The University of Rochester prohibits sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking.
Prevention
The University of Rochester provides opportunities for all incoming and existing students and all new and existing employees to participate in prevention and awareness training programs regarding domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Training programs include information regarding the University’s prohibition of domestic/dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, the definitions of these terms as well as information regarding bystander intervention skills and warning signs of abusive behavior. Mandatory trainings covering Title IX topics are required for all student, faculty, and staff during onboarding processes, including New Student Orientation. Additionally, the team at the Title IX Office, student leaders, and other community members lead interactive outreach efforts throughout the year to help educate the University community on prevention, creating consent culture, being a BADASS bystander, how to support friends, understanding the University of Rochester’s Policies on sexual misconduct and Title IX, and related topics.
The University regularly invites partners from organizations with expertise on these topics to lead educational programming. Programs have included Take Back the Night, workshops, film screenings, The Clothesline Project, Walk a Mile, It’s On Us National Pledge Day, Medallion Leadership Program classes, and information tables.
Required Online Training for Students and Employees
New Students
The University of Rochester is committed to fostering a culture of prevention and awareness around sexual misconduct and gender equity. We have partnered with Get Inclusive to provide online training that is required for all first-year undergraduate, graduate, and transfer students at the University that covers Title IX and other topics. These training sessions, in addition to being highly interactive and engaging, are based on research around the best practices for healthy communities. This training is issued each fall and spring semester to all new students.
Student-Athletes and Student Leaders
In compliance with the New York State Education Law Article 129-B, all University of Rochester Student Athletes, Student Leaders and officers of student organizations are required to complete training on domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault prevention, which is administered online from a company called Get Inclusive, each academic calendar year.
All University Employees
In compliance with New York State Labor Law, all employees of the University are required to take Harassment Prevention Training and Title IX Training via MyPath issued by Human Resources. The course provides interactive scenarios and examples of harassment and discrimination and it encourages all of us to be active in ending these harmful behaviors. This course also includes reminders of existing laws and University policies and systems that address these complex issues. This is an annual training for all employees.
Bystander Intervention and Risk Reduction
Everyone has a role to play in preventing harm or violence and there are many different ways you can step up to make a difference as a bystander.
Create a Distraction
Distracting is a subtle and innovative way of intervening. The purpose of distraction is to interrupt the incident, safely, by communicating with the individual at risk and giving them an opportunity to safely exit the potentially dangerous situation. Try creating a distraction as early as possible.
This technique can be used to de-escalate the situation and re-direct the attention of the aggressor or the individual at risk to something else. For example, creating a conversation with the individual at risk is helpful. At this moment, make sure not to leave them alone. This technique can be used to dilute the tension before it escalates to further danger.
Other ideas include:
- Cut off the conversation with a diversion like, “Let’s get pizza, I’m starving,” or “This party is boring. Let’s try somewhere else.”
- Bring out fresh food or drinks and offer them to everyone at the party, including the people you are concerned about.
- Start an activity that draws other people in, like a game, a debate, or a dance party.
Ask Directly
Asking directly to the individual at risk can help you determine if an action needs to be taken immediately to ensure a safe environment. You can address the individual at risk directly. You can ask the following, “Do you need help?” or “Would you like me to stay with you?” or “Would you like to get out of here and go somewhere safe?”
Make sure to ask the question when the perpetrator is not listening or nearby in order to de-escalate the situation from turning into a crisis. Asking them if they need any support or assistance at the moment can help you determine if an authority needs to be contacted. If the answer is yes, proceed to contact a safe emergency personnel.
Rally Others
It can be intimidating to approach a situation alone. If you need to, enlist another person to support you:
- Ask someone to come with you to approach the person at risk. When it comes to expressing concern, sometimes there is power in numbers.
- Ask someone to intervene in your place. For example, you could ask someone who knows the person at risk to escort them to the bathroom.
- Enlist the friend of the person you’re concerned about. “Your friend looks like they’ve had a lot to drink. Can you check on them?”
Sometimes the safest way to intervene is to enlist an authority figure like a resident assistant, bartender, bouncer, or security guard. This option will allow you to have others on your side and can offer additional safety from the perpetrator.
Risk Reduction
No one asks to be sexually assaulted or to experience abuse in a relationship and the person responsible for violence is the person who caused harm, not the person who experienced it. However, there are some things it would be helpful to keep in mind to reduce your risk:
- Trust your instincts. If a situation or location feels unsafe or uncomfortable, it is okay to leave.
- Avoid being isolated with someone you do not trust or someone you do not know if you can.
- When you go to a social gathering, go with a group of friends, arrive together, check-in with each other throughout the evening and leave together. Knowing where you are and who is around you may help you to find a way out of a bad situation.
- Do not leave your drink unattended while talking, dancing, using the restroom or making a phone call. If you have left your drink alone, just get a new one.
- Be thoughtful about accepting drinks from people you don’t know or trust. If you choose to accept a drink:
- Go with the person to the bar to order it, watch it being poured and carry it yourself.
- At parties, do not drink from the punch bowls or other large, common open containers.
- Watch out for your friends and vice versa. If a friend seems out of it, is way too intoxicated for the amount of alcohol they have had or is acting out of character, get them to a safe place immediately.
