Reporting Options
Options for reporting Title IX violations include filing an anonymous report with the college, and/or with law enforcement.
Filing a Report with the College
The state colleges have a responsibility to respond to reports of sexual violence or sex harassment and attend to the needs of the students who are involved. Reports of sexual violence and sex harassment are taken with the utmost seriousness, and the student will be promptly referred to the appropriate persons or resources for assistance. The colleges are also responsible to ensure that the individual charged with committing such violence or harassment is treated fairly. Individuals are presumed innocent unless proven responsible and will also be referred to appropriate services for assistance.
The individuals noted below are trained in responding to sexual violence reports and prepared to work with you to make sure you understand the process and resources available to you. The Title IX coordinator or other appropriate administrator will work with you to determine what, if any, accommodations such as a no-contact order, change of housing assignment, or classroom accommodation are needed in order to provide a safe environment on campus for you as the college responds to your report.
Reports can be filed by the alleged victim or a third party who is aware of allegations of sexual violence or sex harassment, including other students or college employees. Reports should be filed with one of the designated college administrators and/or employees responsible for student services, as follows:
- President
- Vice presidents
- Deans (of academic programs and of students)
- College Title IX coordinator and designees
- Residence Life staff, including directors, managers, assistant directors, community coordinators, senior residence hall advisors, residence hall advisors
- Coaches and assistant coaches
- Campus Security
Reports to the above designated administrators or employees will constitute “notice” to the college for the purposes of considering an investigation and institutional response in conjunction with the Title IX coordinator.
College employees (even medical or mental health professionals identified below) are required by law to report any allegations of sexual abuse or assault of a minor to either law enforcement or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Filing Anonymously
The college offers an anonymous reporting site for violations of Wayne State College Title IX policy including sexual assault, rape, stalking, relationship violence, and sexual harassment. If a potential Title IX violation has been reported, this report will be sent to the Title IX coordinator for investigation and follow-up. Please note, by filing an anonymous report, limitations in information provided may prevent the college from completing a thorough investigation.
Filing a Report with Law Enforcement
Reporting conduct to the college and reporting to law enforcement are separate processes. While the college encourages individuals to file a report with the local police department in the event of sexual violence or sex harassment, a student can choose to report the conduct only to the college, or only to law enforcement, or to both the college and law enforcement.
Students are advised that physical evidence can be collected at the same time as medical care is provided, but that medical evidence for a criminal prosecution cannot be collected without a report being made to local law enforcement. It is important that you make an informed decision regarding important physical evidence that can be preserved.
While students are not required to notify law enforcement authorities regarding a report of sexual violence or sex harassment, reports still need to be filed with Campus Security to inform them that an act of violence may have occurred. Campus Security shall notify the Title IX coordinator, who is responsible for coordinating the college response to the reports of sexual violence and sex harassment. Pursuant to federal law, the college has a legal responsibility for documenting and reporting an incidence of sexual violence and sex harassment.
Regardless of whether or not the law enforcement authorities choose to prosecute a reported offense, the college can pursue formal disciplinary action against a student or employee alleged to have committed sexual violence or sex harassment.
