Mandatory Reporters

Mandatory Reporters must report potential incidents of harassment, discrimination, sexual misconduct and related retaliation. All employees (including undergraduate, graduate, faculty, staff, post-docs, lecturers, affiliates, and more) at the University of Kansas, with few exceptions, are mandatory reporters and are required to report incidents of which they know, or have reason to believe, may have occurred.

Policy on Mandatory Reporting

Limited examples of incidents to report:

  • A student shares information about discrimination or harassment, including sexual violence, with a faculty or staff member.
  • A graduate student submits a journal entry disclosing an experience of childhood sexual violence/abuse. 
  • A staff member is experiencing distress due to unwanted comments pertaining to a protected class (race, national origin, veteran status, age, religion, sexual orientation, etc.). 

OCRTIX serves anywhere the educational opportunity extends. Examples of locations to make reports for include: 

  • On-campus.
  • Study abroad trips.
  • Professional conference attendance sponsored by KU. 
  • Athletic events. 
  • More. 

Exemptions from the mandatory reporting obligation outlined above are: 

  • Health care providers and pastoral and professional counselors while acting in their official capacity. 
  • CARE Services, who have staff designated to provide information about reporting options on a confidential basis. 
  • The University Ombuds and Faculty Ombuds. 
  • Faculty or Graduate Students who receive information about discrimination or sexual harassment, including sexual violence, while engaged in legitimate research practices towards publication or dissertation. 
  • Information obtained in the course of administering a KU approved climate study. 

Employees who are exempt from reporting to the OCRTIX still have an obligation to exercise reasonable care to protect a foreseeable victim from danger and to make reports mandated by law. In addition, employees who are exempt from reporting requirements shall encourage individuals to report discrimination or harassment, including sexual violence, to the OCRTIX and other appropriate authorities. 

Please see the Mandatory Reporting policy for more information.  

Personal Incidents

Although you may be a mandatory reporter, you are not required to report your own incidents.

If you have experienced sexual misconduct and/or sexual violence, we recommend that you consider the following steps: 

  • File an incident report with the OCRTIX 

  • Seek medical attention 

  • Talk to a mandatory reporter, i.e., a KU faculty or staff member 

  • Contact an advocate 

  • Talk to someone exempt from the mandatory reporting policy* 

  • File a criminal complaint 

  • Seek additional resources and support 

 

*The following positions are not mandatory reporters and can keep your information confidential: 

Submit a Report

Resources for Mandatory Reporters

Grid of protected classes

Mandatory Reporting Help Guide

Need a visual reminder on what to report? Here's one!
Mandatory Reporting Help Guide
Trauma informed tips

Trauma Informed Tips

It's our job as Mandatory Reporters to remove barriers for people to tell us hard things. Here are some ways to help!
Trauma Informed Tips
What's Next

What Happens Next?

Do you know you have to make a report? Give this to people so they know what to expect!
What Happens Next?
Referral Language

Providing a Referral

Are you a Confidential Employee? If you receive information that a Mandatory Reporter would have to act on, provide the persona with this information.
Referral to OCRTIX