Reporting Responsibilities
51吃瓜 (FSC) wants to ensure that every member of our campus community who asks for assistance gets the help they need following an incident of sexual misconduct. Together, we can continue to make FSC an environment conducive to productive living, learning, and working for all.
While FSC encourages all community members who experience or becomes aware of sexual misconduct to report it, certain employees or student para-professionals may have an additional reporting responsibilities they must fulfill. If you become aware of an alleged incident of sexual misconduct, it's important to understand what reporting obligations you may need to follow so that the College can appropriately intervene if necessary.
What Am I?
Any employee of the College that has authority to take action to redress sexual misconduct, who has been given the duty of reporting incidents of sexual misconduct to FSC's Title IX Coordinator or other appropriate staff designee, or any employee whom a general community member could reasonably believe has this authority or duty is a Responsible Employee.
Some examples of a Responsible Employee at FSC are:
- Supervisors
- Residence Hall Directors
- Athletics Coaching Staff
- Academic Faculty Members
- Functional Area Directors or Department Chairpersons
- Academic Advisors
- Student Activities professional staff or staff/faculty Club Advisors
- Senior Administrators and Cabinet Officials
A Confidential Employee must maintain confidentiality with respect to any information disclosed to them in the scope of their role as a legally bound confidential professional - including information disclosed regarding an incident of sexual misconduct. Therefore, anyone who is involved in a sexual misconduct investigation who speaks to a confidential employee in their role as a legally bound confidential professional can be assured that their information will not be shared with anyone else without their explicit consent, except in limited circumstances (such as imminent threat of harm to oneself or the larger campus community).
Some examples of a Confidential Employee at FSC are:
- Licensed medical professionals, such as nurses or psychologists
- Members of the Health & Wellness Center
- Members of Campus Mental Health Services (CMHS)
Note, not all confidential employees will be confidential resources in all circumstances. For example, a member of FSC's Health & Wellness Center may treat student patients while also supervising professional staff. This individual's role as a Confidential Employee only extends to communications or disclosures that occur during their role of patient treatment. If they become aware of an instance of sexual misconduct outside this capacity, they ought to report it to FSC's Title IX Coordinator.
A Mandated Reporter can refer to student para-professionals who have immediate, first-line access to students within the scope of their employment.
Some examples of student Mandated Reporters at FSC are:
- Resident Assistants
- Teaching Assistants or Graduate Assistants
- Fraternity or Sorority Officers
- Other student para-professional that have been designated as Mandated Reporters by their supervisor or department.
It can also refer to professional staff or faculty members that may have additional mandatory reporting obligations to external agencies separate from the College. For example, all employees of the State University of New York who witness or have reasonable cause to suspect any sexual abuse of a child occurring on SUNY property - or while off campus during official College-sponsored events - have an to report such conduct to University Police.
Do I Need to Report?
Required to Report to the Title IX Coordinator.
At no point should the Reporting Individual be told that the conversation taking place will be confidential. Responsible Employees are required to report all incidents of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and violence, that they become aware of during their tenure as Responsible Employees.
Furthermore, the notes that supervisors or managers who fail to report suspected sexual harassment - or otherwise knowingly allow sexual harassment to continue - may be subject to discipline.
Note, FSC encourages all community members who experience or become aware of sexual misconduct to report it, regardless of Responsible Employee status and it's corresponding obligation to report.
May Be Required to Report.
Information received while administering patient care must be held in confidence, apart from limited circumstances in which imminent harm to self, others, or the larger campus community exists.
However, if an individual experiences or becomes aware of an instance of sexual misconduct outside the scope of their employment in this confidential capacity, they may be required to report it if they are also considered a Responsible Employee.
Required to Report to the Title IX Coordinator, UPD, or Designated Staff Supervisor.
At no point should the Reporting Individual be told that the conversation taking place will be confidential. Student para-professionals may be required to report information directly to the Title IX Coordinator, University Police, or a professional staff or faculty member directly supervising them.
While all SUNY employees have an affirmative obligation to report suspected child sexual abuse occurring on SUNY-controlled property or at a College-sponsored event, some employees (licensed medical professionals, law enforcement officers, etc.) may have standing mandatory reporting obligations to external agencies - such as the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.
What Should I Do?
- Inform. If you have an obligation to report, inform the individual you are speaking with
of your role before they disclose information that you are required to report.
- Listen and Maintain Impartiality. It's important to remain empathetic and supportive, while refraining from making
premature statements regarding responsibility or guarantee procedural outcomes that
may be outside your scope of authority.
- Get Help or Offer Assistance. If you believe this is an emergency situation, or if the Reporting Individual requires
medical attention, or if the physical health of yourself, the Reporting Individual,
or the wider campus community is at immediate risk - contact University Police at
(934) 420-2111. Otherwise, offer to share information regarding available support and resources for the Reporting Individual to take advantage of at their own discretion.
- Report. Report the information disclosed to you as soon as possible. Timeliness in reporting
is crucial to informing any intervention the College may or may not undertake, and
helps ensure the information provided to the appropriate College officials is as accurate
a recounting of disclosed events as possible. Review the available Reporting Options on campus and select one method to engage in.
- Maintain Respect. Respecting the privacy of the Reporting Individual is paramount, along with anyone
else who may have been mentioned in the Reporting Individual's disclosure. Report
information ONLY to either the Title IX Coordinator, University Police, or your immediate supervisor
if applicable based on your reporting obligation. Do not share information with colleagues or classmates.
- Refrain from Further Action. Information should be relayed to either the Title IX Coordinator, University Police, or your immediate supervisor if applicable based on your reporting obligation. Do not attempt to question, warn, or sanction anyone else mentioned in the Reporting Individual's disclosure. Do not undertake an investigation of your own, or issue warnings or disciplinary measures of your own.
dean of students
Dewey Hall, Room 118
934-420-2104
dean.students@farmingdale.edu
Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm
TITLE IX OFFICE
Dewey Hall, Room 115
934-420-5772
titleix@farmingdale.edu
Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm