Mandatory Reporting Policy at CU-Boulder

Definitions:

Discrimination

  • When an individual suffers an adverse consequence, such as failure to be hired or promoted, denial of admission to an academic program, etc., on the basis of her/his Protected Class

Harassment

  • Verbal or physical conduct that unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work or academic performance or creates an intimidating or hostile work or educational environment

Sexual Harassment

  • Harassment of a sexual nature
  • Severe and/or repeated sexual behavior that is not welcome or asked for
  • Comments/innuendos/behaviors of a sexual nature which are inappropriate to the environment
  • Sexual assault is a form of sexual harassment

Supervisor

  • Anyone who has the authority to hire, promote, discipline, evaluate, grade or direct faculty, staff or students;
  • Everyone who manages or supervises others, including  but not limited to faculty, teaching assistants, resident advisers, coaches and anyone who leads, administers, advises or directs University programs.

Reporting duty is part Colorado law, and part University policy:

  • All Colorado citizens have a legal duty to report a suspected crime to law enforcement.
  • UC-Boulder policy requires any supervisor who becomes aware of a complaint of protected class discrimination and harassment and sexual harassment (including sexual assault) or related retaliation that occurred in a University program or activity, to promptly report it to the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) if the alleged perpetrator is an employee, or to the Office of Student Conduct (OSC), formerly the Office of Judicial Affairs (OJA) if the alleged perpetrator is a student.

How best to respond to a disclosure:

  • Refer the victim/complainant to the Office of Victim Assistance or the appropriate other confidential office for support and information.
  • Explain to the victim/complainant that:
    • Because the University takes these allegations very seriously you are required to contact either OSC or ODH to report it;
    • Provide OSC or ODH with all of the information received;
    • OSC or ODH will contact the university police if the behavior is criminal;
    • These offices may contact the victim/complainant;
    • The victim/complainant may choose not to cooperate with any of these offices.
    • For more tips on how to respond click here

Confidential Resources to Assist Victim/Complainants:

For more information go to:  www.colorado.edu/policies