The University’s Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct (“the Policy”, effective Oct. 1, 2021) and its related Procedures apply to concerns of sexual and gender-based misconduct involving University students, faculty, staff, and third parties are available on the U-M Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Reporting & Resources website.
Individuals with Reporting Obligations (IROs):
At the University of Michigan, Individuals with Reporting Obligations (IROs) are required to report possible Prohibited Conduct under the Policy that they are made aware of to the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office (ECRT). This is similar to what is commonly referred to as a Mandatory Reporter, and was previously referred to as a Responsible Employee.
University administrators, supervisors and employees in certain designated positions (including resident advisers and human resources staff) are considered Individuals with Reporting Obligations (IROs) and are required to share information they have received about possible sexual or gender-based misconduct with the Title IX Coordinator in the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office. When IROs share information with ECRT, the university can ensure that each person who reports sexual misconduct to an IRO gets the same information about resources and how to make a formal complaint. IROs should make their reports with this online form, including the IRO’s name and contact information.
Expectations for Field Conduct can be seen here.
The University of Michigan identifies Individuals with Reporting Obligations on pages 18-21 in the Policy, which can be found here.
The following are examples of IROs under common UMMAA scenarios:
- All faculty in the field with an undergraduate or graduate student, and graduate students under the employ of the university while they are in the field. For example: Field School GSIs, someone going out for a weekend while they are a GSI/GSRA/GSSA (Per Deputy General Counsel: Graduate students who do not currently hold a GSI position or other employment with the University of Michigan are notmandatory reporters in the field.)
- Faculty and staff, who serve as advisors to or coaches of University Sponsored Student Organizations (such as CAW advisors, Archaeology Club faculty sponsor(s) are IROs with respect to concerns they learn of in that capacity. (Note: Voluntary Student Organizations are not required to have faculty or staff sponsors, thus not subject to reporting requirements.)
Under current U-M policy, GSIs and Faculty are not automatically IROs simply by virtue of holding that position. Faculty members may be, depending on what other positions they hold.
Importantly: Some IROs must report concerns of Prohibited Conduct no matter where, when, how, or from whom they learned of them, with no exceptions; however, most IROs have a more limited scope of obligation, in that they are required to report concerns they learn of in the scope of their IRO role, subject to exceptions.
How to Report: Individuals with Reporting Obligations, or others wishing to make a report, may report to the Title IX Coordinator through any of the reporting options noted below from
Section VII(B) or by going to Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Reporting Form.
Section VII(B): Contacting the Title IX Coordinator in person, by e-mail or by phone:
Elizabeth Seney, Title IX Coordinator
(734) 763-0235 or (734) 647-1388
ecrtoffice@umich.edu
2072 Administrative Services Bldg.
1009 Greene St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Reporting online through the Sexual Misconduct website (also accessible via the OIE website): Individuals can receive help with reporting to the University from designated University staff, including but not limited to SAPAC, DOS, OSCR, HR, UMPD, or the University Ombuds.
Teacher-Learner Relationships 1 : (See here)
Faculty:
- Faculty/undergraduate relationships are prohibited
- Faculty/graduate student relationships are prohibited within the same academic program, or if the faculty member has, or can reasonably be expected to have, direct or indirect supervision or authority over the graduate student
- Faculty must make requests for exceptions to their Dean’s Office
GSIs:
- Relationships between GSIs and their students are prohibited
- If a GSI discovers that someone they’re in a relationship with will be one of their students, they must report it to their Dean’s Office
Employee-Student Relationships 2 : (See here)
- If in an Employee-Student relationship and the employee is in a position where they have influence over the student, this relationship must be disclosed
- Influence can be related to financial aid, funding, visa and educational opportunities (for full description see the link above)
- After the relationship is disclosed a Conflict Resolution plan will be developed (see link above for details on the process)
Anyone who “reasonably believes” that a prohibited relationship exists is encouraged to report it to the Instructor’s Dean’s Office, the Office of Academic Human Resources, or anonymously to the University’s Compliance Hotline (1-866-990-0111) and/or the Office for Institutional Equity.
For a directory of the staff of LS&A Human Resources see here:
Field Policies
Off-Campus sites that are associated with the University of Michigan must follow the same policies as on campus (For policies, see https://sexualmisconduct.umich.edu/policy)
● To that end, all students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty, and staff associated with the University of Michigan, as well as third parties visiting campus or otherwise participating in a University program or activity, must follow the University of Michigan’s university policies
● Concerns involving sexual and gender-based misconduct involving members of the University community will still be handled through the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE). Again, University of Michigan associated projects (no matter their location) follow university policies
● The Principal Investigator (PI) for the research project/field project/field school will be responsible for organizing and sharing information regarding University of Michigan policies, field conduct and expectations, and field policies for that specific project with all members of the project. While University of Michigan policies are required to be followed, the PI for the project may include other policies specific to that project and/or project area at his or her own discretion, so long as those policies do not contradict Universityof Michigan policies. All members of a project shall, prior to fieldwork, sign a copy of the Conduct Policy, to be kept by the PI of the project. This is representative of an agreement to abide by the behavioral rules of the project
● How to handle if a complainant and respondent are at the same site?
Supportive measures are available to all involved parties, and may not be disciplinary in nature or unreasonably burden the other party. If possible, these determinations will be made by OIE. If contacting OIE immediately is not possible and/or immediate safety is an issue, the PI may take steps to address safety and access to a University program or activity (Rackham Graduate Student Emergency Funds may be used to pay for the departure of either party for this purpose).
● In all instances, it is important to respect the privacy of the involved parties and limit the sharing of information to that which is necessary to report concerns and address immediate issues
● The University prohibits retaliation against a person for:
- Making a report or Formal Complaint of Prohibited Conduct
- Being alleged to have committed Prohibited Conduct
- Assisting or participating, or refusing to participate, in any proceeding under the Policy
● While the OIE is expected to keep records, the PI of any given project should also keep records of any conflicts, complaints, or code violations that occur on their project
● Any person who is an IRO at the University of Michigan is also obligated to report code infractions at an off-campus project, and MUST report all information they have about an incident violating university policies to the OIE
● IROs include all faculty and staff members who accompany students on University-related travel abroad or who provide direct oversight of University-related travel abroad experiences for students, including study abroad, research, fieldwork, or internship programs (https://sexualmisconduct.umich.edu/reporting-process/)
● Academic and staff supervisors are also IROs, regardless of the number of employee(s) they supervise and whether any or all of those employees are also students (https://sexualmisconduct.umich.edu/reporting-process/)
● University Policies apply to University of Michigan students, employees, and third parties. If a respondent is from another institution, the University’s ability to take appropriate corrective action will be determined by the nature of the respondent’s relationship to the University, and OIE may also contact the equivalent office at the other institution
● If an incident requires immediate or emergency action, contact: U-M Division of Public Safety and Security, +1 (734) 763-1131
● If abroad: Let the DPSS emergency responder know that you are a U-M traveler abroad. DPSS will transfer you to a U-M emergency responder (https://global.umich.edu/travel-resources/emergency-contacts/)
Click here for contact information, individuals and reporting details for the Museum and Anthropology Administration, and the University of Michigan.
