Faculty & Staff Resources

As a faculty or staff member, you frequently encounter students who are under stress or going through a difficult time. Because students look up to you as mentors and trust your opinions and guidance, you can serve as a reliable source of information.

First and foremost, it is important for you to know and to share with students that you are not a confidential resource. In no event should the student be told that your conversation will be confidential. Inform the student that any information that is disclosed to you must be reported to the Title IX Office.

Faculty and staff are not expected to act as counselors. However, the following information can help you provide appropriate assistance to students who contact you.

Am I a mandatory reporter?

Any nonconfidential employee with responsibility for administrative leadership, teaching, or advising is a mandated reporter.

What is the purpose of a mandatory reporter?

Through your knowledge and application of University policy and state laws, you play an important role in:

  • Protecting students, faculty and staff from incidents of sexual misconduct.
  • Supporting sexual assault survivors.
  • Helping the University maintain a safe environment by striving to eliminate, prevent, and address discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual misconduct

What are my obligations as a mandatory reporter?

The main responsibility of mandatory reporters is to report any Title IX violations to the University as soon as possible. You are required to report incidents you personally observe as well as incidents reported to you. You must report these offenses to the designated office on campus.

Upon receipt of the report, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out to the Complainant to offer support, accommodations, and to inform them of their options.

All employees designated as Campus Security Authority under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) must also report potential crimes including those involving sexual misconduct to the University Police Department.

Confidential Resources are exempt from reporting requirements.

What do I say?

Sexual misconduct can be a difficult topic to discuss, particularly given your reporting responsibilities. 

“The University takes sexual misconduct, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and all forms of sex discrimination seriously and is very concerned if this happens to someone in our community. I am a mandatory reporter of the University and have an obligation to inform the Title IX Coordinator about an incident like this. There are campus resources that can provide confidential support and discuss options with you (or an alleged victim). Let me provide you with that information."

Share the contact information of the Title IX Office.

visitCollins Building, Room 201

call (910) 672-2325

email titleix@uncfsu.edu

Immediately file a report using the Title IX Reporting Intake Form and provide all the information you have regarding the alleged act.  

Key points to remember
  • Report all allegations disclosed to you, whether or not they occur on campus
  • Do not promise confidentiality. You are not able to keep information confidential, and you should never promise confidentiality. Instead, offer privacy and discretion
  • Do no tell the individual that because they asked you not to tell anyone or report the incident to the institution, you will not. Remember if you are a mandatory reporter, you are required by law and University policy to report the incident to Title IX.
  • Do not attempt to investigate or mediate the situation between the involved parties.
  • Report the information that is disclosed to you.
  • Do not judge or use judgmental language when taking the report.
  • Do not confront the alleged Respondent.
  • If you are unsure of what to report, contact the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@uncfsu.edu
  • Complete all applicable University training on reporting requirements and support resources.
  • File a report 

What is a reportable offense under Title IX?

As a Title IX mandatory reporter, you must report any instance of discrimination or unfair treatment on the basis of sex or sexual harassment. Reportable offenses under Title IX are:

  • Sex-Based Discrimination
  • Sex-Based Harassment
    • Quid Pro Quo
    • Hostile Environment Harassment
  • Sexual Misconduct
    • Fondling
    • Rape
    • Incest
    • Statutory Rape
  • Dating Violence
  • Domestic Violence
  • Stalking

Serving as an advisor

Fayetteville State University recognizes that participating in the Title IX process may be a challenging experience.  A Complainant and Respondent are each encouraged to have an advisor to support and accompany them through all phases of the investigation and campus conduct proceedings.

The role of an Advisor during the Complaint Resolution Process is to assist individuals with navigating and understanding the process and provide support during meetings and interviews. The advisor is also responsible for conducting cross-examination on behalf of an individual during the live hearing component of the complaint resolution process. 

The complainant or respondent may request to confer privately with their advisor during pre‑hearing meetings and interviews. Advisors may also seek clarification regarding the investigation process and ask procedural or process questions. Advisors may also alert the Title IX Investigator or Coordinator to acts of retaliation.

In Summary, an Advisor may:         

  • Assist a complainant or respondent in understanding and navigating the investigation process
  • Accompany a complainant or respondent to any administrative meeting or conversation related to an investigation, including interviews and pre-hearing meetings
  • Seek clarification regarding the investigation process
  • Ask procedural or process questions
  • Provide support to the complainant or respondent throughout the process
  • Alert the Title IX Investigator or Coordinator to acts of retaliation
  • Attend the decision hearing
  • Ask questions of the other party or witnesses on behalf of the complainant or respondent
  • Confer privately with the complainant or respondent upon request

An Advisor May not:

  • Speak or act on behalf of a complainant or respondent, including answering questions for or on behalf of a complainant or respondent
  • Stand in for or represent a complainant or respondent
  • Distribute information shared or learned throughout the investigation process with anyone other than the complainant or respondent for whom they serve as an advisor, the Title IX Investigator or the Coordinator
  • Act as or represent themselves or another as an investigator for the Title IX process during the investigation
  • Contact a witness or other party participating in the investigation process,
  • Impede the investigation process or act in a manner that obstructs the investigator or disrupts the investigation process

Who can be an Advisor?

Advisors may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Faculty or staff member
  • A parent or family member
  • Another student
  • Legal counsel

Note: Advisors who act outside of their role or who impede, obstruct, disseminate information to third party individuals or organizations or who represent themselves to others who are engaged in our process as having any other role than an advisor in our process may be excluded from investigation proceedings.

Training video: Title IX Advisor Training