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Graduate Student Resources and References

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Legal Considerations and Reporting Obligations

Reporting Misconduct

Misconduct in General

Employees, including graduate assistants, who have a reasonable belief that misconduct may be occurring have a duty to report their concerns.  Suspected misconduct may be reported to an employee’s immediate supervisor, the chair or dean of their department (or another individual in the employee’s chain of command), the Office of Internal Audit, the Department of Human Resources, the Office of the Provost, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance, or the Office of General Counsel.  Faculty who wish to report anonymously may do so at the EthicsPoint Hotline. University employees who report in good faith alleged improper action are protected from retaliation as outlined in the University’s Whistleblower Policy.

Fiscal Misconduct

Any employee or student associated with the University who knows or suspects fiscal misconduct has the responsibility to notify the Office of Internal Audit. Notification can be anonymous if the individual so chooses. Anonymous notifications must be submitted through the Office of Internal Audit website or some other written form and contain relevant documentation for review. The reporting individual should not contact the suspected individual in an effort to determine facts or demand restitution; should not discuss the situation with anyone outside the University; and should not discuss the situation with anyone inside the University other than Internal Audit personnel. Internal Audit has the primary responsibility for reviewing allegations of fiscal misconduct. If the review reveals that fiscal misconduct has occurred, Internal Audit will work with appropriate personnel to resolve the situation. All University employees are to cooperate fully with those performing a review pursuant to the University’s Fiscal Misconduct Policy. Employees, students and others associated with the University, who in good faith report actual or suspected fiscal misconduct, will be protected by the administration from retaliation by those committing the actual or suspected fiscal impropriety.

Fair Treatment of and Equal Opportunity for Faculty, Staff, and Students

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC):  The federal government agency responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance

The University of Mississippi’s Office of Equal Opportunity & Regulatory Compliance (EORC) is responsible for compliance with federal laws and regulations pertaining to the fair treatment of faculty, staff, and students, which includes the application of Title IX and Title VII, and upholds equal employment opportunity to ensure equal access to the University.

Reporting Responsibilities Under Title IX

The University of Mississippi is committed to a safe campus and community. As part of this commitment, the University strives to provide effective resources and equitable processes to all students involved in sexual misconduct, including sexual assault and stalking.  Most University employees, including faculty and staff, are required to report sexual misconduct to the Title IX coordinator. The UM SAFE website provides guidance, resources, and support for faculty and staff who become aware of sexual misconduct involving a student.  Sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and sexual violence (rape, sexual assault, relationship violence, dating violence, and stalking), and all other forms of sex discrimination are violations of federal law, University Policy and contrary to the values espoused in our Creed.

Sexual violence can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, gender or sexual orientation. The University of Mississippi does not tolerate sexual violence. The University provides programs and services to educate all members of our campus community about responsible conduct, the meaning of consent, how to report incidents of sexual misconduct, and how to hold individuals accountable for their behavior. The UM SAFE website provides resources and information for the reporting party (complainant), the accused (respondent), faculty and staff, parents and friends. If you have questions or need to talk with someone at the University of Mississippi, please contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator, the Violence Prevention Coordinator, or the University Counseling Center. The University also offers medical services, including Sexual Assault Nurse Examinations (SANE exams), at the Student Health Center during regular business hours.

If you have been a victim of sexual misconduct (or you are aware that sexual misconduct has occurred), and you wish to retain confidentiality when speaking about the misconduct with a University of Mississippi employee, most of whom are required to report sexual misconduct to the Title IX coordinator, ask that person whether they are allowed to maintain confidentiality — before you provide them with any details about your situation. If you would like to make a report of sexual misconduct, contact the Title IX coordinator, at 662-915-7045, or at TitleIX@olemiss.edu. All complaints of sexual misconduct are handled sensitively and with the appropriate level of discretion.

Not an office of notice

All communication with the University Ombuds and the University Ombuds’ Office is informal and “off the record.” Neither the University Ombuds nor the University Ombuds’ Office act as an agent of “notice” for the University.  Neither the University Ombuds nor the University Ombuds’ Office accept notice on behalf of the University of Mississippi.  Consulting with the University Ombuds will not initiate any formal complaint process; however, members of the University of Mississippi Community are welcome to meet with the University Ombuds to discuss where and how to file a formal grievance or how to put the University on notice. In the alternative, members of the University of Mississippi Community are welcome to contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance (662) 915-7735, the Title IX Office, Telephone (662) 915-7045, TDD:(662) 915-1570, or the Office of General Counsel located at 209 Lyceum, Telephone (662) 915-7014, Fax (662) 915-5640 in order to provide the University with formal notice of an issue.

Other Graduate Student Resources

Some Policies of Interest to Graduate Students