The University of Texas Updates Its Sexual Misconduct Policy

In recognition of technological and legal changes, as well as student feedback, the University of Texas at Austin has updated its sexual misconduct policy. These changes were made in response to the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI), the FBI’s updated sex crime definitions, and student input concerning dispute resolution agreements. These changes go into effect starting with the 2026-2027 academic year.

Whether you’ve been accused of sexual wrongdoing at the University of Texas at Austin or another school, the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team can help defend against sexual misconduct charges. You need to act quickly, as there may be important deadlines that could make all the difference in your case. Set up a consultation by calling 888-535-3686 or using our online contact form.

AI and Sexual Exploitation at the University of Texas

Using technology to create fake sexual images that depict real people isn’t new. But AI has made it easier to do and the final product more realistic. Because of these technological advancements, UT Austin changed its sexual misconduct policy to explicitly include AI-generated sexual images as a type of sexual misconduct.

It’s important to note that before this change, students who sexually harassed others with AI-generated sexual images could still get into trouble under the older sexual exploitation policy provisions.

The FBI’s New Definition for “Fondling”

In 2025, the FBI updated its definition for the crime of fondling. The University of Texas at Austin’s sexual misconduct policy was updated to reflect this change. Now, the definition of fondling is explicitly worded to include the unwanted touching of private body parts whether the victim is “clothed or unclothed.”

Dispute Resolution Agreement Violations

Dispute resolution agreements are commonly used by University of Texas students to resolve sexual harassment complaints. These potentially offer a faster, more private way for all parties involved to address the allegations and move on with their lives.

Yet problems arose from the difficulty of enforcing some of the terms of these agreements. The new sexual misconduct policy now includes punishments for students who violate the terms of their dispute resolution agreements.

How These Changes Will Affect University of Texas Students

The addition of AI-generated sexual content as a form of sexual exploitation and the revised definition of fondling won’t have a significant impact on current students. The types of behaviors addressed by these changes were already prohibited and prosecutable under the old rules.

The biggest change will come for students who enter into dispute resolution agreements. The terms will now be easier to enforce as the potential punishments for violations have now been codified in the revised policy.

Protect Against Sexual Misconduct Accusations at UT Austin

Being accused of sexual wrongdoing at school is one of the quickest ways to risk your academic progress and potentially derail your professional career before it gets started. However, just because you’re accused doesn’t mean you’re guilty.

You have rights, but you need to be proactive about taking advantage of them. To learn more about defending yourself against allegations of sexual wrongdoing, contact the Student Defense Team of the LLF National Law Firm. You can schedule a consultation today by calling 888-535-3686 or using our online contact form.