Frequently Asked Reporting Questions
Reporting to the University
Yes. You may speak with a staff member without filing a report with the University or to request supportive measures.
To schedule a time to speak to a staff member in the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance call (847) 467-6165 or email OCR@northwestern.edu. You may also meet in person with a staff member at the office located at 1800 Sherman Ave., Suite 4500, Evanston, IL 60201.
We recommend contacting the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance to schedule an in-person meeting.
If at any time you experience or witness violence, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, or any other threatening behavior, we ask that you report it, even if you want to remain anonymous.
Reports may be submitted to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance by completing an online form:
- For reports of discrimination or harassment: northwestern.edu/NUReportDiscrimination
- For reports of sexual misconduct: northwestern.edu/NUReportSexualMisconduct
Reports may also be submitted by contacting the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance by phone at (847) 467-6165 or in person at 1800 Sherman Ave., Suite 4500, Evanston, IL 60201.
If you're not sure which form to fill out, don't worry. Form responses get sent to the correct office based on the information provided.
No — these are two separate processes.
No. OCR does not report to the police unless there is an immediate health and safety risk that necessitates OCR to share the information with NUPD.
Reports are submitted to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (OCR). OCR staff will see your report. If a report proceeds to resolution, the report may become evidence in the investigation and may be viewed by both parties and their advisors.
Cases submitted to OCR that do not meet the standard for a formal investigation or that implicate other University policies are forwarded, as appropriate, to other offices such as the Office of Community Standards, the Office of the Provost Human Resources, or Student Affairs.
The University's ability to address conduct reported by anonymous sources may be significantly limited. However, the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance reviews every report of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct to evaluate whether such reported conduct creates or created a hostile environment.
There is no time limit for reporting an incident of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct. However, under the Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment, for Northwestern to proceed to an investigation, a Complainant must be participating in or attempting to participate in Northwestern's Education Programs or Activities at the time of filing a Formal Complaint. The University encourages reports to be made as soon as possible after the incident.
To encourage reporting, an individual who makes a good-faith report of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct that was directed at them or another person will not be subject to disciplinary action by the University for a conduct or policy violation that is related to and revealed in the sexual misconduct report or investigation, unless the University determines that the violation was serious and/or placed the health or safety of others at risk.
Learn about Northwestern's Amnesty through Responsible Action policy.
Reporting to Police
Students who have experienced sexual violence, relationship violence, or stalking can talk to a CSAW advocate at the Center for Student Advocacy & Wellness for more information on what may happen if they file a police report.Incidents that occur on campus can be reported to University police, local police, or both. Off-campus incidents should be reported to local police, since off-campus incidents likely fall outside the jurisdiction of University police.
Any individual can report to local police.
Current students, employees, University vendors, contractors, visitors, guests, volunteers, interns, and third parties may report to University police.
Reporting an incident to university police or local police does not mean you need to testify in court. Reports of sexual misconduct made to University Police will automatically be shared with the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance.
Northwestern University encourages individuals to report incidents of sexual misconduct to University Police or local police. Timely reporting to the police is an important factor in successful investigation and prosecution of crimes, including sexual violence crimes, and may lead to the arrest of an offender or aid in the investigation of other incidents.
The police investigation process includes collecting information through preliminary interviewing and secondary interviewing. City, state, and federal statutes of limitations may impact the ability of the police to pursue charges.
The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (OCR) can provide information on contacting local and campus law enforcement and can assist an individual in doing so. However, OCR will not compel an individual to go to law enforcement.