Get Help Now

If you have experienced sexual misconduct, this page walks you through your immediate next steps. Taking action quickly can preserve your options — but you are in control of how and when you proceed.

If You Have Experienced Sexual Misconduct

1. Get somewhere safe.

   As soon as you are able, get to a safe location.

2. Seek medical attention.

   Seek immediate medical attention if you are injured, believe you may have been exposed to an STI/STD, or if pregnancy is a concern.

   Medical Attention and Evidence Collection

   Evidence collection should be completed within approximately 120 hours of an assault, but fluids, hair samples and DNA can be collected for a long time thereafter. Even if you have washed or bathed, evidence can often still be obtained.

   After 120 hours, it may still be helpful to have medical attention, even if you are not trying to obtain evidence of an assault. Sexual assault nurse examiners are specially trained in forensic evidence collection and can check for injuries and exposure to sexually transmitted infections and diseases.

   What to bring to the hospital:

   • If you are still wearing the clothes from the incident, wear them to the hospital and bring a change of clothes — the hospital may keep them as evidence.

   • If you have already changed, bring the clothes you were wearing in a clean paper (not plastic) bag, or wrapped in a clean bedsheet.

   • Leave any sheets or towels at the scene of the incident — police will collect those.

   Police are typically called to the hospital to take custody of the forensic kit, but whether you speak with them or file a criminal complaint is entirely your decision.

3. Get assistance.

   Contact any of the following for immediate assistance on campus:

   • Title IX Coordinator: 931-221-7690
     Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

   • Campus Police: 931-221-7786
     24 hours / 7 days a week

   • Boyd Health Service: 931-221-7107
     Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

   • Counseling Services: 931-221-6162
     Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

   • Associate VP of Student Engagement: 931-221-7005
     Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

   • Sexual Assault Center Crisis Support: 1-866-811-7473
     24 Hours/7 days a week

   • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 24 Hours/7 days a week

4. Decide how to proceed.

   You are not required to take any specific course of action. After an incident, you may:

   • Do nothing until you are ready. You have no obligation to act on any timeline.

   • Pursue resolution through APSU. Options can include a formal grievance process, informal resolution, and/or supportive measures outlined in APSU's Sexual Harassment Procedures. If you wish to have an incident investigated and resolved by APSU, students should contact the Title IX Coordinator. Employees should contact either Human Resources or the Title IX Coordinator. 

   • Initiate criminal proceedings through Campus Police or local law enforcement. APSU can assist you in doing so.

   • Initiate a civil process against the perpetrator.

   These options are not mutually exclusive — you may pursue whichever combination is best for you.