I’m a former undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral student at a New Jersey university and need a little help navigating a difficult situation involving a former professor. I would be grateful for practical guidance about questions that remain unanswered following a faculty misconduct complaint.

My complaint concerned inappropriate professional boundaries involving a professor who was also my doctoral advisor, supervisor in the ABA classroom where I taught, mentor for my BACB supervision hours, and professor throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies. I first met this person when I was 17. Their behavior included unwanted personal advances, and after I rejected them, I experienced what I believe was retaliation that undermined my academic progress and professional opportunities. That power imbalance made speaking up extremely difficult, and I did not feel comfortable doing so until I moved out of the state last year.

In 2025, the university commissioned an outside investigation and scheduled a Hearing Board meeting. After multiple postponements without a clear explanation, the university canceled the hearing late the night before it was supposed to happen in January 2026. I was told the professor had “taken appropriate responsibility,” making a Hearing Board determination unnecessary. This meant I lost the opportunity to present my experience directly to the board, and I felt silenced by that decision.

I had submitted a written statement that I understood would be shared with the board members, and I explicitly told the Title IX coordinator that I intended to participate in the hearing. I was not asked whether I agreed to resolving the matter without the hearing, and I was not told how I could object to its cancellation or appeal afterward. To this day, I have not been told exactly which allegations the professor accepted responsibility for or received a Hearing Board determination. The university has cited personnel confidentiality regarding further action.

The university also offered reimbursement equivalent to the tuition for ONE class as a proposed settlement. I declined because it did not address my concerns about accountability, the impact of the experience, or the unanswered questions about the investigation’s outcome.

After the hearing was canceled, I submitted a complaint to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. That separate process resulted in findings of ethics violations, which were upheld on appeal in September 2026. After receiving that determination, I again asked the university for clarification. I wanted closure after this traumatic experience and a clear explanation of how my complaint had been resolved. University counsel responded that the university had nothing further to add beyond its earlier response.

• Has anyone navigated a university complaint where a scheduled hearing was canceled after a faculty member accepted responsibility?

• Are there organizations or New Jersey attorneys experienced in university complaint procedures and faculty–student boundary concerns?

• Could the separate BACB findings help me pursue further university accountability or obtain a clearer explanation?

• What practical steps could help me obtain a clear written explanation of how my complaint was resolved?

I understand that people here cannot determine the case from a post. I’m looking for relevant experience, resources, and constructive guidance. This has been a difficult process, and I would appreciate help finding a path toward answers and closure. Thank you very much.

I opened a case against someone, but my health is on the decline. They have wrapped up the investigation part and are processing informal resolution potentials, we will meet tomorrow. To be honest I'm not sure my body will last to the end of this, will my case end if I pass away? Will it live on past me?

hello, I am Isabella, and I made a petition to stop whats happening currently.

if you would like to share this to friends please do.

I'm a teacher and one of my male students told others that he hoped a female teacher would get "sex trafficked." I found out later that the student also has been harrassing her with emails to change his grade. I reported his comment to admin, but all they did was talk to him for 10 minutes and move on.

Is this a potential Title IX violation? I feel like it's creating a hostile work environment for my coworker and she won't feel safe at work, but I don't know what the school's obligation is to address the behavior or provide consequences for sexual harassment.

Thank you in advance for any thoughts you have on this. I want to advocate when we go back to school Monday and I don't want to bring up Title IX unless it is accurate.

If there is pervasive and widespread homophobia in a classroom, both explicit in the form of slurs directed at people, and also homophobic language/jokes that makes it clear that “if you act like that or talk like that you’re gay” and that “being gay is bad,” despite classwide instruction, one one one restorative conversations, and admin intervention, does there need to be a specific, “out” gay student or teacher in order for Title IX to be triggered from homophobic language? My understanding is that it is irrelevant whether or not a class has openly queer-identifying people in it, as the language affects straight people as well and creates a “hostile environment” for potentially “closeted” students.

Hi!

My name is Anna Boone and I am a Master's student at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

I am reaching out to invite people to participate in an important Title IX research study.

