UConn Title IX Penalties

Being accused of violating someone else’s Title IX rights at the University of Connecticut is not the same thing as being criminally charged and prosecuted in a Connecticut state court. However, that does not mean the consequences of a Title IX investigation cannot be devastating to both your academic career and your personal life.

Understanding the possible repercussions that can come from a Title IX case in general can be key to handling your specific case in the most proactive and effective way possible. With that in mind, here are some examples of UConn Title IX penalties you might face as a respondent if you are adjudicated guilty of a Title IX violation, all of which a seasoned Title IX lawyer may be able to help minimize the severity of or even get replaced with less severe alternative sanctions.

Warnings and/or Probation

Not every Title IX case will necessarily result in the respondent getting kicked out of school or experiencing any dramatic interruption in their studies. For minor Title IX violations which did not result in anyone suffering substantial harm, UConn may elect to give a formal warning to a respondent, put them on probation for a semester or two, and/or require them to write a letter of apology as a means of making up for the violation in the short term and preventing recurrences in the long term.

On-Campus Changes and Restrictions

In more serious situations, UConn may impose penalties against a Title IX respondent by restricting their right to use campus facilities, live in campus housing, and/or attend specific classes at certain times. Often, these changes are not the result of a specific sanction against the respondent. Instead, they stem from supportive measures put in place for the complainant during an ongoing investigation, which inadvertently impact the respondent due to their structure.

Temporary Suspension or Leave

If UConn determines through a Title IX investigation and hearing that a respondent has committed a significant violation of someone else’s Title IX rights, they may respond to that violation by suspending the respondent from school for a semester or more. If the respondent is a faculty member rather than a student, they may be forced to go on paid or unpaid leave for a period of time, and they may have their position and/or job description changed upon their return.

Permanent Expulsion or Termination

Finally, the most extreme penalty in a Title IX case at UConn is permanent expulsion from school or, for a faculty member, termination of employment. Along similar lines, UConn has the authority to rescind scholarships, remove tenure, and even withhold or revoke degrees based on evidence discovered during a Title IX investigation.

A Qualified Attorney Can Explain UConn Title IX Penalties in More Detail

Of course, not all the sanctions mentioned above will apply to every Title IX case. That said, they are technically on the table because these cases are internal proceedings, and each institution has a good deal of leeway to operate as it sees fit.