Reporting & Policies

If you experience discrimination or retaliation, or if you are aware of any form of discrimination or retaliation, please make a report so we can work to address the situation in an appropriate manner. Reports also help us track patterns and improve how we educate the campus and prevent discrimination at MU. All members of the university community, as well as visitors and third parties, can report incidents.

  • Online: Report using our online incident report form. The information will be sent directly to us.
  • Email: Send an email to equity@missouri.edu describing the incident, including the date and the names of people involved.
  • Phone: Call 573-882-3880 to provide basic information. We will return your call.

The University may provide amnesty to parties or witnesses for minor student conduct violations ancillary to the incident.

Learn more about what happens when you make a report.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Process Guides:

Prohibited Discrimination

The University of Missouri is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse community where everyone is welcome. MU prohibits discrimination and/or harassment due to:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Color
  • Disability
  • Gender Identity
  • Gender Expression
  • National Origin
  • Race
  • Religion
  • Sex/Gender, including*
    1. Pregnancy Discrimination
    2. Sex/Gender Discrimination
    3. Dating/Domestic Violence
    4. Sexual Assault
    5. Sexual Harassment
    6. Stalking
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Veteran Status

*If allegations of 3-6 arise from incidents occurring on campus or within a university program or activity, then the applicable procedure is likely Title IX (CRR 600.030). All other incidents would most likely be considered under Equity procedure, instead (CRR 600.040).

Retaliation, False Reporting, and Witness Intimidation/Harassment are also prohibited.

Privacy and Reporting

We encourage everyone to disclose their name when submitting a report, whether they are sharing information about themselves or another person. Our first step is to contact the Complainant (impacted person) to discuss rights and options, as well as privacy considerations. We may also need to contact the reporter for additional information or clarification.

We respect Parties’ privacy, and in most cases, it is up to them to decide whether to contact the police. We typically only contact the police if a Party give us permission to do so or if there is an imminent threat to campus safety.

Mandated Reporting

Policies: CRR 600.010(E) and CRR 600.020(F)

MU employees are Mandated Reporters, required to promptly report the information to the Office of Institutional Equity. The Mandated Report must be made regardless of whether the person reporting the information to the Mandated Reporter requests confidentiality and regardless of how the Mandated Reporter becomes aware of the offensive behavior (personal observation, direct information from the subject of the behavior, indirect information from a third party, etc.). If the Complainant requests confidentiality or that a report not be pursued, the Mandated Reporter should warn the Complainant that, at this stage in the process, the Mandated Reporter must report all known information to the Office of Institutional Equity.

  • Mandated Reporters must report all details that they possess. This includes names of the Parties, if known, and all other information in the Mandated Reporter’s possession.
  • Failure to comply with this policy can result in disciplinary action. Employees also are cautioned that non-compliance with this policy may increase their risk of personal liability. Further, an individual who fails to report as required under this policy may be determined to be ineligible for defense or protection under Section 490.010 of the University’s Collected Rules and Regulations for any associated claims, causes of action, liabilities or damages.

NOTE: Research and surveys are subject to mandated reporting. Very limited exemptions may be granted for specific projects or events and must be approved by the Title IX Coordinator beforehand; please contact OIE with any questions or to submit a request.

Find confidential resources.

Retaliation

Policies: CRR 600.010(F), CRR 600.020(G), and HR-520

Retaliation is any adverse action taken against a person because of that person’s participation in protected activity. The phrase “participation in a protected activity” includes participation or refusal to participate in the processes set forth in CRRs 600.030, 600.040, and 600.050. Any person who engages in such retaliation shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or termination, in accordance with applicable procedures. Any person who believes they have been subjected to retaliation is encouraged to notify the Equity Officer/Title IX Coordinator. The University will promptly respond to all claims of retaliation in accordance with this policy.

Examples of prohibited retaliation include, but are not limited to, giving a lesser grade than the student’s academic work warrants because the student filed a report or Complaint of discrimination or harassment; giving lower than justified performance appraisals because a person was a witness in an investigation of alleged discrimination or harassment; and threatening to spread false information about a person for filing a report or Complaint of discrimination or harassment.

Policies

The University of Missouri is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable campus community. Our policies reaffirm our pledge to provide equal opportunity. We prohibit discrimination, bias-motivated violence, sex-based violence, and retaliation.

If a Complainant wishes to pursue an investigation or if the university, based on the alleged policy violation, wishes to pursue an investigation, then the appropriate administrative officer promptly investigates or appoints a trained investigator or a team of trained investigators.

Prohibited Conduct and Related Policies
  • Equal Employment/Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policy (CRR 600.010)
  • Sexual Harassment Under Title IX (CRR 600.020)
  • Student Standard of Conduct (CRR 200.010)
  • Consensual Romantic Relationship Policy (CRR 330.065)
1. Title IX Process

The university uses a specific process to respond to allegations of sexual harassment under Title IX (CRR 600.020), in accordance with Federal Regulations released by the U.S. Department of Education in May 2020. The Title IX Process covers allegations of Dating/Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault (Rape, Sodomy, Sexual Assault with an Object, Fondling, Incest, and Statutory Rape), Sexual Harassment (Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment), and Stalking; the conduct must have occurred on campus or as part of a university program or activity.

The policy linked below is new to the University of Missouri, effective August 14, 2020:

  • Resolution Process for Resolving Complaints of Sexual Harassment under Title IX (CRR 600.030)

OR

2. Equity Resolution Process

For all other incidents not covered by Title IX above—including Dating/Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, and Stalking occurring off campus and unconnected to any MU program or activity—the university uses one of two Equity processes to respond to allegations of discrimination that fall under CRR 600.010.

The process used depends on the status of the accused person:

  • Faculty, Student or Student Organization Respondent (CRR 600.040)
  • Staff or University, College, Division or Unit Respondent (CRR 600.050)

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The above equity policies and procedures apply to matters involving conduct alleged to have occurred on or after August 14, 2020. For alleged conduct that occurred before August 14, 2020, prior versions of the university’s policies and procedures remain in effect:

  • Equal Employment/Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policy (CRR 600.010)
  • Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct in Education/Employment Policy (CRR 600.020)
  • Equity Resolution Process for Resolving Complaints of Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct against:

Emergency Removal

UM System Emergency Removal Safety and Risk Analysis: Link