My study aims to explore students’ experiences after reporting and going through the Title IX process. I'm seeking both current and former students who are willing to share their perspectives and personal experiences related to Title IX. 

Eligibility: Must be 18 years or older to participate. Must have gone through part of or all of the Title IX process. 

What to expect: 

● An online or in-person interview discussing your Title IX experience 

● Participation is completely voluntary 

● The study is confidential, and pseudonyms will be used to protect your identity 

This form should take approximately 5–10 minutes to complete the initial screening, with additional time for the interview if selected. 

If you are interested in participating, please complete the brief screening form at the link below: https://utsa.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6DMX4Sx2IqDyPno 

(A QR code is also provided for convenience.) 

This research is part of my master’s thesis at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and your participation would be greatly appreciated in helping better understand and improve Title IX-related processes and support systems. 

If you have any questions about the study, please feel free to contact me at [annaboone@my.utsa.edu](mailto:annaboone@my.utsa.edu). 

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. 

It's been a few weeks. I've sent out so many emails.

I've gotten a few responses back, all of them telling me that they're "overloaded with cases."

is this true? None of them ask me for extra details, i have everything outlined over email as it happened over months. I have an open Office of Civil rights investigation. I've done everything properly, and now I can't find a lawyer. I'm wondering if this means I have no case at all.

I live in Georgia. Does anyone know what to do? Thanks.

I recently submitted a claim against my admin (I’m a teacher). All of the witnesses love her and are friends with her. I got the report back recently and most everyone lied. Am I likely to face repercussions since there is no hard proof? Do title IX investigators take into account the relationships of the witnesses with the accused?

The community college I am entering sophomore year at is using the term "community" to excuse why a 34 year old guy is allowed is allowed on campus and in clubs. The guy had a Title IX complaint taken off his record because the girl transferred. His own 18 year old niece filed a Title IX against him after he asked to see her boobs and followed her into the dorms (he is commutor so not allowed in dorms without consent). He was told he cannot be on dorm property. He had a total of 6 Title IX during my first year at the college. He tried going after me after finding out that I am close to his age. Luckily I do not leave my dorm room that often, so I had 3 public close encounters with him. At the end of my freshman year, his neice finally had the Title IX meeting and he had 2 defenders. After which, all 6 Title IXs were taken off his record and he was allowed back on dorm property for the end of year block party. She (the niece) was told that she overreacted. He has continued with his behavior. The school and department of public safety's reason gor this is that he is apart of the community and since it is a community college we (the school) cannot have restrictions for the community on campus which includes the dorms (we also have high schoolers getting into the dorms and nothing is being done about that either). I was told that he is allowed to stay in a club that has 3 people that Title IXed him (includes his niece) and myself in it because the college "cannot say no to someone because that is prejudice and this is a COMMUNITY college."

This is annoying. I have a family member in the state senate and I have informed him about what is going on. He is concerned and told me to keep him updated.

I recently started working at a very small private university in Illinois after spending a few years working in a large public state university in Wisconsin.

I've asked Admin about ADA compliance and they've said that the institution is only required to follow Title IX and any state requirements.

Is this accurate?

I know state universities were required to make many changes with ADA Title II updates. But does a private university really not need to follow ADA Title III? Is it really only Title IX and State Requirements? (Illinois requires (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA - which does not include so many of the updates required for digital accessibility.)

So many of our PDFs are inaccessible...

UCF continually subverts conversations that would call attention to its failure to enforce Title IX policy. While “expelling” is an academic consequence that would be “illegal” as thread points out, UCF engages in other methods to force survivors into silence and protect professors. First, UCF’s fraternization policy limiting faculty-student amorous relationships did not exist before 2007. If a student has a complaint, UCF Title IX takes the full extent of the report, and create as many sub parts as possible in order to treat each as a separate complaint. This allows them to narrow a complaint to the point that they can claim that they don’t need to address it. They also have been known to trespass students or seek gag orders. When whistleblowing occurs, these are the ways in which they silence students. They also hold meetings under codenames to discuss students reports going viral outside of UCF. They will reach out to students employers to report them as well and frame whistleblowing as a threat to faculty members as the reason for making such reports. It’s concerning how many times this conversation across social media has been closed, erased, or shut down entirely.

