Guidance for Faculty and Staff on How to Support Students

In recent years we have worked together with students, faculty and staff on sexual misconduct education and prevention, support for parties impacted by sexual misconduct, and a prompt and equitable process to address complaints of sexual misconduct. As one of the first institutions in the nation to hire a full time sexual assault response coordinator in 1997, Georgetown has long been committed to preventing and responding to sexual misconduct.

The university recognizes that knowledgeable and understanding faculty and staff are critical to Georgetown’s efforts to move toward a more respectful and supportive community free from sexual misconduct. When faculty and staff know how to respond appropriately and with sensitivity to survivors of sexual assault and misconduct, it builds trust in our systems and encourages those impacted by sexual misconduct to seek the help they need. As we work to continue to engage faculty and staff around this important work, we hope you will utilize the guidance below to promote campus resources: 

Resources About Confidentiality Status 

Results of both the 2016 and 2019 Sexual Assault and Misconduct Surveys indicated a lack of awareness about who on campus is considered a confidential, semi-confidential or non-confidential resource. Georgetown has developed an online resource center for students seeking information on resources to support those who have experienced sexual assault and misconduct. This comprehensive tool provides information about the on and-off campus resources available to Georgetown students and many of these resources are completely confidential. 

In addition to the online tool, we have created digital and printed decals for faculty and staff to use to identify their confidentiality status to students. Digital decals for confidential, semi-confidential or non-confidential resources can be added to one’s email signature and posted visibly on one’s office door or within one’s office space. If you would like to request decals for display in your office/department, or you have a question about your confidentiality status, please contact Title IX Coordinator, Samantha Berner.  

In making a decision about whom to contact for support and information, it is important to understand that most university faculty and staff employees are not confidential resources, and are therefore obligated to report any information they receive about sexual misconduct to the Office of Title IX Compliance. There is 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.

Syllabus Language

In 2018, the Faculty Senate approved language that is sensitive to issues of sexual assault for faculty members to incorporate into their syllabi. As found on the CNDLS website, we encourage all faculty to include the following information in their course syllabi. 

Suggested Language for Syllabi or Department Websites (endorsed by Faculty Senate)

Georgetown University and its faculty are committed to supporting survivors and those impacted by sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, relationship violence, and stalking. Georgetown requires faculty members, unless otherwise designated as confidential, to report all disclosures of sexual misconduct to the University Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. If you disclose an incident of sexual misconduct to a professor in or outside of the classroom (with the exception of disclosures in papers), that faculty member must report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator, or Deputy Title IX Coordinator. The coordinator, will, in turn, reach out to the student to provide support, resources, and the option to meet. [Please note that the student is not required to meet with the Title IX coordinator.]. More information about reporting options and resources can be found on the Sexual Misconduct Website: https://sexualassault.georgetown.edu/resourcecenter.

If you would prefer to speak to someone confidentially, Georgetown has a number of fully confidential professional resources that can provide support and assistance. These resources include:

• Health Education Services for Sexual Assault Response and Prevention: confidential email sarp@georgetown.edu
• Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS): 202.687.6985

Ongoing Educational Opportunities for Faculty and Staff

Individuals interested in requesting a training for their department or team, please contact Title IX Coordinator, Samantha Berner. Upon request, IDEAA can also offer tailored training on topics such as implicit bias and preventing discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

For faculty and staff who are interested in learning more about key university Title IX initiatives and ongoing work, please visit https://sexualassault.georgetown.edu/title-ix-news-and-updates/.