Resources

Download "Support and Reporting Options" (985kb PDF)

Written narrative for those who are visually impaired or others who prefer this format:

For those who experience an equity or Title IX incident (harassment, discrimination, or sexual misconduct, including sexual assault and harassment, dating/domestic violence, and stalking), a variety of support mechanisms exist, depending upon the needs of the individual. Some people find that engaging multiple avenues of support is important for their wellbeing. Asking a few key questions may help identify priorities for support and reporting options.

For medical or safety emergencies, calling Berklee Public Safety at 617-747-8888 or 911 anywhere in the United States is an important first step. If you are seeking medical attention, injury documentation, a sexual assault nurse exam, or evidence collection, you may contact Boston Medical Center (nearest Berklee’s campus) at 617-414-4075 or Massachusetts General Hospital (nearest the Allston area) at 617-724-4100.

If no medical or safety emergency is pressing and regardless of whether or not the incident is currently occurring or occurred previously, consider whether or not you would like to talk to someone about this incident.

If you don’t want to talk to someone about the incident right now, you can choose to access support resources or reporting options at any time in the future, and Berklee’s ability to effectively provide those is typically highest the sooner the incident is reported. Also, you can report anonymously at berklee.edu/anonymous-reporting. You can access reporting options and support measures at any time in the future.

If you want to talk to someone for support, you may prefer to speak to someone inside Berklee or someone outside of Berklee.

If you’d rather speak to someone confidentially within Berklee, students have the following options. Berklee Counseling Services can be reached at 617-747-2310. Confidential personal counselors are available in the Office of Counseling Services between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For after-hours emergencies, contact the Public Safety Emergency Line at 617-747-8888 and ask to speak to the on-call counselor. In addition, Berklee's survivor advocate (berklee.edu/health/survivor-advocacy-services) can be reached at 617-747-6657. The survivor advocate provides confidential support for students who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and/or dating or domestic violence. The survivor advocate can be reached Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If you want to speak with someone outside of Berklee, licensed therapists and leaders in most faith traditions are confidential resources who can help you consider options and manage your wellbeing. A variety of other confidential off-campus services exist. The Boston Rape Crisis Center (800-841-8371) offers comprehensive resources for victim/survivors of sexual misconduct. Fenway Health’s Violence Recovery Program (617-927-6202) offers comprehensive resources for victims/survivors of discrimination and harassment in the LGBTQ+ community. Information on other resources can be found at berklee.edu/equity/resources.

Another question you should consider is whether or not you want to report the incident to Berklee, law enforcement, both (simultaneously or separately), or neither. You can choose any of those options at any time, and Berklee and law enforcement’s ability to respond to these reports is most effective the sooner we receive a report. If you don’t want to report right now, the support resources described above can be very helpful.

If you do want to report to Berklee, you should contact the equity and Title IX team in the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (CDEI) at equity@berklee.edu or 617-747-3156. Reporting to the CDEI will also allow you access support mechanisms like housing relocation, adjustments to work/living/academic arrangements, and no-contact orders, even if you do not wish to pursue an investigation.

If you want to report to law enforcement, Berklee Public Safety (617-747-8888) can assist with that process. You can also access local law enforcement in the U.S. by calling 911.

To report an equity or Title IX violation and request support, contact:

Download "How Berklee Addresses Equity Reports" (955kb PD)

Written narrative for those who are visually impaired or others who prefer this format:

Berklee encourages community members who experience discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct to access resources and reporting options through the equity and Title IX processes. For more information, visit berklee.edu/equity or contact the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at equity@berklee.edu or 617-747-3156.

The text below summarizes Berklee’s typical steps in the equity reporting and support process. That process begins when a Berklee official receives notice of an incident of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct. The Employee Assistance Program and counselors in Berklee Counseling Services can keep that information confidential. All other Berklee employees must treat this information with great sensitivity and provide the report to the chief equity officer/Title IX coordinator.

When the chief equity officer/Title IX coordinator receives the report, they review it and assign someone to meet with the reporting party and discuss rights, support resources, and reporting options, including the right to report to law enforcement.

All those options remain available to parties at any part of the process or after the process. Support measures available to both parties include work/academic adjustments, alternative living arrangements, no-contact orders, etc. Additionally, many people find it helpful to access confidential personal counseling.

Following this meeting with the reporting party, Berklee reviews the available information and makes a decision about the best procedure to resolve the case. Factors in this decision include the wishes of the complainant/reporting party, the nature/pattern of the reported conduct, the risk to the community, and the feasibility of collecting information about the reported behavior.

Occasionally, we determine that the incident described is not an equity or Title IX violation; in that case, appropriate resources and referrals are provided.

If the matter is an equity or Title IX case, the following options exist for addressing it, beyond support measures: investigation, conflict resolution, and alternative resolution. It’s important to note that conflict resolution and alternative resolution are for cases in which possible sanctions are relatively minor. Neither conflict resolution nor alternative resolution is an available resolution method for cases involving sexual assault or other violent behavior.

If the case proceeds to an equity policy investigation, the investigator meets with the complainant and respondent separately to review the process. Then the respondent and the complainant each receive a letter detailing the allegations. Following that, the investigator will interview the complainant, respondent, and witnesses. The investigator will also gather any other forms of evidence. Once the information-gathering phase is over, the complainant and the respondent will both receive a summary of the investigation, and they both have five days to respond to that summary with any comments.

Then, the investigator reviews those comments and determines findings of responsibility for each allegation. If the respondent is found not responsible for all allegations, then no sanctions are assigned. If the respondent is found responsible for any of the allegations, then the investigator will also determine sanctions. Following that, both parties have the opportunity to appeal this decision.

Alternatively, if the reported conduct meets the criteria for the interim Title IX process and a formal complaint is filed, a formal grievance process will be initiated. You can learn more at berklee.edu/equity/policy-and-process.

Conflict resolution means parties interact with a trained, neutral facilitator. This may be in person, or it can proceed without any in-person meeting. This process is not available for sexual assault or other forms of violence. Through this process, parties can develop a mutually agreeable resolution. If they do not, Berklee will still offer all available resources, which can include a formal investigation.

Alternative resolution is available for cases that could result in relatively minor sanctions and do not involve sexual assault or other forms of violence. In this approach, a neutral, trained investigator makes a decision about the case based on the available information. Once that decision has been provided to the parties, both parties may request reconsideration.

To report an equity or Title IX violation and request support, contact: