Understanding Your Rights

Resolution Processes

Holy Family University strives to provide members of the campus community with fair and equitable resolutionHoly Family University strives to provide members of the campus community with fair and equitable resolution processes. You will be treated with care and support and will be encouraged to speak with the University Counseling Center in an effort to help you navigate the process. The University has a list of available off-campus support services and resource agencies that will be provided to you.

The University will do everything it can to provide transparency to you through the process and will consult with you before moving on to a formal investigation. The University will do its best to support your decision if you choose to request to report anonymously. University officials must evaluate requests for confidentiality with our obligation to provide a safe environment for all community members, including yourself.

The University is committed to remedying any situation brought to its attention, ending discriminatory behaviors, and in limiting impact to our campus community.

Your Rights if You Are Accused

The University strives to be fair in the handling of allegations of sexual misconduct. You have the right to due process, meaning you have the right to be notified of the allegations and an opportunity to respond to them. You also have the right to understand the university's investigation and adjudication process. Questions concerning these procedures can be addressed to the Title IX Coordinator.

Your Rights – Investigation & Adjudication

A student has the right to:

  • reasonably specific advanced written notice of charges.
  • advanced written notice of the date, time, and place of meetings and heard, unless such right is waived in writing by the student.
  • an investigation conducted to ensure that all parties have a fair and reasonable opportunity to answer, explain, and discuss alleged violations.
  • the opportunity for submission of written physical and testimonial evidence and for reasonable questioning of witnesses.
  • reasonably sufficient interval between the date of charges and the date of the hearing to allow the student to prepare a response.
  • an impartial hearing body.
  • a final decision based upon the evidentiary standard.
  • a written decision in which rationale is explained in detail.
  • an advisor, who may be an attorney, to be present at hearings. The University may limit the participation of the advisor.
  • the opportunity to appeal a decision of a hearing board, under reasonable circumstances.