Mandated Reporting Responsibilities

All University of Northern Iowa employees, including faculty, staff and student employees, are required to report allegations or discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct to the Title IX Officer or Title IX Deputy Coordinator.

Only employees with a professional duty of confidentiality, such as health service providers, counselors and athletic trainers, are not obligated to report information they receive during confidential conversations. If you have any questions about your duty to report, please contact the Title IX Officer.

For more information and definitions of the incidents that require reporting, please refer to Policy 13.02 Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Misconduct.

Title IX Officer

Leah Gutknecht
319-273-2846
leah.gutknecht@uni.edu

Title IX Deputy Coordinator

Kaylee Michelson
319-273-2846
kaylee.michelson@uni.edu

What to Know as a Mandated Reporter

What is required of a mandated reporter?

Promptly Report

Mandated reporters must promptly report allegations or disclosures of sexual misconduct involving a student to the Title IX Officer. As a mandated reporter, you have a duty to report in detail all incidents of sexual violence, sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct to the Title IX Officer. It is understood students may reasonably trust you have the authority or duty to receive and report their concerns. Employees must also promptly share all details of behaviors under this policy that they observe or have knowledge of, even if not reported to them by a complainant or third-party.

Key Reminders

Title IX mandated reporters should not conduct any investigation on their own but instead promptly report the matter to the Title IX Officer or Deputy Coordinator.
If a mandated reporter believes an individual may be about to report an alleged act of sexual misconduct (including sexual harassment), or an individual already has done so, the mandated reporter should take immediate steps to advise the individual that the university will maintain the privacy of the information, but the mandated reporter cannot maintain complete confidentiality and is required to report the alleged conduct to the Title IX Officer and to communicate the names of the parties involved, if provided.
If the individual wishes to reveal information, or already has done so, but would like to remain anonymous, the mandated reporter should inform the individual that their name will be shared with the Title IX Officer but that it will not automatically initiate a university investigation without consultation with the individual. Supportive measure may be offered as the result of such disclosures without formal university action.
If the individual wishes not to reveal any information, the mandated reporter should offer to refer or accompany the student to a confidential reporting resource, such as a counselor, victim services advocate or health services provider.
If a mandated reporter has concerns on how to handle a particular situation or make a report, the Title IX Officer or Deputy Coordinator are available to provide guidance.
Failure of a mandated reporter to report an incident of discrimination, harassment or sexual misconduct or of which they become aware is a violation of university policy and can be subject to disciplinary action.
A mandated reporter who is themselves a target of harassment or other misconduct is not required to report their own experience, though they are encouraged to do so.

How do I inform someone that I am a mandated reporter?

Immediately Inform Them of Your Reporting Responsibility

If an individual begins to disclose to you an incident of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct you should immediately inform them of your reporting responsibility, and inform them of their right to first seek confidential resources if they wish to keep the information confidential.

Confidential Resources

Confidential resources include victim services advocates, counselors, health service providers, domestic violence resources, or members of the clergy who are permitted by law to maintain confidentiality (except in extreme cases of immediacy of threat or danger or abuse of a minor).

Reporting to the Title IX Officer

You should also encourage them to consider reporting the incident to the Title IX Officer for assistance. The Title IX Officer can help with a complainant’s wish for anonymity.

Are employees protected from discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct by UNI policy?

13.02 Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Misconduct Policy, Title IX, Title VII and Related Policies

UNI policy 13.02 Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Misconduct prohibits discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct against employees as well as students. Employees and students are also protected from sexual misconduct and sexual harassment by Title IX and discrimination on the basis of any protected class under Title VII and related university policies.

‌Additional UNI Policies & Procedures