Q: What is sexual and gender-based misconduct?
A: Sexual and gender-based misconduct can include sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual or gender-based harassment, sex and/or gender-based stalking, intimate partner violence and sex and gender-based discrimination.
Behavior that creates a hostile environment or affects someone’s employment, academic standing or participation in university programs could be considered sexual or gender-based misconduct.
Q: If I encounter this misconduct, what are my options for reporting it?
A: If/when you are ready to report an incident, you can report to confidential and nonconfidential resources. To make informed choices, all parties should be aware of confidentiality and privacy issues and Norwich University’s mandatory reporting requirements.
Q: What are Norwich University’s nonconfidential resources?
A: If you would like a response from Norwich University (i.e., for supportive measures and/or to have a resolution process initiated), you may report to a nonconfidential resource. Norwich University encourages individuals to report incidents covered under this policy so that these individuals can get support and resolution options and so the university can respond appropriately, while maintaining a safe and secure campus.
People that want to report an incident have the following options:
- The Online Reporting Form
- Directly to the Title IX coordinator. Danielle Slauzis (802) 485 2144 OR This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- To any Norwich University employee who is not a confidential resource. All employees who are not designated below as confidential are mandatory reporters for all the details for which they are aware about an incident. They share this information with the Title IX coordinator.
- To a LEAP Representative. Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Prevention Representatives are students who have been trained to take reports of sexual or gender-based misconduct. LEAP Representatives bring those reports to the Title IX coordinator.
Q: What are Norwich University’s confidential resources?
A: If you wish to keep an incident’s details confidential, you should speak with one of the confidential resources listed below; their services are free of charge.
Besides providing counseling and support, these resources can help you access supportive measures from Norwich University without needing to report. These resources work as an intermediary between you and Norwich’s Title IX coordinator, sharing information only as necessary to implement supportive measures.
Q: What are Norwich University’s confidential resources?
A: They are:
- Norwich University Counseling and Wellness Center - To make an appointment call (802) 485-2134 or drop in during regular hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, Monday through Friday. Emergency coverage: (802) 793-3093
- Norwich University Student Health Center: (802) 485-2552 OR This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- University Chaplain Rev. William S. Wick - (802) 485-2128 OR This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Q: What are the local community’s confidential resources?
A: They are:
Mosaic (formerly called the Sexual Assault Crisis Team) - 24/7 hotline: (802) 476-5577
Circle (intimate partner violence support service) - 24/7 hotline: 1 (877) 543-9498
Q: Is there a time limit to reporting?
A: No. However, the university encourages reports to be made as soon as possible as the passing of time makes responding to reports harder and makes involved parties’ memories less reliable. The Title IX Office reserves the right to investigate or otherwise address any report, regardless of when it is made, based on concern for the safety or well-being of the university community.
In some cases, if you make an initial report but decide not to participate further, the university may still need to review and investigate the information provided. Even in such cases, you do not have to participate in the university process.
Q: May I submit a report anonymously?
A: Yes. You can using the online reporting form to make a report to the Title IX Office without disclosing your name. If you wish to remain anonymous, do not fill out the form with your information. The Title IX Office will still receive the form. Please understand that with an anonymous submission, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness’ ability to follow up may be limited.
Q: What happens after I submit a report?
A: The Title IX Office responds to every report brought to its attention. Once a report is made, Title IX Office staff will reach out to the affected party to offer resources, support and information about possible next steps, including how to file a formal complaint.
If you are reporting on your own behalf, Title IX staff will contact you via your Norwich University-provided email account. If you are reporting on someone else’s behalf (i.e., you did not experience the misconduct), then Title IX staff wil reach out to the alleged victim. Title IX staff typically does not reach out to third-party reporters unless more information is needed.
When you speak with a Title IX Office staff member, we will:
- Keep your information as private as possible, within policy and process,
- Work with you to evaluate your care and support needs,
- Discuss your options under university policy, and
- Empower you to obtain the care and support you need.
Coming to Title IX Office does not obligate you to initiate a university investigation by filing a formal university complaint or report the incident to law enforcement unless you choose to do so.
The decision to file a formal complaint or report to law enforcement is yours to make.
Q: I’m not sure I want to participate in an investigation. Can I still get support?
A: Yes. It is not necessary to file a formal complaint, participate in adjudication or file a criminal complaint to request supportive services from the university.
Both complainants and respondents may request supportive measures from the Title IX coordinator; these supportive services are nondisciplinary, nonpunitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as available, without charge.
These services may include but are not limited to:
- No-contact orders restricting encounters and communications between the parties
- Academic accommodations, including but not limited to deadline extensions, excused absences, incompletes, course changes or late drops, or other arrangements as appropriate
- Residential accommodations, including but not limited to arranging for new housing or providing temporary housing options, as appropriate
- Changing transportation, working arrangements, or providing other employment accommodations, as appropriate
- Help accessing support services, including, as available, victim advocacy, academic support, counseling, disability, health or mental health services, visa and immigration assistance, student financial aid services, and legal assistance both on and off campus, as applicable
- Informing the individual of rights to report a crime to local law enforcement and/or seek protection orders, restraining orders or relief from abuse orders from U.S. courts or courts outside of the United States as applicable, and providing assistance if the individual wishes to do so.
- Norwich University will also work with complainants and others, as appropriate, to respect and implement the requirements of such orders on premises that it owns or controls, as necessary and appropriate.
Q: Can I request that the Title IX Office not share or act on information I provide?
A: If a complainant requests to remain confidential, the university will seriously consider that request. Only in rare circumstances will the university proceed to a sexual or gender-based misconduct investigation against the wishes of the complainant.
Generally, the university will seek to honor the request of the complainant not to proceed to a Title IX investigation and to remain confidential and will not proceed to a formal investigation without the consent of the complainant.
The Title IX coordinator will consider several factors in deciding whether the request can be honored, including the complainant’s age, whether there is evidence of a pattern of misconduct, the misconduct’s severity and whether there is a safety risk to the complainant or the Norwich University community.
Should the university, in weighing such factors, determine it must investigate, it will explain its rationale to the complainant. The complainant will not be required to participate in the process as a prerequisite to the university proceeding.
Q: I am a mandatory reporter. How do I report?
A: Student Reporting Guide | Employee Reporting Guide
To learn more about support services available, resolution and reporting options and risk-reduction strategies, please contact the Title IX coordinator.
You may also find more on these topics here in the Campus Policies, Procedures, and Services resource guide.
Translated Versions of the resource guide are available below:
