Employee Reporting Obligations

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational programs or activities that receive federal funding. Sexual harassment, which includes acts of sexual misconduct, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX.

Pursuant to this law, once a school has received notice of possible sexual misconduct, it must take immediate action to eliminate the misconduct, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects. These actions are the school’s responsibility whether or not the individual who was harassed makes a complaint or otherwise asks the school to take action; reasonable steps to promptly respond are still required.

All University employees and faculty, except those designated as confidential counselors, must report incidents of sexual misconduct (including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking) to a Deputy Title IX Coordinator within 24 hours after the report has been made, or as soon as possible. Resident Assistants (RAs) and Graduate Teaching Associates (instructors of record) are also required to report any incidents of sexual misconduct they received or observed when serving in that capacity.

The University has developed guidance for faculty and staff on how to support students who might have made a disclosure of sexual misconduct. Employees may also review a brief video designed for faculty and staff that provides an overview of mandatory reporting responsibilities, how to support and report, University resources, and formal complaint options.

If you are unsure about whether you have a duty to report, contact your Deputy Title IX Coordinator for guidance.