A VCU Title IX lawyer can help a student respondent check the policy version in a university notice and prepare for deadlines. This page walks through VCU’s currently posted process for students and families. It is general education, not legal advice, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by VCU. Always confirm details against your own notice and the university’s official policy text.
Two different policies: check which one applies
VCU currently maintains two separate interim policies that cover sex-based misconduct, and they are not interchangeable.
- The Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy – Interim, current revision approved May 27, 2026, applies only within the specific jurisdiction Title IX defines, generally conduct occurring in the United States within a VCU education program or activity, or in another context the policy lists.
- The separately linked Sex-Based Misconduct Policy – Interim, also revised May 27, 2026, covers conduct that falls outside the Title IX policy’s scope, including certain university sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, or alleged assault that does not meet Title IX jurisdictional requirements.
Not every sex-based misconduct allegation goes through the Title IX route. The notice you receive from the university should identify which policy applies to your case. Do not assume the deadlines or procedures in one policy automatically apply under the other. An older 2022 Title IX appeals handout remains online, but the current policy and your case notice should govern deadline checks.
If you are unsure which policy governs your matter, our page on what Title IX is and how it works may help you understand the underlying framework before you dig into VCU’s specific documents.
Report vs. Formal Complaint
A report and a Formal Complaint are not the same thing. A report can lead to supportive measures without ever becoming a Formal Complaint. A Formal Complaint, by contrast, is a document signed either by a complainant or by the Title IX Coordinator, and it requests that the university investigate.
Under §12 of the Title IX policy, dismissal of a Formal Complaint at the Title IX level does not necessarily end the matter. The same conduct may still be reviewed under the Sex-Based Misconduct Policy or another university code. A dismissal notice is not automatically the final word.
Early Steps After You’re Named
If a Formal Complaint proceeds (i.e., it is not dismissed), §15(a) requires the Title IX Coordinator to send written notice of investigation. That notice should identify the known allegations, the policies implicated, the procedures that will be used, potential sanctions, your presumption of nonresponsibility, your right to an advisor, your opportunity to inspect evidence, and your obligation to preserve evidence. The coordinator can supplement this notice later if more information comes to light.
Practical points at this stage:
- Save every notice you receive, in full, with dates.
- Ask the Title IX office directly which policy and which version govern your case.
- Do not ignore or delay responding to a notice: deadlines described below run from specific dates in your own file, not from when you feel ready.
Our page on what to do after you’ve been accused covers general preparation steps that may be useful once you have your notice in hand.
Investigation and Evidence Review
VCU’s Title IX investigation process includes several distinct evidence stages, each with its own deadline. These deadlines are not interchangeable, and none of them substitutes for another:
- Interview transcripts: Under §15(e)(i), after you are interviewed, you receive a transcript and have five business days from receipt to submit corrections. This can be extended for good cause.
- Preliminary investigation report: Under §15(e)(ii), once the preliminary report and directly related evidence are available, you have 10 business days from the date of that preliminary report to review it and respond. This period can be extended for good cause if you ask the investigator. The policy provides secure access and restricts copying or capturing the evidence. Plan your review time accordingly rather than relying on being able to photograph materials.
- Final investigation report: Under §15(e)(iv), the final report and exhibits are sent at least 10 business days before the hearing. Separately, you have five business days from issuance of that final report to submit a written response to the Title IX Coordinator. This five-day response window is distinct from the earlier 10-day preliminary review period. They run from different documents and different dates.
The Title IX policy defines a "business day" as Monday through Friday, excluding university closures. Every deadline above uses that definition, so weekends and closures do not count toward the clock.
For a closer look at how evidence review generally functions in these matters, see our page on the Title IX investigation process.
Advisors and the Hearing
Under §13, you may bring an advisor of your choice to meetings and the hearing, at your own expense, and that advisor can be an attorney. You need an advisor to ask cross-examination questions during the hearing. You personally do not question the other party or witnesses. If you do not have your own advisor by the time of the hearing, the Title IX Coordinator will appoint one from the university’s list for the limited purpose of asking questions; the university does not promise that an appointed advisor will match the qualifications of an advisor the other party has chosen.
