How to Handle Mandatory Reporting

As a staff or faculty member of the CU community, you play many different roles.聽Sometimes, however, those roles can come into conflict.聽For instance, because you are a visible and trusted person in the community students are likely to come to you for advice, assistance or support.聽However, if a student discloses that they have been the victim of a crime, you may have a duty to report.聽Below you will find information on the CU mandatory reporting policy, who is a mandatory reporter, and some basic tips and information on how to handle mandatory reporting situations in a trauma informed way.聽If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Victim Assistance聽or the聽.

Learn about the CU Boulder mandatory reporting policy.

It is the policy of the 麻豆视频, that all "responsible employees"聽who become aware of protected class discrimination and harassment, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct (including sexual assault, intimate partner abuse, and stalking) or related retaliation, to promptly report it to the聽. 聽Staff in offices that hold legal confidentiality privileges (such as Office of Victim Assistance) are exempted from this reporting policy.

Any employee who: (1) has the authority to hire, promote, discipline, evaluate, grade, formally advise or direct faculty, staff or students; (2) has the authority to take action to redress discrimination or harassment; and/or (3) has been given the duty of reporting incidents of discrimination or harassment to the OIEC. This definition does not include any medical, mental health, counseling or Ombuds Office personnel, in addition to any other offices covered by a statutory privilege or designated in campus procedures as not subject to mandatory reporting to the university.

  1. Support First:听If a student discloses something you believe may be a crime, offer support first.聽Let the student know that you are there to help them.聽聽Acknowledge the experience and inform them of resources they can access for support.聽Please click here for tips on providing support.
  2. Explain your obligation to report:聽Explain to the student that while you recognize they are dealing with a difficult situation, you have an obligation to report the information the Office on Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC). Inform them that they may be contacted by an OIEC investigator and it is their choice if they would like to talk to them or not. In addition please let them know that they may receive outreach from OVA, which is a separate office from OIEC. It is important to highlight that OVA is confidential.

The idea of this situation being shared with others may be upsetting or unexpected to some. Some may fear that the situation will get out of control or that other people will find out. Assure the student that:

  1. They won鈥檛 lose all control: The student can choose who they do and do not want to meet or talk with. Just because a report has been made the student still has a choice on if they want to engage in the process.
  2. They can choose to have accompaniment when meeting with OIEC or police: Victim Advocates who are experienced with legal, judicial and medical systems can be called to accompany victims and victim-witnesses in all meetings.
  3. Tell them you will not be telling everyone what they have disclosed: Let the student know that you will not disclose their information to anyone who does not need to know (such as friends, other classmates, RA鈥檚 etc.)
  4. There are confidential resources to help: Provide the student with information for the confidential offices on campus.聽Please click here on more information on how to connect a student with the Office of Victim Assistance.

If you suspect that a student might be getting ready to tell you that they have been the victim of a crime you might consider doing the following:

  1. Say to the student: 鈥淚 think I know where you are going with this.While I absolutely want to support and listen to you, I need to let you know that I may not be able to keep your information confidential. If this is something that you don鈥檛 want anyone else to know about we can call somebody right now who is confidential.鈥� Make sure you let the student know that you want them to be heard!
  2. If the student agrees you can contact the Office of Victim Assistance and聽an advocate can meet with the student in our offices聽or come to you.

If a student feels they cannot wait to talk to a confidential staff person you might consider doing the following:

  1. Ask the student to talk generally to you about the situation and encourage them to not give the names of the people involved. You will still be required to report but the person will maintain a greater level of control over the situation.
  2. Encourage the student to make contact with a confidential office for support and resources.