Mandatory Reporting

Unit heads and others who serve in leadership roles in the University of Kansas are responsible for nondiscrimination in their employment and academic environments. With the exceptions specified below, all University employees at all campuses and locations are required to contact the Office of Civil RIghts & Title IX at 785-864-6414, civilrights@ku.edu, or use the online reporting form found at Office of Civil Rights & Title IX webpage to report incidents of discrimination and harassment, including sexual violence, of which they know or have reason to believe may have occurred.

For example, if a student shares information about discrimination or harassment, including sexual violence, with a faculty or staff member, the faculty or staff member must report the information, including the names of the individuals affected, if known, to the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX. The Associate Vice Chancellor of the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX may also initiate an investigation when appropriate and in the interests of the University to do so.

Exemptions from the reporting obligation outlined above are as follows:

1. Health care providers and pastoral and professional counselors who receive information about discrimination or harassment, including sexual violence, while acting in their role as a health care provider or pastoral or professional counselor.
2. The CARE Coordinator and CARE Advocate, who are employees designated to provide information about reporting options on a confidential basis.
3. The University Ombuds Office, when acting in their role as employees designated to provide confidential assistance to persons seeking information about University policies and processes.
4. Employees who receive information about discrimination or sexual harassment, including sexual violence, while engaged in legitimate research practices towards publication or dissertation where discrimination, harassment, or sexual violence is within the scope of that research or confidentiality has been assured to research participants.
5. Information obtained in the course of administering a KU approved climate study.
6. Employees who receive information about discrimination or harassment, including sexual violence, while engaged in employment or volunteer service for an outside organization or entity.  For example, employees, including student employees, who volunteer at organizations providing services to victims of domestic or sexual violence, are not required to report incidents they learn about while volunteering for those organizations.
7. Employees are not required to report their own experiences or those of their immediately family members under this policy, but are encouraged to, since the University has many resources available to assist.
8. Reporters for the University Daily Kansan, Kansas Public Radio, or other University news outlets who learn of allegations of discrimination or harassment, including sexual violence, in communications protected by the journalist privilege.
9. Attorneys working within the University Office of the General Counsel who learn of allegations of discrimination or harassment, including sexual violence, from University employees in communications protected by the attorney-client privilege.
10. Attorneys working within the Legal Services for Students who learn of allegations of discrimination or harassment, including sexual violence, in communications protected by the attorney-client privilege.

Employees who are exempt from reporting to the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX still have an obligation to exercise reasonable care to protect a foreseeable victim from danger and to make reports mandated by law. In addition, exempt employees shall encourage individuals to report discrimination or harassment, including sexual violence, to the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX or the police and should, where appropriate, provide affected individuals with information on how to report the incident to the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX. Exempt employees are still required to provide victims of sexual violence information about their rights and options. That information is available through Office of Civil Rights & Title IX, and their website.

Additionally, faculty, staff, and graduate students conducting research or climate surveys that may invite disclosure of discrimination or sexual harassment, including sexual violence, shall include a statement that such disclosure is exempt from mandatory reporting requirements.