Reporting Responsibilities

Reporting Responsibilities

Faculty and staff have requirements regarding reporting instances of interpersonal violence. Many of these requirements are part of federal law under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972.

Title IX bans sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, for any school receiving federal funds. The University indicates that compliance is everyone’s responsibility. This means that faculty and staff may be required to provide notification of a disclosure of sexual harassment or sexual assault to a Title IX Coordinator on campus.For more information about mandated reporting please visit Title IX Compliance.

Regardless of your reporting requirements, only a victim can decide if they want to participate in the criminal justice process or the judicial process on campus. There are many reasons why a victim may choose not to report the incident to authorities. These reasons may include, but are not limited to:

• Feelings of shame, guilt, and/or self-blame.

• Fear that no one will believe him/her/them.

• Fear of retaliation from the other person who abused or assaulted them.

• Reluctance to repeat personal and traumatic details to authorities.

• History of mistrust with law enforcement or other authorities.

• Reluctance to go through a formal process.

• Fear of parents finding out and/or removing them from school.

• Not wanting the person or hurt them to “get in trouble.”

A survivor’s decision not to report must be respected. Remember that when a person is assaulted or abused, their sense of control has been taken away. To regain that control, it’s important that individuals make decisions that affect their life.

In addition to requirements under Title IX, some university faculty and staff may also be required to provide information to a “Campus Security Authority” under the federal Student-Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, Public Law 101-542, as amended to the Clery Act of 1998.

If you have questions regarding the Clery Act or your role as a mandated reporter, please click here.

To submit a Sexual Misconduct Reporting Form, please click here.