Formal Grievance Process: Notice of Investigation and Allegations

Formal Grievance Process: Notice of Investigation and Allegations

The Title IX Coordinator will provide written notice of the investigation and allegations (the “NOIA”) to the Respondent upon commencement of the Formal Grievance Process. This facilitates the Respondent’s ability to prepare for the interview and to identify and choose an Advisor to accompany them. The NOIA is also copied to the Complainant, who is to be given advance notice of when the NOIA will be delivered to the Respondent. 

The NOIA will include:
● A meaningful summary of all of allegations,
● The identity of the involved parties (if known),  
● The precise misconduct being alleged, 
● The date and location of the alleged incident(s) (if known), 
● The specific policies implicated, 
● A description of the applicable procedures, 
● A statement of the potential sanctions/responsive actions that could result, 
● A statement that CWC presumes the Respondent is not responsible for the reported misconduct unless and until the evidence supports a different determination, 
● A statement that determinations of responsibility are made at the conclusion of the process and that the parties will be given an opportunity to inspect and review all directly related and/or relevant evidence obtained during the review and comment period, 
● A statement about CWC’s procedure on retaliation,
● Information about the privacy of the process,
● Information on the need for each party to have an Advisor of their choosing and suggestions for ways to identify an Advisor, 
● A statement informing the parties that CWC’s Procedure prohibits knowingly making false statements, including knowingly submitting false information during the resolution process,
● Detail on how the party may request disability accommodations during the interview process,
● A link to CWC’s VAWA Brochure, 
● The name(s) of the Investigator(s), along with a process to identify, in advance of the interview process, to the Title IX Coordinator any conflict of interest that the Investigator(s) may have, and
● An instruction to preserve any evidence that is directly related to the allegations.

Amendments and updates to the NOIA may be made as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available regarding the addition or dismissal of various charges. 

Notice will be made in writing and may be delivered by one or more of the following methods: in person, mailed, or emailed to the parties’ CWC-issued email or designated accounts. Once mailed, emailed, and/or received in-person, notice will be presumptively delivered.