Reporting Options

Baylor College of Medicine strongly encourages the prompt reporting of sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking to local law enforcement or a college administrator.

Senate Bill 212 was passed in the last state legislative session and went into effect as state law on Jan. 1, 2020. This law requires any employee of a college or university in Texas to report to the Title IX Coordinator any information regarding an alleged incident of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking, committed by or against a person enrolled at or employed by the institution at the time of the incident. The law requires colleges to terminate employment for employees who fail to report such matters and imposes criminal penalties of up to a year in jail.  In simple terms, this means that if you hear of an alleged incident of sexual misconduct that occurred at Baylor College of Medicine or at a College event, you must report it.

 Learn more about Senate Bill 212 by reading the following resources:

• New Title IX Mandatory Reporting Requirements (Baylor login required)
• Senate Bill 212 FAQ (Baylor login required)
• Hypothetical scenarios (Baylor login required)
• Full text of SB 212

Baylor College of Medicine Security Office
(713) 798-3000 extension 8-811 from the BCM phone system
Email bcm-security@bcm.edu

Texas Medical Center Police (located in Garage #2)
(713) 798-5000

Houston Police Department 
(713) 884-3131
www.houstonpolice.org

Houston Police Department Sexual Assault Information Line
(713) 308-1400
Email SAinfo@houstonpolice.org

Harris County Sherriff Office
(713) 221-6000
www.harriscountyso.org

In addition to or in lieu of reporting a criminal complaint to local law enforcement, individuals who have experienced sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking can file a complaint with Baylor College of Medicine. Complaints to the College can be made even if police conclude there is insufficient evidence for criminal charges, or the victim/survivor does not want to participate further in the College’s investigation process.

Director of Title IX: Toni Gray

Integrity Hotline
(855) 764-7292 or www.bcm.ethicspoint.com
(Enter Organization Name as Baylor College of Medicine)

Responsible Employees

A Responsible Employee is a College employee who has the authority to take action to redress an alleged violation of Prohibited Conduct (as defined in 02.2.26). Responsible Employees have a duty to promptly report incidents of sex based discrimination, and Prohibited Conduct directly to the Title IX Coordinator. Additionally, Responsible Employees are not confidential reporting resources. View a listing of groups of College administrators designated by Baylor College of Medicine as Responsible Employees.

Coordinator, deputy coordinator, or via the Integrity Hotline phone or web portals. Baylor will take seriously and investigate all reports received, however remaining anonymous may hinder the results of the investigation and the College’s ability to stop the behavior, remedy its effects, and prevent recurrence.

Privacy protection means that Baylor College of Medicine complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and will protect the privacy of any person making a report as well as any individuals named in a report of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and/or stalking, to the extent possible.

College Administrators must take reasonable steps to safeguard the privacy of those involved by preventing unauthorized access to reports, other written documentation, and any verbal information collected. College Administrators may share information on a “need to know” basis, as required to investigate, adjudicate, and/or implement sanctions arising out of a report. Furthermore, any college administrator who receives a report of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking must share the information with Baylor’s Title IX coordinator, unless the administrator receives the report while providing medical or mental health services.

Confidential reporting means that the information provided will not be shared with anyone else without the consent of the reporter. Individuals desiring strict confidentiality should seek an appointment with a counselor, a health care provider, a religious/faith leader, an off campus crisis resource or victim advocate agency.

Any College administrator who receives a report of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking during a patient encounter, or through the provision of medical or mental health services is NOT required to share the information with Baylor’s Title IX coordinator. Confidential reporting is only available through the following Baylor College of Medicine service programs:

Student and House Staff Mental Health Service: (713) 798-4881 or student-help@bcm.edu

WellConnect (students only): (866) 640-4777 or www.wellconnectbysrs.com

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (faculty/staff only): (713) 500-3008 or (866) 893-3776

Additionally, the Baylor College of Medicine Ombuds Office is a resource that provides confidential discussion of any Baylor-related concern. Therefore, sharing information regarding the occurrence of sexual harassment, sexual violence, relationship violence, or stalking to the Ombuds does not constitute notice to the College and will not result in action by the College.

Ombuds Office: (713) 798-5039, ombudsoffice@bcm.edu, or www.bcm.edu/ombuds

Baylor College of Medicine will not tolerate acts of retaliation in response to or in connection with any report or investigation of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking. Any individual who believes that he/she has experienced acts of retaliation should report these incidents immediately to the Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinator.

Upon notice of alleged retaliation, the College will take necessary steps to provide a safe academic and working environment. Individuals responsible for retaliation will be met with disciplinary action up to an including removal from the Baylor community.

Baylor College of Medicine will take seriously and investigate all reports of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking. Reported allegations will be investigated by an impartial process that is prompt, fair, and conducted by College administrators who receive specialized training.

During the investigation both complainants and respondents will:

• Receive simultaneous written notice of the initiation and conclusion of an investigation, the investigation findings, recommended sanctions (if applicable), appeal procedures, any changes to sanctions, and when the results become final.
• Have a support person present throughout the process and during any meetings related to the investigation and/or adjudication of a complaint

Full information regarding the investigation and adjudication procedures for Baylor community members including the standard of proof, timelines, adjudication procedures, and sanctions can be found in the BCM Policies and Procedures Manual, 02.2.26 Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy.

A person found responsible for engaging in sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking will likely face a recommended sanction ranging from warning to removal from the Baylor community, depending on the severity of the incident and taking into consideration any previous policy violations.

In addition to or in lieu of imposed sanctions, individuals who have experienced sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking may wish to prohibit further contact by the person who has harmed or alarmed them. In these cases, there are different types of protective orders that can be requested. College administrators can assist individuals in obtaining a protective order or enforcing a protective order if the order is known.

A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is issued by civil courts in situations where a lawsuit has been filed (including lawsuits for divorce) to protect an individual from threats, harassment, and harm to themselves, their property, or their children. TROs are filed in the same office as the original lawsuit and can last until the original lawsuit ends.

Protective Orders are issued by civil courts to prevent continuing acts of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking and must be filed in the county in which the victim/survivor or the offender lives. The application is process is free of charge and approved orders can last up to two years.

Peace Bonds are issued by Justices of the Peace in response to threats of harm to an individual or their property. Peace Bonds require that the offender deposit money with the court which will be lost if he/she commits the threatened crime. Requests for peace bond must be filed in the precinct in which the victim/survivor lives. Approved peace bonds can last up to a year.

Baylor College of Medicine reserves the right to undertake any action deemed necessary to ensure the safety of the Baylor community members. No Contact Orders are administrative action issued by the College which can limit the contact and/or communication between a complainant and a respondent. To request a College administered No Contact Order, please contact the Baylor Title IX coordinator.

In addition to No Contact Orders, the College may impose other remedies to protect individuals from further harm.

• Relocation of work, academic or extracurricular activities.
• Arranging for a complainant or respondent to have the ability to make-up lost work or academic progress without penalty.
• Arranging for a complainant or respondent to withdraw from a course without penalty.
• Providing access to counseling, medical and/or academic support services.
• Educational programs or trainings for Baylor community members.