Navigating Reporting Requirements for Graduate Students

What are graduate student reporting responsibilities?

Graduate student employees, unless designated a confidential employee, must report to Title IX if they learn about sexual violence and/or sexual harassment involving a student (either as the complainant or respondent) during the course of their employment.

• Complainant – person alleged to have experienced prohibited contact
• Respondent – person alleged to have engaged in prohibited contact

What does “during the course of their employment” mean? 

Learning about an incident involving a student in a course where you are employed, such as when you are the TA, GSI, reader, writing tutor, or a GSR in a lab with undergraduate students.

Download an infographic of graduate student reporting responsibilities and FAQs:  

How do I let my students know I’m a mandated reporter?

Students may have different levels of comfort with formal reporting but might not know who is a mandated reporter and who is not.

If you are teaching a course as a Graduate Student Instructor or Teaching Assistant, or you are beginning to work with students in a lab, it is best practice to let students know of the different available resources to them. These resources can include Title IX, CAPS, and the confidential CARE Office.

We provide sample course language for disclosure statements to include in a syllabus or during a course overview presentation.

 When sharing resource information, you can let students know that you are required to report disclosures to Title IX. You can also share some of the benefits of creating reports, but also let students know that you are available to point students towards confidential resources (e.g., CARE) if they would prefer.

What are the benefits of creating a Title IX report?

Benefits can be…

• Having a record of report if the problem persists or escalates
• Having a record of report for persistent behaviors by the same respondent
• Having a record of report if complainant desires actions by Title IX in the future
• Receiving resource information from Title IX
• Impact of the report creates need for supportive measures in the future

How should I respond to a disclosure from a student?

1. Evaluate their safety and call 911 if there is imminent danger or medical emergency
2. Listen and offer support by asking things such as: "How can I help?", “What can I do to support you?” 
3. Avoid asking questions about the incident and instead focus on their safety and current needs.
   1. It is not your job to investigate and students may feel obligated to answer.
   2. The more information you collect, the more you are required to report.
4. Explain that you will keep this private from others but that you must report to Title IX. Let them know they can expect an email from Title IX but they will get to choose if and how to proceed.
5. Let them know that Title IX may provide safety and supportive measures without notifying the respondent.
6. Refer them to CARE for confidential advocacy and support and/or CAPS for confidential counseling, and provide them with the Resources and Options Handout
7. You can also refer them to the off-campus resource, Monarch Services at their 24-hour response line: (866) 900-4232.
8. Make the report directly to Title IX, you can also offer to make the report together

How do I make a Title IX report?

Online: titleix.ucsc.edu using the online UC reporting link

Call: (831) 459-2462

In person (except during social distancing): 105 Kerr Hall

What happens after I make a report for someone?

After a report is made to the Title IX Office, the Title IX Office will provide outreach to the student.

•  This outreach will include confidential resources and an invitation to meet.

The student is not required to respond to Title IX.

If a student chooses to respond, the Title IX office will work with the student to determine best responses. Best responses can include safety and supportive measures, alternative resolutions, or formal investigations.

• Reports are responded to from a lens of preventing sex discrimination, mitigating the impact, and preventing future recurrence.

Reporters are protected from retaliation.

I have some concerns about making a report…

 Some key things to remember about Title IX reporting are that:

• Title IX reports are kept private and respondents will not be notified without the complainant’s involvement
• Reporters to Title IX are protected from retaliation
• Complainants can choose whether to respond to Title IX or not after a report has been made
• Some benefits and options about Title IX Reporting in the above sections