UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS 32 OLD SLIP. 2r,? FLOOR mew YORK. NEW YORK 10005 TIMOTHY C. J. ULANCIIARD DIRECTOR NEW YORK OFFICE June 16.2016 Hunter R. Rawlings. 111 Interim President Of?ce ol'the President 300 Day Hall Cornell University Ithaca. New York 14853 Re: Case No. 02?16-2157 Cornell University Dear Interim President Rawlings: On March 7. 2016. the US. Department of Education. New York Of?ce for Civil Rights (OCR) received the above~reterenced complaint ?led against Cornell University (the University). The complainant alleged that the University failed to respond and equitably to the report of sexual assault that made in or around the spring 2015 semester. OCR has determined that this allegation is appropriate for investigation. OCR is responsible for enforcing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). as amended. 20 U.S.C. 1681 e_t and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106. which prohibit discrimination on the basis ot?sex in programs and activities receiving ?nancial assistance from the US. Department of Education (the Department). The University is a recipient of ?nancial assistance from the Department. Therefore. OCR has jurisdictional authority to investigate this complaint under Title IX. Because OCR has determined that it has jurisdiction and that the complaint was ?led in a timely manner. it is opening the allegation for investigation. Please note that opening an allegation for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a detcnnination with regard to its merit. During the investigation. OCR is a neutral fact-?nder. collecting and analyzing relevant evidence from the complainant. the recipient. and other sources. as appropriate. OCR will ensure that its investigation is legally suf?cient and is dispositivc of the allegation. in accordance with the provisions of Article 111 of Case Processing Manual. The Department of Education '5 mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering cdncationai cxceiianco and ensuring equal access. Page 2 of? [nterin esident l-lunter R. Rawlings. Enclosed is a document entitled Complaint Processing Procedures.? This document will provide you with an overview of complaint evaluation. investigation, and resolution process. OCR will collect only material needed to investigate this complaint and will take all proper precautions to protect the identity of any individuals named in documents. To facilitate efforts to investigate this complaint, OCR requests that. within twenty (20) days ofthe date ofthis letter, you provide to OCR the information listed on the enclosed data request. if OCR does not receive the data in a timely manner. OCR may conduct a site visit to obtain the data. The regulation implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, at 34 C.F.R. l00.6 and requires that a recipient of Federal ?nancial assistance make available to OCR information that may be necessary for it to determine whether a recipient is in compliance with the regulations it enforces. This requirement is incorporated by reference in the regulation implementing Title IX, at 34 C.F.R. 106.7l. This information also is being requested pursuant to 34 CPR. goal is the prompt and appropriate resolution of the allegations contained in a complaint. OCR offers, when appropriate, an Early Complaint Resolution (ECR) process, similar to mediation, to facilitate the voluntary resolution of complaints by providing an early opportunity for the parties involved to resolve the allegation(s). Some infonnation about the ECR process is in the enclosure to this letter entitled. Complaint Processing Procedures," and on website at in . ed . gmvabout/ofli eesf i st/ocr/docsxocreom .lnm it i . Also, when appropriate, a complaint may be resolved before the conclusion of an investigation after the recipient expresses an interest to OCR to resolve the complaint. In such cases, OCR obtains a resolution agreement signed by the recipient. This agreement must be aligned with the complaint allegations or the infonnation obtained during the investigation. and it must be consistent with applicable regulations. Additional information about this voluntary resolution process may be found in the enclosure entitled. Complaint Processing Procedures,? and on website at pzl?lw ww 2 . ed. uovtaboutto fticcs/l . I it I 1. Please be advised that the University may not harass, coerce, intimidate, or discriminate against any individual because he or she has ?led a complaint or participated in the complaint resolution process. If this happens. the complainant may ?le another complaint alleging such treatment. Under the Freedom of information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, it may be necessary to release this document and related correspondence and records upon request. In the event that OCR receives such a request, it will seek to protect. to the extent provided by law. personally identi?able which. if released, could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion ol?personal privacy. Page 3 of? - lnterin esidcnt Hunter R. Rowlings, Ill OCR staff will contact you within twenty (20) days to discuss the allegation and the complaint resolution process. In the interim, if you have any questions. please contact Kathleen Ryder, Compliance Team Attorney, at (646) 428-3825 or Ronald Scott. Compliance Team Attorney. at (646) 4286820 or ronaldscolt?i?cd.gov; Grace Kim, at (646) 428-3977 or gracedkiml?aeed.nov: or me, at (646) 428-3 806 or Sincerely. 9,01th Felice A. Bowen Compliance Team Leader Encl. Page 4 of? lnterin. .csidcnt Hunter R. Rowlings, Data Reguest Cornell University Case No. 02-16?2157 I Nonresponml Due Date: July 6, 2016 Please provide the following items or state in writing Irv/tether any of the requested material does not exist, or whether it is not being provided because it has? been previoux?v provided to OCR in connection with the Univemitv '5 response to another complaint: 7 (miTliA$3.31an 7. 9. Page 5 of? Interin. .esident Hunter R. Rawlings, (bk (bit: 7 HA) Page 6 of? Interim .esident Hunter R. Rawlings, Ill i i3 0. Ema-1m: I . 1 2 {DiniTiuiAJ Page 7 of? Interim csidcnt Hunter R. Rawlings, Ill )(?z?jlsAjn l3t'bl?iuk'Tll'Aj l7.