Mandatory Reporting Policy at CU Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder has policies that prohibit discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner abuse, and stalking.

Definitions: 

Conduct that deprives an individual of a benefit of employment or educational opportunity based on membership of a protected class*.

Unwanted verbal or physical behavior; conduct that interferes with an individual’s work, academic performance, or participation in university programs or activities is considered harassment.

  • Harassment of a sexual nature
  • Severe and/or repeated sexual behavior that is not welcome or asked for
  • Comments/innuendos/behaviors of a sexual nature which are inappropriate to the environment
  • Sexual assault is a form of sexual harassment
  • Intimate partner abuse and stalking are also covered in these policies
  • Anyone who has the authority to hire, promote, discipline, evaluate, grade or direct faculty, staff or students;
  • Everyone who manages or supervises others, includingbut not limited to faculty, teaching assistants, resident advisers, coaches and anyone who leads, administers, advises or directs University programs.

Race, Color, National origin, Sex, Pregnancy, Age, Political Affiliation, Disability, Creed, Religion, Sexual orientation, Gender identity, Gender expression, Political Philosophy, Veteran status

Reporting duty is part of University policy

CU-Boulder policy requires any supervisor who becomes aware of a complaint of protected class discrimination and harassment and sexual harassment (including sexual assault, intimate partner abuse, and stalking) or related retaliation, to promptly report it to the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) if the alleged perpetrator is an employee or a student.

How best to respond to a disclosure:

  • Refer the victim/complainant to the Office of Victim Assistance or the appropriate other confidential office for support and information.
  • Explain to the victim/complainant that:
    • Because the University takes these allegations very seriously you are required to contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) to report it;
    • Provide OIEC with all of the information received;
    • OIEC will contact the university police if the behavior is criminal;
    • An OIEC investigator and an OVA advocate may outreach directly to the victim/ complainant.
    • The victim/complainant may choose to talk to or not talk to these offices.
    • For more tips on how to respond click here