Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. Learn the steps for reporting, supporting and protecting yourself and others. The University expects that all Mountaineers treat each other with respect.  WVU takes reports of any kind of sexual or interpersonal violence extremely seriously.

We support the choices survivors make — whether or not to report, and to whom to report — and recognize that these choices are particularly difficult in some cases. If you are unsure whether or not you'd like to file a formal report, you can meet with a private Title IX Specialist to discuss your reporting options first.  If you wish to speak to someone anonymously, please call or text the Title IX On-Call Line at (304) 906-9930. Someone is available to take your call, twenty-four hours a day.

The Office of Equity Assurance and the legal system work independently, but in coordination with one another. Individuals may file a report with the University, law enforcement, both or with neither. The standards for determining a violation of criminal law are different than the standard in WVU’s grievance procedures; neither the results of a criminal investigation, nor the decision of law enforcement to investigate or decline to investigate a matter, is a determinative factor of whether a violation of Board of Governors Governance Rule 1.6 has occurred.

Any member of the campus community who has witnessed or is aware of any conduct prohibited by Board of Governors Governance Rule 1.6 is encouraged to report. Responsible employees, as defined by BOG 1.6 are required to report to the Equity Assurance and Title IX office. WVU’s Office of Equity Assurance investigates every civil rights or Title IX related incident reported to the University. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, power-based personal violence or discrimination or harassment, you can file a report with WVU’s Director of Equity Assurance/Title IX Coordinator:

James Goins Jr.
Director of Equity Assurance
Title IX Coordinator
1085 Van Voorhis, Suite 250
Morgantown, WV 26506-6202
304-293-5600
james.goins@mail.wvu.edu

You can also  file a report online or through mail by downloading the complaint form and mailing it to:

Office of Equity Assurance
1085 Van Voorhis, Suite 250
P.O. Box 6202
Morgantown, WV 26506

For more information about resources and reporting options, visit our  Resources and Reporting page.

In the case of an assault, victims have options and things to consider: 

1. The victim may consider going to an emergency room to get a medical exam. All WVU students can go to the Emergency Department at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital and receive medical care at that visit and a sexual assault forensic exam, free of charge. Students MUST present their WVU I.D. at the time of service. 
2. Avoid bathing, urinating or brushing teeth to allow law-enforcement and medical professionals to collect evidence. However, please know that you can still go to the hospital even if you have already bathed or urinated. 
3. If the victim is comfortable, talk to someone - a trusted friend, parent or relative. Call someone you can talk to, no matter how late it is. You can always find and talk to a Resident Assistant, Resident Director or any member of the Student Affairs Staff. As a reminder, Resident Assistants, Resident Directors and all other Student Life staff are required to file a report to the Title IX Office if they are made aware of a situation in which a sexual assault may have occurred. 
4. An advocate that is trained to help victims know their medical and legal options and provide emotional support is available to speak with at the local rape and domestic violence center at 304-292-5100. For a twenty-four hour hotline call 1-888-825-7835.
5. A victim may report the assault to University Police or a University official. Outside of the appropriate University staff whose job it is to resolve the report, no one else will know unless the people involved choose to talk about what happened with other people. The University will not contact your parents. For more detail on reporting and what happens after a report is filed, please see  FAQs.

Preventing Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault is never the fault of the victim. Our entire campus community is responsible for respecting each other’s boundaries and creating a safe and respectful community.

Sexual partners should communicate clearly and respectfully about their needs, feelings and boundaries. Consent should be made clear. Consent is a freely given yes, not the absence of a no. If someone seems silent, uninterested, makes excuses, says, “maybe” or “no”, you do not have consent.

You should not make assumptions about consent or assume you know how someone else is feeling. It is your responsibility to obtain clear and definite consent before continuing with any sexual activity. Be positive that your partner is in a state of mind to be able to make an informed decision about sex. Taking advantage of someone who is incapacitated by alcohol or drugs is violence.

You deserve support if you have been sexually assaulted. There are confidential resources that are available to help you. 

We urge our campus community to be active in supporting a safe and respectful environment for all. If you see others engaging in  disrespectful or inappropriate actions, speak up or contact someone that can assist. If you are a witness to a situation that could lead to (sexual) violence, check-in directly with those involved to see if they are okay.

Additional Resources

For more detail on all the resources offered by WVU and answers to any questions that you may have, please review our updated FAQs.

• Visit the Title IX Office’s Prevention page to learn about prevention and training.
• For up-to-date information on campus safety policies and best practices, visit the University Police.
• Review WVU Board of Governors policies on Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Domestic Misconduct, Stalking, Retaliation and Relationships.