Responsible Employees at UMass Amherst
A Responsible Employee is required to report information about unlawful discrimination based on known or possible incidents by students, employees, or third parties who are participating or attempting to participate in a University’s education program or activity. Unlawful discrimination based on sex and sex-based harassment and retaliation includes conduct based on sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, and/or pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s) are prohibited and must be reported. Sex-based harassment includes sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking.
Who is a Responsible Employee?
Responsible Employee- an employee (a) who, because of their position, must report known or possible incidents of sexual violence or any other sexual misconduct by students or employees, including the known details of the incident and the name(s) of alleged victim(s) and respondent(s), to the Title IX Coordinator(s) or other appropriate school designee; or (b) who has the authority to take action to redress sexual harassment/misconduct. Campus police officers are Responsible Employees; but, see exception for public safety personnel.
At UMass Amherst, it has been determined that “responsible employees” include:
- Faculty with faculty with administrative or supervisory responsibilities (deans and associate deans, heads and chairs, graduate and undergraduate program directors, faculty athletic representatives and directors of centers and institutes);
- all staff that are academic advisors;
- all coaches and trainers;
- all advisors to Registered Student Organizations, intramural sports and other student groups;
- all supervising travel external to the University and any contractors doing the same;
- all personnel in Student Affairs, including Residential Life employees, with the exception of confidential employees.
- staff in managerial and supervisory roles.
UMass Amherst confidential employees include CWC, CCPH, UHS, SLSO, and ECCO staff as well as the following categories of employees:
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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;
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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;
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University employees providing administrative, operational, and/or related support for a Confidential Employee in the performance of such services; and
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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.
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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.
The Maroon Folder is a guide intended to assist faculty and staff in responding to students in distress with compassion and care, identifying appropriate next steps, connecting students to resources and reporting student disclosures.
The Responsible Employee should immediately report the matter to:
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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.
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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 prohibited conduct under the Title IX Policy and Procedures, 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 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 Maroon Folder (pdf) The Maroon Folder is a guide intended to assist faculty and staff in responding to students in distress with compassion and care, identifying appropriate next steps, connecting students to resources and reporting student disclosures.