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Bulletin Archive

This archived information is dated to the 2009-10 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Sexual Assault

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Nonacademic Regulations

The University's Policy on Sexual Assault is published in complete form in the Administrative Guide Memo 23.3, available at http://adminguide.stanford.edu/23_3.pdf, and on the Judicial Affairs Office web site at http://www.stanford.edu/dept/vpsa/judicialaffairs/index.html.

SUMMARY

The following summarizes the policy on Sexual Assault and provides information on resources available to members of the Stanford community.

Background—This policy has been enacted by Stanford University in accordance with California State Law, Assembly Bill 3098, Postsecondary Education: Student Safety, July, 1990.

Policy—Sexual assault is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Stanford University. Any member of the Stanford community who commits sexual assault at or on the grounds of the University, or at any of the University's off-campus facilities or activities, or at the facilities or activities of any affiliated student organization, will face maximal institutional sanctions, in addition to any prosecutions external authorities may undertake. Stanford University is committed to providing information on services, resources, and treatment available to victims of sexual assault. A comprehensive website containing a list of resources can be found at http://www.stanford.edu/group/svab/.

Definition—For purposes of this policy, sexual assault is defined as the commission of an unwanted sexual act, occurring without consent of both individuals, or occurring under threat or coercion. It can occur either forcibly and/or against a person's will, or when a person is incapable of giving consent (if under 18 years of age; if intoxicated by drugs or alcohol; if developmentally disabled; if temporarily or permanently mentally or physically unable to do so). Sexual assault includes but is not limited to rape, forcible sodomy, forcible oral copulation, rape with an object, sexual battery, forcible fondling, and threat of sexual assault.

Notification—With the consent of the victim, charges of sexual assault received by University offices or personnel shall be communicated promptly to the Department of Public Safety, 711 Serra Street, telephone 9-911 for emergency response or (650) 723-9633 during normal business hours, or, in the case of a student, to the sexual assault response team at YWCA Sexual Assault Center at Stanford at Vaden Health Service, 866 Campus Drive, telephone 725-9955.

Legal Reporting Requirements—Health care professionals are expected to fulfill legally mandated reporting requirements.

Emergency Services Available to Victims—Victims of sexual assault are urged to seek immediate attention from emergency police, medical, and counseling services. On the Stanford campus and in the immediate vicinity, the following provide 24-hour response and will arrange for police assistance, medical assistance, emotional support services, and advocacy and support:

"911" Emergency Network: dial 9-911 from University phones or 911 from outside phones

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, 751 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, telephone (408) 885-5000

YWCA Sexual Assault Center at Stanford, for students, at the Vaden Health Service, telephone (650) 725-9955

Stanford Hospital and Clinics, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, telephone (650) 723-5111

Non-Emergency Resources—Additional resources for students are available at Vaden Health Service at (650) 723-3785, including short-term counseling, referral to long-term therapy, follow-up pregnancy testing, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Additional services for faculty and staff are available at the University's HELP Center, Galvez House (723-4577), including general counseling, information, support, and referral. The University ombudsperson (723-3682) is available to all in the Stanford community for general counseling, advice, and advocacy.

Ongoing Case Management Procedures—Both informal procedures and formal grievance procedures for case management of sexual assault charges are given in the University's policy on Sexual Harassment appearing as Administrative Guide Memo 23.2 and published annually in the Stanford Bulletin. Victims are to be kept informed by those responsible for those procedures of the status of any disciplinary proceedings and the results of any disciplinary action or appeal, providing that the victim agrees in advance, in writing, to treat this information as confidential. The offices of the Dean of Students are available to help student victims deal with academic difficulties that may arise because of the victimization and its impact.

Information Requests and Confidentiality—The University offices responding to charges of sexual assault have established protocols for protecting confidentiality and for handling inquiries from the press, concerned students, and parents.

Information about Options—The University offices responding to charges of sexual assault will inform victims, at a minimum, of the options of: criminal prosecution, civil prosecution, the disciplinary process, the appropriate grievance procedure, the availability of mediation, alternative housing assignments, and academic assistance alternatives.

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