Frequently Asked Questions
The following information is provided for general guidance only. To the extent that there is a conflict with any information contained in these FAQs, the relevant policy and procedures control. If you have questions that are not addressed here, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at title9@nyu.edu.
Responding and Reporting
(for Faculty and Staff)
What do I do when I observe signs of a student in distress?
Please contact NYU’s Wellness Exchange at (212) 443-9999. In the event of an emergency situation, such as a life or limb threatening situation, promptly call 911 (or the local equivalent) and then call NYU’s Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222. For more information, please see additional guidance from the Wellness Exchange. Please see also the following section on "Privacy, Confidentiality, and Emergency Situations."
If a student approaches me with information about an incident of possible sexual misconduct, harassment, relationship violence, and/or stalking, how should I respond? As a member of NYU’s faculty or staff, can I promise the student confidentiality?
Employees in a leadership or supervisory position, or who have significant responsibility for the welfare of Students or Employees (i.e. "Responsible Employees"), are required to report Prohibited Conduct to the Title IX Coordinator. Unless you have privileged confidentiality recognized by law (e.g., clergy, mental health counselor), you should not resolve doubts about whether an obligation to report applies on your own; instead, consult with the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) about the circumstances of the disclosure so that OEO can make an assessment of what, if any, action is required. Regardless of your status/responsibilities, anyone can and is encouraged to make a report, where appropriate. See the NYU's Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy for more information.
Particular laws guide all professionals and staff at NYU regarding how to approach confidentiality and privacy. However, if you are a Responsible Employee who has received or witnessed a disclosure, it can be helpful to reassure the student that, while you cannot provide confidentiality, you can guarantee privacy. Privacy generally means that information related to a report of Prohibited Conduct will be handled discretely and will be shared only with a limited circle of individuals who "need to know" in order to assist in the active review, investigation, and resolution of the report and related issues.
For more information about confidentiality and privacy, please consult NYU's Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy.
As a member of NYU’s faculty or staff, if a student approaches you with information about an incident of possible sexual misconduct, harassment, relationship violence, and/or stalking, you should be open to the student and the information they wish to share, but also inform the student of your reporting responsibilities. Additionally, you may want to offer information about the supportive services that are available to all students.
What happens if, after I inform the student that I am required to report the situation, the student does not want to tell me about the incident?
While it may be frustrating that you cannot do more in the moment, it is important to remind the student of available confidential resources (e.g., Counseling and Wellness Services, Chaplains) and non-confidential resources (e.g., yourself, Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO), Campus Safety (DCS)), and to let them know that you are open to meeting again in the future should they so choose.
If, at any time, you have any additional concerns, particularly as they relate to the wellbeing of the student, it may also be prudent to consult Wellness, DCS, and/or OEO. Please see also the following section on "Privacy, Confidentiality, and Emergency Situations."
What types of conduct must be reported to NYU’s Title IX Coordinator / Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO)?
Any observed, experienced, or known (possible) sexual misconduct or discrimination should be reported to OEO. Specifically, you should report any conduct that potentially falls within one of the following categories: Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Dating or Domestic Violence (Relationship Violence), Stalking, or Sexual Exploitation. The definitions of these terms may be found in NYU’s Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy (the Policy). OEO encourages you to report, even if you are unsure if the alleged conduct fits within the precise definitions of the Policy.
How do I report what I think might be a violation of NYU’s Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy?
Reports can be made via email (e.g., title9@nyu.edu), phone, in person (preferably by appointment), or through OEO’s secure online form. For more information, please see the Reporting Options section of our website. Please note that there is no time limit on reporting potential violations/concerns, but all are encouraged to report Prohibited Conduct as soon as possible in order to maximize the University’s ability to respond promptly and effectively.
What specific information am I required to report to the Title IX Coordinator (OEO)?
A Responsible Employee or reporter should provide all relevant details about the alleged Prohibited Conduct that they know or that has been shared with them, and that the University will need to determine what occurred and/or to respond to the situation.
This includes (but is not limited to):
- Name(s) of the individual(s) reported to have experienced Prohibited Conduct;
- Name(s) of the individual(s) who is reported to have committed Prohibited Conduct;
- Name(s) of others involved in the alleged incident(s);
- Any (other) relevant facts, including the date(s), time(s), and location(s) of alleged incident(s).
*Individuals are only expected to report the information that is known and available to them.
Privacy, Confidentiality, and Emergency Situations
What is privacy vs. confidentiality?
Privacy and confidentiality have distinct meanings under NYU’s Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy.
Privacy refers to the discretion that will be exercised by the University in the course of any investigation or disciplinary processes under this policy. Privacy generally means that information related to a report of Prohibited Conduct will be handled discreetly and will be shared with a limited circle of individuals who “need to know” in order to assist in the active review, investigation, resolution of the report, and related issues. In all such proceedings, the University will maintain the privacy of the parties to the extent reasonably possible.
Confidentiality means that information shared by an individual with designated campus or community professionals cannot be revealed to any other individual without express permission of the individual, or as otherwise permitted by law. These individuals are prohibited from breaking confidentiality unless: (i) given permission to do so by the person who disclosed the information; (ii) there is an imminent threat of harm to self or others; (iii) the conduct involves suspected abuse of a minor under the age of 18, or (iv) as otherwise required or permitted by law or court order. Laws in New York State or other relevant jurisdictions may provide additional confidentiality protections.
For more information, see NYU's Sexual Misconduct Policy.
What are NYU's confidential resources?
Confidential resources include pastoral counselors or ordained clergy, licensed mental health or medical professionals, and counselors in NYU’s Wellness Exchange and Sexual and Relationship Respect and NYU's Employee Assistance Program.
What are NYU's private reporting resources?
Everyone who is not considered a confidential resource is a private resource. This includes, but is not limited to: NYU’s Title IX Coordinator, Responsible Employees (for more information, see NYU's Sexual Misconduct Policy), Department of Campus Safety, Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, residence hall staff, faculty, and coaches.
Should I contact the OEO if I am experiencing an emergency?
No.
In the case of an emergency, please contact the NYPD at 911, Campus Safety at 212-998-2222, Wellness at 212-443-9999, or your local emergency contacts, as appropriate.
Contacting an external agency or confidential resource at NYU does not constitute a formal report to the University. When you are safe, you may contact NYU's Title IX Coordinator, Mary Signor, to submit a formal complaint or report through the other options noted above.
The Office of Equal Opportunity is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
*OEO staff are based in the NYU New York campus. Timeline for response is based on the Eastern Standard Time zone and the NYU New York university calendar.