All Berklee employees (including staff, administrators, faculty, and resident assistants)—with a few limited exceptions—are considered “responsible employees” under this policy. Responsible employees are required to promptly report allegations of sexual misconduct (sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking) and identity-based discrimination or harassment that they observe or learn about to Sarah Onori, assistant vice president for equity and Title IX /Title IX coordinator, sonori@berklee.edu immediately upon receipt of the information or allegation, but not later than 24 hours after.
Limited Exceptions to the Policy:
Employees designated as confidential resources are exempt from this policy, which includes licensed mental health clinicians in Counseling Services who have been hired in that professional capacity at Berklee, the survivor advocate, and any individual designated as a confidential resource provider.
All student employees (not including resident assistants) are required to report any allegation(s) that they receive or observe while serving in their capacity as an employee.
Guidelines:
Information that must be reported to the assistant vice president of equity and Title IX/Title IX coordinator (if known to the responsible employee) includes, but is not limited to:
- Name of the complainant(s), the respondent(s), and relevant witnesses
- Any other relevant information, including the date, time, specific location, and details of the alleged incident.
Reporting to the assistant vice president/Title IX coordinator does not obligate the complainant to participate in a formal investigation or file a formal report with the police. Such reporting will ensure timely support for all involved parties regarding resources and resolution options and enable an effective and consistent response from Berklee.
Responsible employees who knew about but did not report allegations of misconduct may be subject to disciplinary action.
Note, however, that responsible employees are not required to report the following types of disclosures of misconduct unless the complainant clearly indicates that they desire a report to be made or are seeking a specific remedy from Berklee. In limited circumstances, responsible employees are required to report the following types of disclosures that indicate an imminent and serious threat to the health or safety of any individual.
- Public forums (e.g. vigils, marches)
- Public awareness events, including programmed events during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)
Additionally, responsible employees are not required to self-report alleged incident(s) of misconduct that they experienced personally but are encouraged to report misconduct to the assistant vice president of equity and Title IX/Title IX coordinator or seek support from confidential resources.
Privacy:
Upon being notified of the allegation of misconduct, responsible employees will maintain the privacy of the information, meaning they will only share it with the assistant vice president of equity and Title IX/Title IX coordinator and other employees with a need to know in order to assist in the assessment, investigation, and resolution of the reported incident.
Who is a responsible employee?
All Berklee employees are responsible employees, except for Berklee's survivor advocate and Counseling Services professional counselors acting in their professional capacity.
What are my obligations?
If you observe or learn about any violation or possible violation of the equity or Title IX policies (including discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct), you must report it to:
Sarah Onori, assistant vice president of equity and Title IX/Title IX coordinator
equity@berklee.edu
617-747-6671
What kind of incidents must I report?
Discrimination or harassment based on any protected status, sexual and interpersonal violence, and stalking must be reported. You must report all incidents regardless of where they take place (either on and off campus) and when it occurred.
Why do I need to report an incident?
Reporting ensures that the affected individual receives timely information about their rights and how to access support following an incident.
Additionally, the United States Department of Education is charged with enforcing Title IX and may level civil penalties against Berklee for not responding to reports of sexual misconduct or discrimination in a timely manner. Responsible employees who do not report allegations of sexual misconduct and discrimination to the Equity Office are in violation of this policy and may be subject to disciplinary action.
How do I report an incident?
What happens when I make the report?
The assistant vice president of equity and Title IX/Title IX coordinator or their deputy will reach out to the affected person to let them know about their rights and options for support and resolution. The affected individual can choose whether to respond, meet with the Equity Team, or decline to do so.
What should I do when someone discloses an incident to me?
Immediately tell the individual that you are required to share certain information with Berklee, and explain the information you will be required to share, with whom, and why.
For example, you may say something like:
- “As part of my position at Berklee, I am required to report situations of discrimination or harassment, including sexual assault. I will not be able to keep what you tell me confidential. The information you provide will be shared with the Title IX coordinator, and a member of the equity and Title IX team will reach out to you about your options for support and formal reporting. You can choose whether to talk with the staff member, and I will not share anything you tell me beyond those who need to know.”
Listen without judgment.
Inform the reporting party that confidential resources on campus are the survivor advocate in Health and Wellness (for students), licensed counselors in the Office of Counseling Services (for students) or the Employee Assistance Program (for employees).
Immediately report the disclosure to the assistant vice president of equity and Title IX/Title IX coordinator in the Office of Equity and Title IX.
How do I explain my reporting obligations to someone?
Try some of the following suggestions:
- “I need you to know that I’m not a confidential resource, but there are confidential resources on campus in Berklee Counseling Services or the survivor advocate.”
- “I want to make sure you understand, I am a mandatory reporter of harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct on campus.”
- “Thank you for coming to me about this situation. I'm happy to help you intervene, but I also want you to know that I am a mandatory reporter of harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct, and I will have to report this incident to Equity."
- "Because I am a mandated reporter, I will have to report this incident to Equity. Is there anything else I can do to help you in the meantime?"
- “Thank you for coming to me about this. I’m glad that I can help you feel safe. In order to maintain our trust, I need to tell you…”
What kind of training is available and/or required?
Responsible employees will be offered training at least yearly, and training can be requested at any time by contacting Sarah Onori, assistant vice president of equity and Title IX/Title IX coordinator, at 617-747-6671 or equity@berklee.edu.