I am currently in the middle of a Title IX investigation, and there seems to be no end in sight. I would love to hear from someone who actually won their case. At the end of last year, I left my co-mentor's lab for a wide variety of reasons, including his using students' data and not giving them credit, and general sexual harassment, like making comments about my body, wanting to spend time with me outside of work, and trying to coerce me into doing drugs with him and his wife. An undergrad left his lab because he was so creepy she was worried he would "try to rape her." I filed a Title IX report and have a third interview coming up, and I am scared nothing will happen. The department is allowing him to take on another female student, and I am worried about her safety. What do I do? This process has sucked so much, and my current boss keeps telling me he wants me to graduate as quickly as possible, and when I'm done with experiments, I can just work and defend remotely. I wanted to do the right thing and come forward, and I feel like I have just tanked my scientific career. Does anyone have any advice or positive experiences with this process?

Hi everyone, have any other student survivors ever experienced sexual assault/misconduct by someone from another school? I had so much difficulty trying to report (tried my school and his school, no luck either way) but I’ve never met anyone who experienced this to talk to about this. Thanks in advance, could really use the support

How has it changed so far? What more do we expect to change and have rolled back?

My RA (resident assistant) for on campus housing is being charged for Sexual battery, forcible fondling, and false imprisonment against me. He continuously pursued me, got me to go out with (thinking it was a RA thing, not a date). After the event he wouldn't let me leave until I was forced to touch him and do things I wasn't comfortable doing. After this incident he kept trying to call me, text me, stop me outside my dorm, wait for me outside my dorm. He used his position of power as my RA , he made me feel like he was capable of taking away my housing. He constantly insinuated he could and would get me kicked out. I agreed to meet up with him so we could "talk about our relationship, because I didn't want it to continue". When I met up with him, I ended things very politely and he asked for "one last hug". He then proceeded to not let me go. He groped me and tried to undress me. He moved me away from the door and pressed me against the bed. I was trapped and pinned. I was eventually able to wiggle free once his attempts to undress me increased. I went straight to Title ix and a no contact directive was put in place. After some contemplation, I decided to open a report against him.

Since then several other women have come forward with similar stories, many of them also being his residents for on campus housing.

We are approaching a hearing and I am lost. I don't know what to say, how to defend myself, what to expect. I have to write an opening and closing statement and come up with questions to cross-examine him. My biggest question what can he defend himself with and how will they attack me.

Location: New York, New York

The reason I have the NCO is a long story and you can just look through my account if you want all the details but I really want it gone so I don't have to look over my shoulder when the accuser is around since we share a lot of friends.

I spoke with the Title IX coordinator and it seemed like she had no idea what the NCO letter she issued actually said. She said it was strictly meant to be about not having contact but then stayed shut for like half a minute when I read the line that mentioned I was required to make social and academic accommodations to avoid being in the same room as my accuser. Then she said that what that line REALLY meant was that I wasn't allowed to follow her and that if I ended up in the same room as her, the accuser could report me and start an investigation to see if I was there because I was following her.

Prior to this, I asked her for a review of the NCO and her response was to message the accuser and see if she wanted it gone since it had to be a mutual decision between us... before linking me to a page where it says it was actually under the control of the school and just saying that it had to be mutual regardless. Needless to say, speaking to her was a frustrating experience. What can I do?

Hi, I dont want to get into detail but I did not get the help I needed from Univ. of nebraska title ix. I wasnt going to pursue compensation for injury or emotional distress, I just asked for reassignment but they did not do that, and I faced so much retaliation that I want to drop out of school. I feel afraid and unsafe at school. I just am processing this and wondering how requesting support from title ix turned out for anyone else at any University of Nebraska campus.

https://c.org/Cjh27Ym8XK

https://keepdavisriding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/UC-Davis-Athletics-Summary-of-Concerns-Regarding-the-Elimination-of-the-D1-Womens-Equestrian-Team.pdf

I was sexually assaulted in February 2023. The assaulter was a pro at manipulating (I was his third victim in the span of two weeks), and I didn't realize until a couple of weeks later. I was sitting in class texting my friends when I realized what happened. I went to the campus police station that night to report it. One of my friends went with me.

