Â鶹´«Ã½

We are committed to the safety and wellness of the members of our community. If you need emergency assistance, please contact your local police or hospital. 

Individuals are encouraged to promptly report conduct that may violate this policy to the University. In addition, individuals are encouraged to report conduct that may also violate criminal law to both the University and to local law enforcement. These processes are not mutually exclusive.

Any University Â鶹´«Ã½, employee or third party who seeks to make a complaint or report may do one or more of the following.

• Report an incident using the online form

• Contact the Title IX Coordinator in
  Institutional Equity
  1903 West Michigan Avenue
  Kalamazoo MI 49008-5405
  Location: 1220 Trimpe Building
  (269) 387-6316
• Contact the for assistance in filing a criminal complaint and preserving physical evidence.
  
  WMU Department of Public Safety
  511 Monroe Street
  Kalamazoo MI 49006-5418
  (269) 387-5555
• Contact local law enforcement to file a criminal complaint.
  
  
  
  

When making a complaint

• Complainants may pursue some or all of these steps at the same time.
• Complainants need not know whether they wish to request any particular course of action, nor how to label what happened.
• Complainants and other reporting persons are encouraged to seek support and information from a confidential resource.

Additional considerations

Anonymous reporting

Any individual may make an anonymous report concerning an act of sexual and gender-based harassment and violence, intimate partner violence or stalking. An individual may report the incident without disclosing his/her name, identifying the parties involved or requesting any action. Depending on the extent of information available about the incident or the individuals involved, however, the University's ability to respond to an anonymous report may be limited.

The Title IX Coordinator will receive the anonymous report and determine any appropriate steps in light of the available information. Depending on the level of information available about the incident or the individuals involved, anonymous reporting may impact the University’s ability to respond or take further action. Where there is sufficient information, the University will ensure that anonymous reports are reviewed and included for compliance with the Clery Act.

Anonymous reports may be made or by phone at (269) 387-6316.

Amnesty for alcohol or other drug use

To encourage reporting, an individual who in good faith reports conduct prohibited by this policy, either as a complainant or a witness, will not be subject to disciplinary action by the University for his/her own personal consumption of alcohol or drugs at or near the time of the incident, provided that any such violations did not and do not place the health or safety of any other person at risk. The University may, however, initiate an educational discussion or pursue other educational remedies regarding alcohol or other drugs.

Reports involving minors or suspected child abuse

Under Michigan law, certain school administrators, school counselors and school teachers are required to file a report of suspected child abuse when they have reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect. See the University's Minors on Campus website for applicable policies on this topic and more details.

After a complaint is filed

You will be contacted privately through your WMU email account to discuss your complaint. As part of its Assessment, the University may provide Supportive Measures based on information gathered from a Report or investigation. The Title IX Coordinator, or designee, has the discretion to implement these measures as appropriate.

Supportive Measures are designed to protect the Parties involved. They are not sanctions. Supportive Measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive measures available to either Party regardless of whether the Complainant chooses to pursue an investigation.

Supportive Measures may include:

• Changing residence building;
• Public Safety escort on campus;
• Changing class schedule, including the ability to take an "incomplete", drop a course without penalty, or transfer sections (with the agreement of the appropriate faculty);
• Changing work schedule or job assignment;
• Referral to academic support services, such as tutoring;
• Instituting a no contact order; or
• Any other remedy that can be tailored to the individuals involved in order to achieve the goals of this Policy.

Supportive Measures will be kept private to the extent that maintaining that privacy does not impair the ability of the University to provide those measures.

The remaining steps are outlined in the Grievance Process.