Last update: March 2025

Pursuant to University policies and relevant laws, Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) seeks to achieve an environment that is free of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, consistent with constitutional protections and personal freedoms. Sexual misconduct can threaten a person's safety, well-being, educational experience and career. Temple University will not tolerate sexual misconduct. TUJ encourages members of the university community to promptly and accurately report all criminal actions, to promptly get appropriate medical treatment, to utilize the university's sexual misconduct education and prevention programs, to understand the policies, procedures and disciplinary sanctions associated with sexual misconduct, and to utilize the resources of the Office of Student Services and Engagement and of our Counseling Office, as noted below.

What Is Sexual Misconduct?

Sexual misconduct includes sexual assault, sexual or sex-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation.

Sexual assault includes any of the following:

Any intentional, unconsented touching, or threat or attempt thereof, of: (i) an intimate bodily part of another person, such as a sexual organ, buttocks, or breast; (ii) any bodily part of another person with a sexual organ; or (iii) any part of another person's body with the intent of accomplishing a sexual act; or
disrobing of another person without the other's consent or purposeful exposure of one's genitals to another without the other's consent; or
forcing; or attempting to force, any other person to engage in sexual activity of any kind without their consent.

What Is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment, a type of sexual misconduct, is unacceptable conduct of a sexual or sex-based nature and will not be tolerated in any context at Temple University, whether it be in a faculty/student, faculty/faculty, supervisor/employee, staff/student, student/student, worker/co-worker, or other relationship.

Conduct of a sexual or sex-based nature is considered to be sexual harassment if it falls into one of the following categories:

1. Hostile Environment. Unwelcome conduct that is severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive such that it effectively denies an individual from participating in or benefitting from the university’s education or employment programs and/or activities. Conduct must be severe, persistent, and pervasive from both a subjective and an objective perspective. In evaluating these aspects, the university will consider the totality of the known circumstances.
2. Abuse of authority. Submission to unwelcome conduct is a) made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or status in a course, program, or activity, or b) used as a basis for an employment-related, educational, or other decision affecting an individual.

While a student is a student of a particular instructor, any sort of sexual or romantic advances or relationship between the student and the particular instructor is prohibited.

For example:

A student keeps sending unwanted telephone calls, text messages, e-mail messages, etc. of a sexual nature to another student.

A professor suggesting to a student that romantic involvement with him/her would improve the student's chances of getting a good grade in the course.

If It Happens To You

Individuals who experience sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking should get to a place of safety immediately and should obtain necessary medical treatment at once. Individuals should consider reporting the incident to police as soon as possible, since time is a critical factor for evidence collection and preservation. Whether or not an individual elects to report the offense to police, to the extent of the individual’s cooperation and consent, university offices will work cooperatively to ensure that the complainant’s health, physical safety and academic status are protected, pending the outcome of a formal university investigation of the complaint.

The university places a high priority on student health and safety; those who report sexual misconduct or participate as a complainant or a witness in sexual misconduct investigations, or who seek medical assistance for themselves or another, will not be subject to disciplinary sanctions for their consumption of alcohol and/or other substances. Students are encouraged to report incidents of sexual misconduct to the Assistant Dean of Students at TUJ, Nicole Despres ([click-for-email]). Reports of criminal actions or other types of sexual misconduct that are made to university personnel (including faculty members) will be treated confidentially consistent with applicable legal requirements and safety considerations.

Please note that if a student should decide to speak to TUJ faculty or staff other than counselors at the TUJ Counseling Office about experiences involving sexual misconduct, U.S. Federal law and university policy require the TUJ faculty or staff to make a report of the incident to TUJ’s Assistant Dean of Students, who may need to share that information with others (such as the Main Campus Title IX Coordinator, appropriate TUJ Deans and TUJ’s General Counsel). Students' discussions with counselors in the TUJ Counseling Office are subject to the strictest confidentiality.

If circumstances require it, upon learning of sexual misconduct, the university will need to investigate the allegation and evaluate whether additional action is necessary. If the university proceeds with an investigation or other response, then the university will notify the complainant before the respondent is contacted. In addition, under appropriate circumstances, the university will inform members of the university community of reported sexual misconduct without identifying the complainant.

Temple University is aware of the sensitive nature of sexual misconduct complaints and can provide accommodations to the complainant, while also balancing the rights of the respondent. For example, if reasonably available, changes to academic, work or living situations in addition to counseling, health services and assistance in notifying appropriate local law enforcement, if so desired, may be provided. The Assistant Dean of Students at TUJ can provide information about available support services on and off campus, as well as administrative options, if reasonably available, such as changes to housing assignments and academic or work schedules. Either the Assistant Dean of Students at TUJ or the Counseling Office at TUJ can assist if an individual is interested in medical and/or police assistance.

A student alleging sexual misconduct may also use the following e-mail to contact an ombudsperson: [click-for-email]. The ombudspersons for student complaints will advise students of their options, but may be obliged to advise the Assistant Dean of Students regarding any specific reports of sexual misconduct.

It is also possible to make an anonymous report of sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator at Main Campus New Tab (any such reports made to Main Campus will typically be referred to back to TUJ). Please note that when a complainant does not consent to share their name or other identifiable information with the respondent, the university's ability to respond to the complaint may be limited.

If the respondent is a TUJ student, the complainant may wish to request that TUJ take action against that student pursuant to the Student Conduct Code. The below individuals can provide more information on what to expect in the conduct process.

The Assistant Dean of Students at TUJ, Nicole Despres ([click-for-email]), or
TUJ's General Counsel, Thomas Dreves, who is the Student Conduct Administrator at TUJ ([click-for-email]).

The university will not tolerate retaliation against students who make good faith reports of crime or violations of policy or who participate in investigation or conduct processes.

Please see the university’s Policy on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct New Tab for additional information. Please direct any questions concerning this policy to the Assistant Dean of Students at TUJ or TUJ's General Counsel, at the emails noted above.