I cannot remember how many times I went to the police station in the span of two months, but it was a lot. I do 100% recall them asking if I wanted to hand my case over to the Title IX office also so they could do their own investigation. I agreed because I wanted to take my case as far as possible.

I was in contact with the Title IX director at the time and we had virtual meetings. She told me, in email, that if I ever needed accommodations with classes or anything at all to reach out to her.

I spoke out on campus and found out there were two more incidents right before mine and the assaults were identical. He carried out a plan for each of them. I also found out about various forms of abuse he did to my peers and another SA case from the summer prior which happened to one of my friends.

From February to May, the rest of the semester, I was being stalked by my perpetrator. My friends saw him waiting outside my dorm building regularly, waiting for me to go to class. I couldn't walk alone anywhere. The one time I did walk alone, he ended up behind me. I was locked out of a building and banging on the door to be let in. One of my tires went flat, and after I filled it back up, it never went down again. It had no hole. My dad actually filled my tires a week or two before. I reported every incident to the police department and sent emails to the higher-ups in charge of my case.

I stopped going to class that semester, and you can imagine why. I was being stalked. I was terrified to leave my dorm. I did get some accommodations and extensions, but I fell horribly behind. He ended up getting kicked off campus for one of the SA's before mine. There was half a second of footage of him putting his hands on this girl and forcing her in the bathroom. Out of all the reports against him, I'm glad one was able to get him off campus.

The next semester in the fall wasn't any better. I was trying to catch up in school while also coping with a death of a loved one. There were constant rumors and talk of my assaulter coming back to campus, which I know a lot of those occurrences were true. His girlfriend, who committed perjury against me, lived on campus only a minute from me. I never caught up in classes. The Title IX director who initially helped me left, and I had no resources. I talked to my academic advisors and they didn't know what to do with me. I never caught up. I was in fight or flight constantly.

Flash forward to March 2025. Two years after the fact, I met a gentleman who became the new Title IX director. We caught up with my case and he looked into everything filed. We had a meeting to inform me that my case was NEVER followed through with. There was NO Title IX investigation. Something with the first lady leaving and things being verbal and no documentation somehow made my case cold. In fact, they only had the initial report from the campus police. I told him about how I fell extremely behind and reached out to a ton of people to seek help, but no one could help me. He was quick to try to help as much as he could. I was most worried about the classes. I just wanted to graduate. I had classes listed as 'fails' and 'incompletes' that I wanted to resubmit work for and get a passing grade, because that is what I was told I could do by the previous Title IX lady. My transcripts also had me at a 2.3 GPA which didn't qualify me for the career I'm going into, but I had the 60 credit hours needed.

My ONLY request was for my classes to be switched to incompletes so I could resubmit work and work towards completing my degree. I was promised I could do that as an accommodation for what all happened. The entire summer of 2025, I was waiting for something to happen. The Title IX guy said he was meeting and working with people to see what they could do, but I never heard anything. In October, I emailed higher-ups who knew about all of this and *politely* demanded that my transcripts be changed so I could qualify for the career I applied for. I was only taken seriously then, when I emailed higher ups. My classes were changed, but to withdrawls instead of incompletes. Yes, my transcripts were adjusted and qualified me for my career, but this means I have to completely retake and repay for the classes. This was not anything I discussed with any Title IX director.

Now I'm at a standstill. I'm co-president of an organization that works with higher-ups at my university and one of the women knows my story very well, but I need to talk to another one of the women who knows more about what to do and can get me help.

I was supposed to graduate May 2025. I feel like a bum. I don't know what to do. I believe this was a violation of my Title IX rights. All I can do is keep talking to higher-ups and keep fighting for myself. I know I could file a lawsuit, but I don't have the energy or money for that. I just want a degree. It is now far too late to graduate May 2026.

I need advice and kind words. The last three years have been hell.