Responsible Employee

All employees of the university, unless deemed confidential, are considered responsible employees and are required to report actual or suspected sexual misconduct to the Title IX coordinator.

If an employee is unsure whether they are a responsible employee, they are required to contact the Title IX coordinator.

A report to the Title IX coordinator may not automatically initiate a formal investigation. Rather, the purpose of this reporting obligation is to ensure that students and employees are aware of their rights and options to address what they may have experienced, including the ability to obtain advocacy and support services and file a formal complaint.

Before a person reveals information that they may wish to keep confidential, a responsible employee should make every effort to ensure that the person understands their reporting obligation as a responsible employee and where to go if they want their information to be kept confidential.

What to Report

When reporting an incident to the Title IX coordinator, a responsible employee must report all of the information that is shared with them, such as the name of the victim-survivor, accused individual, location, and information related to the incident. If this information is not provided by the individual, please do not ask. Only report the information that is shared with you, however little that may be.  

File a Sexual Misconduct Report/Complaint

Campus Security Authority Reporting

In addition to being responsible employees, certain NIU employees are also considered Campus Security Authorities (“CSAs”). This is a designation under a different federal law known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“Clery Act”). CSAs are required to report crimes that are classified as Clery-crimes and hate crimes.

At NIU, CSAs include but are not limited to campus police, campus security, and individuals with significant responsibility for student and campus (including Student Housing)

Clery crimes include dating violence, dating violence, murder, negligent manslaughter, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, sex offenses (including sexual assault/rape, fondling, incest, statutory rape) motor vehicle theft, arson, stalking, liquor, drug, and weapons law violations.

Hate crimes are crimes committed because of the individual’s race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin and/or disability. When reporting a hate crime, the individual should note whether there is evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias against the victim.

If you are a CSA and need to report a crime that is in progress or just occurred, call 911. If a crime is being reported after the fact, call the non-emergency police number at 815-753-1212 or make a police report in person. You can also file a report online for sex offenses and all other crimes.

Mandated Reporters (Child Abuse/Neglect)

Finally, other NIU employees are also considered mandated reporters. Mandated reporters are required by state law to report any suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

To report child abuse, call the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 first. Please note your report is confidential, and your name will not be disclosed.

Learn more about being a mandated reporter.

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