Under §15(k)(ii), the hearing notice itself is sent no less than 10 business days before the hearing, and it identifies the allegations, procedures, potential sanctions, witnesses, and the panel. The hearing is live, run by a Hearing Panel with a Hearing Officer presiding, and questioning happens through advisors under the officer’s relevance rulings. The panel applies a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard and issues a written determination.
VCU’s overall internal goal, stated in §15(b), is to complete the process (including any appeal) within 90 to 120 business days, extendable for good cause with written notice. This is a stated internal target, not a guaranteed completion date for any individual case.
Supportive Measures
Supportive measures can be available to either party under the policy, independent of whether a Formal Complaint is ever filed. What form those measures take is decided case by case; the policy does not promise a specific outcome or a specific type of accommodation. If you believe you need supportive measures, VCU’s Title IX reporting page and FAQ page are appropriate starting points for contacting the office directly.
Appeals
Under §19, either party may appeal a dismissal of a Formal Complaint or a hearing responsibility determination. The written Request for Appeal must reach the Title IX Coordinator within five business days of the date of the Notice of Dismissal or Hearing Determination. Calculate this date from your own notice, not from any general guide.
Appeal grounds are limited under §19(a) to:
- A procedural irregularity that affected the outcome,
- New evidence not reasonably available at the time that could affect the outcome, or
- A conflict of interest or bias by a specified official that affected the outcome.
Simple disagreement with the result is not, by itself, a listed ground for appeal.
If a timely appeal on a permitted ground is accepted, §19(c) then gives both parties 10 business days from receipt of the acceptance notice to submit supporting or opposing written statements. This 10-day statement period is a separate, later step from the initial five-day Request for Appeal. Do not confuse the two windows or assume one gives you extra time on the other.
Sanctions from a hearing determination are stayed while an appeal is pending, under §19.
For more on how appeal timing generally works in Title IX matters, see our page on Title IX appeals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VCU policy applies to my case?
Your notice should say. VCU currently uses two separate interim policies (the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and the Sex-Based Misconduct Policy), each covering different jurisdictions. Confirm which one governs your matter before assuming any deadline or procedure applies.
Can I bring a lawyer to my VCU Title IX hearing?
Yes. Under §13, you may bring an advisor of your choice, including an attorney, at your own expense. You need an advisor present to ask cross-examination questions at the hearing.
How long do I have to appeal a hearing determination?
Under §19, the written Request for Appeal must be submitted to, and received by, the Title IX Coordinator within five business days of the date of the Notice of Dismissal or Hearing Determination. This is calculated using VCU’s business-day definition (Monday–Friday, excluding university closures).
Is disagreeing with the outcome enough to appeal?
No. Under §19(a), appeal grounds are limited to outcome-affecting procedural irregularity, new evidence not reasonably available earlier, or outcome-affecting bias/conflict by a specified official. Disagreement alone is not listed as a ground.
What happens between the preliminary report and the final report?
You get two separate review opportunities. The preliminary report gives you 10 business days from its issuance to review and respond. The final report, sent at least 10 business days before the hearing, gives you a separate five business days from its issuance to submit a written response. These are different deadlines tied to different documents.
Can I ask for supportive measures before a Formal Complaint?
Yes. The policy allows the Title IX office to discuss measures before a Formal Complaint is filed. Availability and form depend on the circumstances.
More guides for Virginia schools: Virginia Title IX lawyer.
Disclaimer
This page is general educational information about published VCU policy language as of the observed date above. It is not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. This page is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University. Policies change, and only the university’s current official documents and your own notice control your case. If you need advice about a specific situation, speak with a qualified attorney or the VCU Title IX office directly. For general questions about working with our firm, see contact us.
