FAQs about Employee Reporting Obligations

Main Content

A responsible employee is any University employee

  1. who has the authority to take action to address complaints of sexual violence;
  2. who has been given the duty of reporting incidents of sexual violence or any other misconduct by students to the Title IX Coordinator or other appropriate university officials; or
  3. whom a student could reasonably believe has this authority or duty.

Responsible employees must immediately report allegations or disclosures of sexual violence/sexual misconduct involving anyone covered under the policy to the Title IX Coordinator.

All University employees – including tenure and non-tenure track faculty, specialized faculty, academic professionals, visiting academic professionals, postdoctoral research associates and fellows, all graduate student employees, academic hourly, civil service, extra-help, medical or veterinary residents – are deemed responsible employees.

The following groups of undergraduate student employees are considered responsible employees: resident advisors, student patrol officers, and teaching assistants.

Because the definition of responsible employee is so broad, you should consider yourself a responsible employee unless you qualify as a confidential resource or you are an undergraduate student employee not holding one of the positions listed above. Confidential resources, counseling or victim advocacy services, are not required to report the incidents of sexual misconduct to the police or the University. Confidential resources on campus include the Women’s Resources Center, the Counseling Center, and McKinley Health Center. For the full list please visit Resources for Students.

Before an individual reveals information that he or she wants to remain confidential, a responsible employee should make every effort to ensure that the person understands

  1. the responsible employee's obligation to report the details of the alleged incident that the reporting individual shares, including the names of the alleged offender and person who experienced the alleged sexual misconduct and the relevant facts regarding the alleged incident;
  2. the person's option to request that the University maintain confidentiality; and
  3. the person's option to provide information on a confidential basis by speaking with a confidential resource for students or confidential resources for employees.

A responsible employee must report to the Title IX Coordinator (or other appropriate designee), as soon as possible after receiving the report, all relevant details about the alleged sexual violence/misconduct that the person has shared. This includes the names and contact information of the alleged perpetrator (if known), the person who experienced the alleged sexual violence, other individuals involved in the alleged sexual violence, as well as relevant facts, including the date, time, and location. While you do have an obligation to report what is shared with you with the Title IX Coordinator, please note that you should not investigate or try and ask more questions in order to obtain additional details about the incident. Investigation and response to reports of sexual misconduct requires specific training.

Following a report or complaint of sexual misconduct, the University will:

  1. Inform the alleged victim of the option to request confidentiality and available confidential advocacy, counseling, or other support services, including confidential resources; reporting options and the applicable processes; and the importance of preserving evidence and seeking medical attention.
  2. Facilitate supportive measures, when applicable.
  3. Take immediate and appropriate steps to investigate or otherwise determine what occurred. If the University determines that sexual violence created a hostile environment, the University will take appropriate steps to address the situation. The Title IX Coordinator will also take into consideration requests for confidentiality and/or no action in the context of providing a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students.

Responsible Employees are not required to report disclosures made in connection with:

  • Public awareness events when individuals do not intend to make a disclosure such as “Take Back the Night,” candlelight vigils, protests, town hall meetings, survivor speak-outs, etc.; or
  • During an individual’s participation as a subject in an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved human subjects research protocol.
    • This exemption only applies when the employee is acting in his/her capacity as a researcher. It does not apply to instances of disclosure that occur when academic employees are speaking with individuals during office hours or in other academic roles (e.g., teachers, advisors, administrators).
    • The exemption does not apply to individuals under the age of 18 (who have permission to participate in the research) or when individuals over 18 disclose violence involving a minor as researchers are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse and/or neglect.
    • Disclosures of researcher misconduct are not exempt from reporting.

The university may provide information about available university resources, support, rights, and options at public awareness events. Institutional Review Boards may require that researchers give a resource sheet that, in addition to common inclusion of university, local, state, and national resources, also provides participants with referral information about the university Title IX Office and confidential resources.

Questions about reporting obligations can be directed to the Title IX Coordinator.

Syllabus Language Samples

Short

Sexual Misconduct Policy and Reporting

The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. Faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct to the University’s Title IX Office. In turn, an individual with the Title IX Office will provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus disciplinary process, and law enforcement options.

A list of the designated University employees who, as counselors, confidential advisors, and medical professionals, do not have this reporting responsibility and can maintain confidentiality, can be found here: wecare.illinois.edu/resources/students/#confidential.

Other information about resources and reporting is available here: wecare.illinois.edu.

Medium

Sexual Misconduct Policy and Reporting

The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. As such, you should know that faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct—which also includes dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking—to the University’s Title IX Office. What this means is that as your instructor, I am required to report any incidents of sexual misconduct that are directly reported to me, or of which I am somehow made aware. When a report is received, an individual with the Title IX Office reaches out to provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus disciplinary process, and law enforcement options.

There is an exception to this reporting requirement about which you should be aware. A list of the designated University employees who, as counselors, confidential advisors, and medical professionals, do not have this reporting responsibility and can maintain confidentiality, can be found here: wecare.illinois.edu/resources/students/#confidential.

Other information about resources and reporting is available here: wecare.illinois.edu.

Long

Sexual Misconduct Policy and Reporting

The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. As such, you should know that faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct—which can include harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking—to the University’s Title IX Office. What this means is that as your [insert role: professor/instructor/advisor/etc], I am required to report any incidents of sexual misconduct that are directly reported to me, or of which I am somehow made aware. When a report is received, an individual with the Title IX Office reaches out to provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus disciplinary process, and law enforcement options.

There is an exception to this reporting requirement about which you should be aware. A list of the designated University employees who, as counselors, confidential advisors, and medical professionals, do not have this reporting responsibility and can maintain confidentiality, can be found here: wecare.illinois.edu/resources/students/#confidential.

Other information about resources and reporting is available here: wecare.illinois.edu.

View the Animated Video Series: What You Need to Know in Less than 5 Minutes.