Responsible Employees at UMass Amherst

Who is a Responsible Employee?

The University designates all employees as Responsible Employees, including student employees who receive information about discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in the course of their employment or in conducting employment-related duties with the exception of those who have been designated Confidential Employees. 

UMass Amherst confidential employees include CWC, CCPH, UHS, SLSO, and ECCO staff as well as the following categories of employees:

• Licensed sexual assault counselors, physicians, psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, clergy, attorneys, university Ombuds employees, and those persons working under the supervision of such individuals, when acting in their professional role providing services to a patient or client;

• University employees bound by statutory privilege or confidentiality obligations under Massachusetts or federal law, when they are functioning within the scope of that privilege or confidentiality;

• University employees providing administrative, operational, and/or related support for a Confidential Employee in the performance of such services; and

• The University’s designated Confidential Resource Provider(s) appointed pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6 §168E(l), when they are functioning within the scope of their role as a Confidential Resource Provider. 

• Campus police officers are designated as Responsible Employees unless a student, employee, or faculty member reports Sexual Assault or Intimate Partner Violence to UMPD and requests confidentiality.

Please use the following link to access the 2024 Title IX Responsible Employee Training 
https://umamherst.instructure.com/enroll/B384PB.

After following the link, make sure to log in with your UMass Amherst username and password to access all the course materials.

The training is a short self-paced course in Canvas that provides you with information on the recent updates to Title IX.

Responding to Disclosure: Guide for Responsible Employees

The Responsible Employee should immediately report the matter to:

• Directly to the Title IX Coordinator, or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. Individuals may report to their supervisor who will report to offices above.

• Emergencies: If this is an emergency, please call 9-1-1 from a landline. The UMass Police Department can be reached at (413) 545-2121 for non-emergencies.

Reports or complaints of sexual harassment under Title IX should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator, Kerri Thompson Tillett, Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity and Access. 

A report to the Title IX Coordinator may be made in person during Equal Opportunity and Access office hours, or at any time via email (@email), telephone, mail, or using the Online Title IX Report A Concern form, which includes an option for anonymous submission. Please note that reporting a concern to the Title IX Coordinator does not constitute filing an official police report, to do that you must contact the UMPD directly.         

Title IX Coordinator
Kerri Thompson Tillett 
Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity and Access
225 Bartlett Hall
130 Hicks Way 
Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
Tel: (413) 545-3464
Email - TitleIXCoordinator@umass.edu
Online - Report A Concern

If the report involves Title IX defined prohibited conduct, the Title IX Coordinator or designees will coordinate the University’s immediate response to the report, including implementing supportive measures. Please let the victim/survivor know that the EOA office will reach out directly to them to discuss options for support and accountability. What to expect when an incident is reported?

Reporting conduct that may constitute Prohibited Conduct to the AVC/EOA does not necessarily initiate subsequent proceedings nor is participation in the resolution process as a Complainant in the Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment Resolution Procedures required of any individual. EOA will conduct a formal complaint investigation if a complaint is filed.  The University’s response and follow up will take every precaution to ensure privacy. More details on what you can expect once a report is filed.

The 2024 Title IX Responsible Employee Training

The Guide for Responsible Employees Responding to a Disclosure (pdf)

The Maroon Folder (pdf)

Reporting Offices and Confidential Resources