Reporting

Policy and Procedure

All college employees (faculty, staff and administrators) are expected to immediately report actual or suspected discrimination or harassment to appropriate officials, although there are some limited exceptions. In order to make informed choices, it is important to be aware of confidentiality and mandatory reporting requirements when consulting campus resources. On campus, some resources may maintain confidentiality – meaning they are not required to report actual or suspected discrimination or harassment to appropriate college officials – and can therefore offer options and advice without any obligation to inform an outside agency or individual unless a reporting party has requested the information to be shared. Other resources exist for a party to report crimes and policy violations and these resources will take action when an incident is reported to them. The following describes the two reporting options at the college:

Confidential Reporting

No college employee can guarantee confidentiality. If a reporting party would like the details of an incident to be kept confidential, the reporting party may speak with off-campus local rape crisis counselors, domestic violence resources, local or state assistance agencies, members of the clergy/chaplains who will maintain confidentiality except in extreme cases of immediate threat or danger or abuse of a minor. The Employee/Student Assistance Program is available to help free of charge and can be seen on an emergency basis during normal business hours.

Formal Reporting Options

All college employees have a duty to report incidents of sexual misconduct as defined in the sexual misconduct policy and procedure, unless they fall under the “Confidential Reporting” section above. Reporting parties may want to consider carefully whether they share personally identifiable details with non-confidential employees, as those details must be shared by the employee with the Title IX coordinator and/or deputy coordinators. Employees must share all details of the reports they receive. Generally, climate surveys, classroom writing assignments, human subjects research, or prevention and awareness programs do not provide notice that must be reported to the coordinator by employees. Remedial actions may result without formal college action.

If a reporting party does not wish for their name to be shared, does not wish for an investigation to take place, or does not want a formal resolution to be pursued, the reporting party may make such a request to the Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinators, who will evaluate that request in light of the duty to ensure the safety of the campus and comply with federal law. In cases indicating pattern, predation, threat, weapons and/or violence, the college will likely be unable to honor a request for confidentiality. In cases where the reporting party requests confidentiality and the circumstances allow the college to honor that request, the college will offer interim supports and remedies to the reporting party and the community, but will not otherwise pursue formal action. A reporting party has the right and can expect