Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment.
Reports may be made in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator, electronic form, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report. Such a report may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the reporting options available at the time of the report.
You will receive a response from the Title IX coordinator promptly upon receipt to schedule a time to meet to discuss how the Office of Title IX can support you and coordinate the provision of services. Filing this report does not automatically require or generate a Title IX grievance process.
The Title IX Coordinator will assist reporting parties in notifying law enforcement, if requested by the complainant.
The Title IX Coordinator, or designee, is responsible for coordinating the effective implementation of supportive measures and is responsible for receiving and responding to requests for disability accommodations related to supportive measures and participation in the grievance process. The Title IX Coordinator may collaborate with other appropriate offices on campus to provide necessary accommodations under this policy.
Jennifer Quinn
M.Ed., CHES, CTTS
Title IX Coordinator
508-929-8243
jquinn@worcester.edu
Student Center, C-338
Complainants may file a criminal complaint with University Police, the local police department where the incident occurred, and/or other state and federal law enforcement agencies. Complainants can make both a criminal report and a report to the University and do not have to choose one or the other. Worcester State encourages victims of crimes to report incidents to the police so that the police can take appropriate measures to help victims and prevent future crimes. In addition to the Title IX Coordinator, University Police will help in filing a report with local law enforcement, should the Complainant request assistance.
Complainants are never required to report an incident to University Police or local law enforcement. If a complainant elects not to make a criminal report, Worcester State will respect that decision; however, Worcester State may have an obligation under the Clery Act to inform University Police of an alleged crime, but will not disclose the Complainant’s name.
If a Complainant chooses to make a report to University Police, an investigation will be conducted and, if the Complainant so requests, they will receive assistance in filing criminal charges against the Respondent. University Police can also assist a Complainant in the process of obtaining protective restraining orders and abuse prevention orders for sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
University Police have specially trained officers to respond to complaints of sexual assault and dating/domestic violence. Whenever possible, University Police will make every effort to offer female Complainants/victims an opportunity to have a female officer present during all interviews.
Reports to law enforcement and/or criminal complaints do not constitute a formal complaint to the University under the Policy unless they meet the criteria specified in the Title IX Complaint and Resolution Procedures.
Worcester State University Police
508-929-8911
Wasylean Hall, WH-102
City of Worcester Police
508-799-8466
9-11 Lincoln Square, Worcester, MA 01608
Worcester District Attorney’s Office
508-755-8601
225 Main Street #G301, Worcester, MA 01608
Persons who have experienced prohibited forms of sexual harassment under this policy may share information confidentially with designated employees (Confidential Employees) who cannot reveal identifying information to any third party unless one or more of the following conditions is present:
Confidential Employees include:
One may also confidentially report sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and/or retaliation as well as other forms of sexual violence and gender-based harassment to certain confidential community resources, which are not required to share information with Worcester State University, via the list of community resources.
Counseling Services
508-929-8072
counseling_wsu@worcester.edu
Student Center, C-300
Health Services
508-929-8875
Sheehan Hall, SH-001
Pastoral Services
508-929-8017
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Worcester State Tip Line is also available for confidential reporting. It offers tipsters anonymity, allowing anyone to discreetly provide timely, critical information without letting those in their vicinity in on the communication. However, Worcester State will likely be severely limited in investigating and responding to anonymous reports of sexual harassment, sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking.
To provide anonymous information to the University Police, send a text message to 274637 containing the word “WSUPD,” followed by a space, and then your message.
Once you submit your tip:
More information can be found at Anonymous Crime Tip.
The Rave Guardian app is one of the best ways to not only improve your personal safety on the Worcester State campus, but also that of your fellow guardians within your own private safety network. This app also can put you in direct contact with University Police in an emergency.
Review the Rave Guardian app features.
Note: This app is separate from the Rave Alert software used to notify the campus community of incidents such as inclement weather closings or delays.
The health and safety of every student at Worcester State is of utmost importance. Worcester State recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time that violence occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. Worcester State strongly encourages students to report incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking for sexual assault to the institution. In addition, a bystander acting in good faith or a reporting individual acting in good faith that discloses any incident of dating violence, domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault to Worcester State officials or law enforcement will not be subject to the college code of conduct action or violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the incident.
To remove barriers to reporting and responding to sexual misconduct during the global coronavirus pandemic, Worcester State has adopted an exception related to certain violations of the Safe Return Plan/Mutual Contract of Social Responsibility. In situations involving Title IX complaints where violations of the Social Responsibility health and safety requirements also occurred, Worcester State will not pursue violations of the Contract of Social Responsibility for students reporting or responding to Title IX allegations. If Title IX reporting or responding students host or attend unauthorized gatherings in violation of health and safety policies, the Social Responsibility violation may still need to be addressed to mitigate health risks to the community therefore information will be submitted to Health Services. However, how the information was received and the specific relationship of any student to the Title IX office will not be disclosed.
The 2020 Title IX Final Rule mandates reporting requirements which allows the University the authority to designate employees as “Required Reporters.” Behavior prohibited under this Policy may also be prohibited under the Policy Against Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment, and Retaliation. In terms of reports of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or retaliation, any trustee, administrator, department chair, program coordinator, manager or supervisor who has knowledge of or receives such a report from a student or other member of the University community is obligated to report the information to the EO Officer or Title IX Coordinator as soon as the employee becomes aware of it. Likewise, any member of the campus community is encouraged to report to the EO Officer or the Title IX Coordinator any conduct of which they have direct knowledge and which they in good faith believe constitutes discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or retaliation. Any member of the University community who has a question about their reporting responsibilities should contact the Title IX Coordinator or EO Officer.
Worcester State Required Reporters:
Diversity, Inclusion, Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity
Maria Isabel Gariepy
508-929-8784
Administration Building, A-335
Human Resources (for employees)
508-929-8117
Administration Building, A-313
At any time, individuals have the right to file charges of unlawful discrimination with the appropriate government agency with or without first utilizing the Title IX Complaint Procedures. Such agencies include:
City of Worcester Police Department 9-11 Lincoln Square, Worcester, MA 01608 508-799-8600
Worcester County District Attorney’s Office 225 Main Street, #G301, Worcester, MA 01608 508-755-8601
Office for Civil Rights, Boston Office U.S. Department of Education 5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor Boston, MA 02109-3921 617-289-0111 617-289-0150 (fax) 800-872-5327 (TTY: 800-437-0833) ocr.boston@ed.gov Timeframe: Must file within 180 calendar days of alleged incident.
HOW TO FILE A REPORT
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission John F. Kennedy Federal Building, Room 475, Government Center, Boston, MA 02203-0506 617-565-3200 TTY: 617-565-3204 Timeframe: Must file within 300 calendar days of alleged incident.
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination One Ashburton Place, Room 601, Boston, MA 02108 617-727-3990 (ext. 588 for TTY) Timeframe: Must file within 300 calendar days of alleged incident.
436 Dwight Street, 2nd Floor, Room 220, Springfield, MA 01103 413-739-2145 Timeframe: Must file within 300 calendar days of alleged incident.
Additional information is available outlining what to do if you’re assaulted.
