The person you reported the incident to and the response team (described above) find out about the report. If the decision is made to pursue disciplinary action against the person who engaged in the conduct, information related to the report will be shared with that person. Remember, the University will make every effort to respect your decision about how to proceed. Information will only be shared with others if allowed by law and University Policies.

We want you to feel comfortable reporting an incident even if alcohol or drugs were involved. Any person who makes a report, whether it is a witness or as an affected individual, will not be subject to disciplinary action by the University for their own personal consumption of alcohol or other drugs at or near the time of the incident, provided that these actions did not harm or place the health or safety of any other person at risk.

Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on any protected status (i.e., age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status); sexual assault or sexual violence; sexual exploitation; interpersonal (relationship) violence; stalking; and complicity. View more information about the definition of each type of conduct and examples of these types of behavior. If you are not sure whether the conduct at issue is something that is covered by our policies, talk to someone in EOC and they can help clarify any questions you may have.

Each person may have a different reason for making a report. There is no right or wrong reason or rationale. Reporting an incident to the University provides you with the option of addressing the incident under the University’s Policies. This may include pursuing an investigation conducted by an EOC staff member, which could result in disciplinary action. It also allows EOC staff members to connect you to any available resources such as changes to housing, changes to class or work schedules, and assistance with academics (e.g., rescheduling exams and assignments, providing other course completion options, providing tutoring). Resources are available regardless of whether you decide to pursue a report.

You can make a report by contacting the EOC Office, the Report and Response Managers within EOC, staff in the Office of the Dean of Students, or staff in the UNC Police. You can do this by having a conversation with them in person, giving them a call, sending them an email or form by mail or fax (access a downloadable version of the form), or submitting an online form. Reach out to the office or individual you feel most comfortable contacting. If you feel most comfortable submitting a form, please use the online report form. Also, learn more about reporting for Responsible Employees.

When you make a report, the individual or office you have contacted will immediately share the report with a response team. This team consists of a small number of “need to know” staff members at Carolina, including staff from EOC, UNC Police, the Office of the Dean of Students when students are involved, the Office of Human Resources when employees are involved, and the Office of the Provost when faculty are involved. This team approach allows the University to respond quickly to an incident for the safety and well-being of those involved. The team will conduct an initial assessment of the behavior or incident.  As part of the assessment, this team will examine (1) any risk of harm to those involved or to the broader campus community, (2) the affected individual’s desired course of action for addressing the behavior or incident, and (3) any resources and supportive measures that can be put in place to protect the health and safety of those involved (e.g., medical care, counseling, no-contact orders, changes to housing or work schedules, assistance with academics).  A staff member on this team will contact the person who made the report to gather this information for the assessment and begin connecting them to resources.

At the time you make a report, you do not have to decide whether to request any particular course of action.  Choosing to make a report and deciding how to move forward after making the report is a process that can unfold over time. For example, you might choose to pursue support resources initially and later pursue adjudication, or you may wish to engage immediately in a formal investigation.  The University will make every effort to respect your decisions about how to proceed, recognizing that the University must move forward with cases in which there appears to be a threat to any individual or to the University as a whole. Know that resources are available to support an affected individual regardless of the course of action that is chosen.

The person you reported the incident to and the response team (described above) find out about the report. If the decision is made to pursue disciplinary action against the person who engaged in the conduct, information related to the report will be shared with that person. Remember, the University will make every effort to respect your decision about how to proceed. Information will only be shared with others if allowed by law and University Policies.

We want you to feel comfortable reporting an incident even if alcohol or drugs were involved. Any person who makes a report, whether it is a witness or as an affected individual, will not be subject to disciplinary action by the University for their own personal consumption of alcohol or other drugs at or near the time of the incident, provided that these actions did not harm or place the health or safety of any other person at risk. The Office of the Dean of Students may require a follow up meeting where support, resources, and counseling options may be required for a person who has engaged in the illegal or prohibited use of alcohol or drugs.

Collecting and preserving evidence is important even if you choose not to report the incident(s) at this time. Saving text messages, photos, clothing, and emails can help if you decide to make a report to the University or to a law enforcement agency at a later time.

In the event of sexual violence, you may want to preserve any DNA evidence left on your clothing or body. If you do choose to go to the hospital for an exam and to have evidence collected, avoid showering, brushing your teeth, or going to the bathroom until you’ve gone to the hospital.

Recording and logging information such as dates and times of incidents can also help you create a safety plan should you sense the conduct will happen again. As you document each incident, you may find there are patterns or events associated with the conduct. It may be helpful to keep a notebook or journal on hand but you may want to find a safe space in which to store it. Taking screenshots on your phone or photographs can provide a time stamp for many forms of unwanted contact, attention, or conduct.

View a handout with more information about the preservation of evidence