- If you need to get out of an uncomfortable or scary situation here are some things that you can try:
- Remember that you are not obligated to do anything you do not want to do or be nice to someone who is scaring you or is making you uncomfortable. “I don’t want to” is always a good enough reason. Do what feels right to you and what you are comfortable with.
Information Regarding Sex Offender Registration
In accordance with Federal and State law. Information about Level III sex offenders, if any, living or working in the Rochester area near or adjacent to our campuses will be provided by local police and maintained by Public Safety. The Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) presumes that information from the registry will be used responsibly to promote public safety. Information provided from the registry may not be used to commit a crime against a person listed in the registry, or to engage in illegal discrimination or harassment against such person.
Options for students
The University has a number of resources available to support individuals who may have been subjected to, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. These resources include access to mental and physical health providers as well as to procedures for adjudicating complaints of sexual misconduct within the University and through the criminal justice system.
If you have been the victim of a sexual assault, we encourage you to visit a local hospital as soon as possible for a rape kit to preserve any evidence. It is best to visit a hospital immediately after a sexual assault but within the first 72 hours of the sexual assault. Having evidence collected within 72 hours preserves your right to decide at a later date whether you wish to go forward with the University’s judicial process or with the criminal justice system. This type of evidence can also be helpful in obtaining a protective order from a criminal, civil or tribal court.
Resources Available:
- Meet with the University Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Coordinator:
- Contact an official trained in interviewing victims of sexual assault. This person will provide information on options, emphasize the importance of preserving evidence, and explain the sexual assault forensic examination process.
- They will clarify that criminal justice standards differ and advise contacting law enforcement or the district attorney for questions about penal law.
- Reach Title IX staff at: titleix@rochester.edu.
- Title IX Coordinators are private, not confidential resources.
- Make a Formal Report to the Department of Public Safety (DPS):
- Phone: (585) 275-3333)
- DPS assists with filing a formal University report and can help make a report to local legal authorities (e.g., Rochester Police, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office).
- You can report to both the University and local law enforcement or choose to report to only one.
- Consent: The University will seek your consent before starting an investigation, respecting your decision unless it determines failure to investigate may pose a risk to others.
- Confidentiality and Reporting to Title IX:
- If you disclose an incident but request confidentiality or decline an investigation, the Title IX Coordinator will weigh your request against the need to maintain a safe, non-discriminatory environment. Factors considered include:
- The accused’s history of violent behavior or repeated offenses.
- Escalation from prior behavior or increased risk of further violence.
- Weapon use or force in the incident.
- Victim/survivor status (e.g., a minor).
- Availability of other evidence (e.g., camera footage).
- If an investigation is needed, you’ll be notified, and action will be taken to assist and protect you.
- If you disclose an incident but request confidentiality or decline an investigation, the Title IX Coordinator will weigh your request against the need to maintain a safe, non-discriminatory environment. Factors considered include:
- DPS Investigation Process:
- If you report to the University, DPS will conduct an investigation and submit findings to the Center for Student Conflict Management (CSCM). CSCM staff will then discuss your options, support resources, and next steps in the conduct process.
- You may withdraw your complaint at any time.
- Request Interim Measures and Accommodations:
- Accommodations are available even if you do not file a formal report. These include:
- Alternative Housing, Transportation, and Classes: The University may assist with arrangements, if appropriate.
- Academic Accommodations: Title IX staff can help identify and communicate your academic needs to professors.
- Orders of Protection: Assistance in obtaining legal protection orders (family or criminal court) or a University-issued Active Avoidance Order.
- Accommodations are available even if you do not file a formal report. These include:
- Connect with a Counselor at the University Counseling Center (UCC):
- Phone: (585) 275-3113)
- UCC provides 24/7 mental health support through on-call counselors and scheduled appointments. Reports to UCC and UHS are confidential.
- File a Report with Local Police:
- DPS can connect you to local law enforcement, or you can call 911. The police may explain legal options and protection orders.
- Contact RESTORE:
- Phone: (585) 546-2777)
- RESTORE offers a confidential 24-hour hotline and advocacy support. Reports made to RESTORE are confidential and not shared with the University.
- Confidential Reporting to the State or Local Government:
- You can confidentially disclose the incident to governmental agencies for support services.
- Reporting an Employee (Policy 106):
- If the accused is a University employee, report the incident to University Human Resources via Policy 106. The full policy is available here.
- File a Report Online:
- Reports can be made anonymously without providing personal information. This option gathers details like date, type, and location of the incident without identifying the student.
- Take No Action:
- You may choose not to take action or delay action. However, delaying reporting may affect your options for legal charges.
Confidentiality Guidelines:
- Support Measures: The University ensures confidentiality to the greatest extent possible. Support information is shared only with those who need to know to provide assistance.
- Responsible Employees: Employees designated as “Responsible Employees” must report incidents within 48 hours to the Title IX Coordinator. These employees include:
- Supervisors of University employees.
- Campus Safety Authorities under the Clery Act.
- Deputy Title IX Coordinators.
- Staff with “dean” in their title.
- Employees in the Department of Public Safety, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Student Life offices, and Residential Life.
Confidential Support:
- Students can access confidential support services (UHS, UCC, and University Chaplains) without reporting the incident to the Title IX Coordinator. These services are available at:
- University Health Service: (585) 275-2662)
- University Counseling Center: (585) 275-3113)
- University Chaplains: (585) 275-4321)
- Daily Crime Log and Timely Warnings: The University does not disclose personally identifiable information in these records or notifications.