guides for Nevada schools: Nevada Title IX lawyer.
Disclaimer
This page is for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Policies change, and the version that applies to your case may differ from the version summarized here. Confirm every deadline and procedural detail directly against your written notice and the current policy before taking any action.
