This addendum modifies catalog content as indicated and supersedes all previous addenda. Page 24 / 29 2024-2025 ADDENDUM to the Rasmussen University Catalog and Student Handbook February 27, 2025 explicitly or impliedly conditioning the provision of such an aid, benefit, or service on a person’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; o Hostile environment harassment. Unwelcome sex-based conduct that, based on the totality of the circumstances, is subjectively and objectively offensive and is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from Rasmussen’s education program or activity (i.e., creates a hostile environment). Whether a hostile environment has been created is a fact-specific inquiry that includes consideration of the following: (i) The degree to which the conduct affected the Complainant’s ability to access Rasmussen’s education program or activity; (ii) The type, frequency, and duration of the conduct; (iii) The parties’ ages, roles within Rasmussen’s education program or activity, previous interactions, and other factors about each party that may be relevant to evaluating the effects of the conduct; (iv) The location of the conduct and the context in which the conduct occurred; and (v) Other sex-based harassment in the recipient’s education program or activity; o Specific offenses. “Sexual assault”, “dating violence”, “domestic violence”, or “stalking” as defined herein. • Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome conduct based on sex that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to an education program or activity. • Sexual Misconduct: Unwelcomed conduct that includes sexual harassment, nonconsensual distribution of sexual images, sexual extortion, nonconsensual dissemination of a deepfake depicting intimate parts or sexual acts, sex trafficking, VAWA crimes of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and stalking. • Stalking - Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to (a) fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others, or (b) suffer substantial emotional distress. As used in this definition, “course of conduct” means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property; “substantial emotional distress” means significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but does not necessarily, require medical or other professional treatment or counseling; and “reasonable person” means a person under similar circumstances and with similar identities to the victim. Rasmussen considers stalking to include “cyberstalking,” which is stalking conducted with technology such as computers or mobile devices, often occurring on or delivered through the Internet, e-mail, or text messages. • Standard of Evidence - Preponderance of the evidence standard will be used for Title IX proceedings and is applied equally to both students and employees. The burden of proof is met when it is more likely than not that the alleged misconduct occurred. • Unwelcome Conduct - Conduct is unwelcome if an individual did not request or invite it and regarded the conduct as undesirable or offensive. Acquiescence in the conduct or the failure to complain does not always mean that the conduct was welcome. • Victim/Survivor - These terms are used together throughout this policy to respect individuals who may identify as a victim, survivor, or both. A victim/survivor is comparable to a Complainant for purposes of this policy. Reporting Policies and Protocols Reports of Title IX incidents can be made to the Title IX Coordinator ([email protected]) or anonymously via the online reporting system (http://www.rasmussen.edu/studentlife/title-ix/). Individuals may also report incidents to local law enforcement. Rasmussen encourages individuals to report incidents promptly. Anonymous reporting is permitted, and an inquiry will be initiated to the extent possible based on the information provided.
