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Title IX at EFSC

Includes resources for Sexual Misconduct and Assault Victims

Eastern Florida State College is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy learning and working environment that promotes responsibility and respect, and where no one is unlawfully excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in any College program or activity on the basis of sex. To that end, the College has zero tolerance for sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking, collectively referred to as Sexual Misconduct.

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits any person in the United States from being discriminated against on the basis of sex in seeking access to any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

The U.S. Department of Education, which enforces Title IX, has long defined the meaning of Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination broadly to include various forms of Sexual Misconduct that interfere with an individual’s ability to equally access educational programs and opportunities.

On May 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education issued a Final Rule (“Final Rule”) under Title IX that:

  • Defines the meaning of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking (collectively referred to in this procedure as “Sexual Misconduct”);
  • Addresses how the College must respond to reports of Sexual Misconduct; and
  • Mandates a grievance process that the College must follow before issuing a disciplinary sanction against a person accused of Sexual Misconduct.

Under the Final Rule, the College must narrow both the geographic scope of its authority to act under Title IX and the types of conduct that it must subject to its Title IX investigation and adjudication process.

Only incidents falling within the Final Rule’s definitions will be investigated and, if appropriate, brought to a live hearing through the grievance process. However, the College remains committed to addressing any violations of its community standards, including those not meeting the strict definitions of the Final Rule, through enforcement of its Student Code of Conduct and/or other applicable policies, procedures, handbooks, rules, or regulations.

As required by the Final Rule, the College implements the grievance procedures outlined in this web section for formal complaints of Sexual Misconduct brought on or after August 14, 2020.

What to Do If You Are Sexually Assaulted

Go to a safe location.

Call 911 if you need emergency services.

For assistance on campus, contact the Security Office.
Cocoa Campus: 321-403-5907
Melbourne Campus: 321-403-5909
Palm Bay Campus: 321-403-5911
Titusville Campus: 321-403-4200

For assistance off campus, contact local law enforcement (View additonal Victims Assistance Resources):
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office: 321-264-5209
Cocoa Police Department: 321-639-7620
Melbourne Police Department: 321-608-6731
Palm Bay Police Department: 321-952-3456
Titusville Police Department: 321-264-7800

Seek immediate medical attention if you are injured or have been physically sexually assaulted.

Preserving evidence to the greatest extent possible is important.
  • Do not alter, dispose of, or destroy any physical evidence.
  • If there is suspicion that a drink may have been drugged, inform a medical assistance provider and/or law enforcement as soon as possible so they can attempt to collect possible evidence.
  • Preserve evidence of electronic communications by saving them and/or by taking screen shots of text messages, instant messages, social networking pages, or other electronic communications, and by keeping pictures, logs, or copies of documents that relate to the incident and/or perpetrator.
  • An individual who has been sexually assaulted should not shower, bathe, douche, smoke, brush teeth, eat, drink or change clothes or bedding before going to the hospital or seeking medical attention.
Choose how to proceed. You have options and may pursue whatever combination of options is best for you:
  • You can do nothing until you are ready; but please be aware that delays in reporting an incident can jeopardize the outcome of a successful prosecution or administrative finding due to a degrading of available evidence and other factors.
  • Pursue investigation by the College: If you wish to have an incident investigated by the College, contact the Title IX Coordinator. (Contact information is in the section "How to Report Sexual Misconduct at EFSC" below on this web page).
  • Those who wish to initiate criminal proceedings should contact the law enforcement agency serving the area where the incident took place. If you would like assistance in contacting law enforcement, please visit any Campus Security Office.
  • Petition the court for a restraining order or “injunction." If you would like to petition the court for an injunction against the perpetrator, contact a local Clerk of Courts Office. Click here for information on the injunction process and your rights as a victim.
  • To pursue other civil legal remedies against the perpetrator, contact an attorney.
Resources for Victims

Multiple resources are available to you both at EFSC and in the community.

Click to view resources for Sexual Assault Victims

View information on victim's rights throughout any criminal process, including how to access injunctions and accommodations.

View definitions of key terms related to Sexual Misconduct

Read answers to Frequently Asked Questions related to Title IX and Sexual Misconduct

To report sexual misconduct visit Title IX Grieveance Process

View the 2020-21 EFSC Title IX and Victim Resource Guide

How to Report Sexual Misconduct and How EFSC Will Respond

Reports of alleged Sexual Misconduct may be directed to the College’s Title IX Coordinator:

Stephen W. Salvo, Title IX Compliance Coordinator
3865 North Wickham Road
Building 8-201G
Melbourne, Florida 32935
Phone: 321-433-5775
E-Mail: salvos@easternflorida.edu

In addition, reports of alleged Sexual Misconduct may be made to any of the following College officials: any Vice President, Associate Vice President, Dean, Collegewide Chair, Student Life Coordinator, Student Ombudsman, Athletic Coach, Director of Support Services, Resident Assistant, or Campus Security Officer. Upon receipt of such a report, the College official must immediately notify the Title IX Coordinator.

Click to view full details on the College's response process when a Sexual Misconduct Report is received.

Sexual Misconduct Reporting Options, Confidentiality & Reports Involving Minors
Right to Report

The College encourages you to talk to someone about what happened so you can get the help you need, and so the College can respond appropriately. But ultimately it’s your right to report or not report the incident, and it’s your right to decide who to report to, if anyone.

Right to Contact Police

While the College encourages police involvement whenever Sexual Misconduct is potentially criminal in nature, it’s your right to decide whether to contact the police. If you would like assistance in contacting the police, visit the Security Office on campus.

Reports to the College

It is important to understand that when any College employee receives information alleging Sexual Misconduct, he or she is obligated to forward the information to other College officials to investigate and provide an appropriate response. Thus, any report made to a College employee is not confidential. A person who reports to a College employee may request confidentiality, and such a request will be considered by the College in determining an appropriate response, but the College may have to override the request for confidentiality in order to meet its legal obligations under Title IX and other laws. It should be noted that while confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, any information received by the College will be kept as private as possible and only shared with individuals who "need to know" in order to review, investigate, and provide an appropriate response.

Confidential Reporting Options

If confidentiality is important to you, please note that any reports made to sexual assault counselors, domestic violence advocates, members of the clergy, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and other medical professionals, while such persons are acting in their official capacities, may be confidential. Please confirm the person's ability to keep confidentiality before you confide in the person. Individuals who consult with confidential resources should note that their discussions in these settings are not considered reports to the College, and will not result in any action
by the College.

Reports Involving Minors

Pursuant to Florida law, College officials are obligated to report known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the Department of Children and Families. Accordingly, the College cannot guarantee confidentiality for any report of Sexual Misconduct it receives involving a person under the age of 18.

Information on Sexual Offenders/Predators

In accordance with Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (“FDLE”) maintains an active list of sexual offenders (which includes sexual predators) in the State of Florida. FDLE provides a variety of ways to search their database to acquire information a pertaining to sex offenders in their neighborhood or on college and university campuses. To learn more about sexual offenders in our state, please visit the FDLE Sexual Offender website.

In addition, FDLE has also established the following toll-free number for public access to FDLE's Missing Persons and Offender Registration: 1-888-FL-PREDATOR (1-888-357-7332). By contacting FDLE at this number, the public can request information about Sexual Offenders living in their communities and around the state. Requests may be made using this toll-free number on business days, between 8 AM and 5 PM (ET), Monday through Friday.