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Assistance and Support

Help While Abroad

Information for individuals who may have experienced discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct while studying abroad.

Help Someone Else

Information for individuals supporting someone who experienced discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct.

Resource Guides

Resource guides help parties navigate the processes and policies surrounding sexual misconduct.

Contact Us

For general inquiries: OCR@northwestern.edu

For training inquiries: OCRTrainings@northwestern.edu

For accommodation inquiries: Accommodations@northwestern.edu

Speak to a team member: (847) 467-6165

Report sexual misconduct.

Supportive Measures

Supportive Measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to the Complainant or the Respondent before, during, or after the initiation of an investigation, or where no investigation has been initiated. Such measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to the University's education programs or activities without unreasonably burdening the other party, including measures designed to protect the safety of all parties or the University's educational environment, or deter discrimination, harassment, and/or sexual misconduct.

  • Supportive Measures may include, but are not limited to the following:
  • Arranging access to counseling services and assistance in setting up initial appointments
  • Assistance in seeking extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments
  • Assistance in arranging modifications of work or class schedules
  • Assistance in arranging campus escort services
  • Imposition of mutual restrictions on contact between the parties
  • Assistance in arranging changes in work or housing locations
  • Assistance in arranging leaves of absence
  • Coordinating with University police for increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus
  • Assistance in arranging other changes to academic, living, dining, transportation, and working situations
  • Honoring an order of protection or no contact order entered by a State civil or criminal court, and other similar measures.

In providing Supportive Measures, the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance will make every effort to avoid depriving any student of their education or access to the University's program or activities. The Supportive Measures needed by each party may change over time, and the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance will communicate with parties to ensure that any Supportive Measures in place are necessary and effective based on the parties' evolving needs.

The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance will maintain the confidentiality of Supportive Measures provided to either a Complainant or Respondent, to the extent that maintaining such confidentiality does not impair the University's ability to provide the Supportive Measures in question. As noted above, an individual may request to receive support — including the Supportive Measures mentioned in this section — even if they do not choose to participate in the University's Complaint Resolution Process.