Reporting Options

If you would like to make a report to the Office of Equal Opportunity, there are several ways to do so. You can:

Submit a report online via one of our Reporting Forms

Frequently Asked Questions about Reporting to the Office of Equal Opportunity

Who can I submit a report about?

OEO oversees policies that apply to students, faculty, staff, volunteers, visitors, vendors, alumni, independent contractors, individuals attempting to participate in university programs and activities, and others. In addition, you can submit a report about a person who is unaffiliated with the university or who is unknown to you. You can even report an incident that happened to you prior to joining the GW community.  Bottom line, you can report an incident regardless of who was involved, when the incident happened or where it happened.  The Office of Equal Opportunity staff is here to provide you with information about supportive resources and your options for moving forward.

What is the difference between making a report and filing a complaint?

There is an important distinction between making a report to the Office of Equal Opportunity and filing a formal complaint.

Reports are the initial communication and information the Office of Equal Opportunity receives about potential prohibited conduct (discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence or stalking, and related retaliation). The Office of Equal Opportunity receives reports from a variety of sources including but not limited to a Complainant (an individual who is alleged to have experienced prohibited conduct), friends of the Complainant, members of student organizations, and Designated Reporters (such as faculty members). A report to the Office of Equal Opportunity will result in OEO conducting outreach to the Complainant to offer support.

On the other hand, a formal complaint is a specific request to initiate either the Negotiated Resolution or Investigative Resolution process against a Respondent (the individual who allegedly engaged in the prohibited conduct). Note for complaints related to Title IX, a formal complaint is document signed by a Complainant or the Title IX Coordinator.

What happens after a report is made to the Office of Equal Opportunity?

When the Office of Equal Opportunity receives a report, a member of the Office of Equal Opportunity will send an outreach email to the impacted individual (the Complainant) to offer support and schedule an intake meeting. Complainants are not required to respond to the outreach email or schedule an intake meeting. The Office of Equal Opportunity simply wants the Complainant to know that the Office of Equal Opportunity is a resource available to them if and when they decide they would like to learn more about their options. If the Complainant would like to learn more, they can respond to the outreach email to schedule an intake meeting.

What does an OEO intake meeting look like?

Intake meetings with the Office of Equal Opportunity can be in-person or conducted virtually, depending on your preference. The purpose of the intake meeting is to provide you with information regarding reporting options, supportive measures, resources on and off campus, the process for filing a formal complaint, and resolution options. The Office of Equal Opportunity will consider your wishes with respect to how you want to move forward. 

Some Complainants may wish to only make a report but do not want any further action from the university; others may only be interested in receiving supportive measures, and others may wish to pursue either the Negotiated Resolution or Investigative Resolution process.

Supportive measures are available regardless of whether you choose to pursue a resolution.

Does making a report to OEO automatically result in an investigation process?

No. Making a report to the Office of Equal Opportunity will result in an outreach email being sent to the Complainant, if their identity is included in the report. However, it is up to the Complainant to decide if they want to respond to the outreach email and schedule an intake with the Office of Equal Opportunity. In the vast majority of cases, the Office of Equal Opportunity defers to the wishes of the Complainant in terms of what support they need and what processes, if any, they want to engage in. 

Occasionally, due to aggravating circumstances, the Office of Equal Opportunity may need to proceed with certain actions, even when the Complainant does not want to participate in a resolution process, in order to ensure the Complainant's safety or the safety of the GW community.

Examples of aggravating circumstances in Title IX cases include, but are not limited to, if an incident involved:

1. a weapon;
2. a minor;
3. multiple respondents; or
4. a high degree of violence.

Examples of aggravating circumstances in Equal Opportunity cases include, but are not limited to, if an incident involved:

1. whether alleged conduct created a hostile environment;
2. whether the cumulative effects of a series of incidents not reported in a single complaint may have resulted in a hostile environment;
3. when the university determines that discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic and/or related retaliation has occurred.

However, if the Office of Equal Opportunity needed to take action due to aggravating circumstances, the Office of Equal Opportunity would make every attempt to speak with the Complainant before doing so to address any safety concerns and ensure the Complainant is supported.

What happens if a report involves drug or alcohol usage?

Title IX has an amnesty policy around the personal consumption of alcohol and other drugs surrounding a Title IX incident. Please don't hesitate to seek support due to concerns about possible consequences related to GW's drug or alcohol policies, if applicable. See the Title IX Sexual Harassment and Related Conduct Policy for details. 

Does making a report to OEO mean the police will automatically be notified?

No. Making a report to the Office of Equal Opportunity will result in an outreach email being sent to the Complainant if their identity is included in the report. However, it is up to the Complainant to decide if they want to respond to the outreach email and schedule an intake with the Office of Equal Opportunity. In the vast majority of cases, the Office of Equal Opportunity defers to the wishes of the Complainant in terms of what support they need and what processes, if any, they want to engage in. This includes whether or not the Complainant is interested in reporting to the police.  If a Complainant is interested in making a report to the police, Title IX staff members can assist Complainants with that process. 

Only under limited circumstances, posing a threat to the health or safety of any individual, or to comply with applicable law, may the Office of Equal Opportunity independently notify law enforcement. 

What if I just need support and I don't want to pursue a resolution option? Should I still report to OEO?

Yes; It is very common that a Complainant connects with the Office of Equal Opportunity to make a report and receive support without proceeding to a resolution option. A Complainant is entitled to reasonable supportive measures despite whether they pursue a resolution option or not. The Office of Equal Opportunity strives to respect the autonomy of a Complainant’s decision regarding how to resolve their report.

Is a report to the Office of Equal Opportunity confidential?

No; However the Office of Equal Opportunity is a private resource. Information related to a report of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking, or related retaliation, will be handled discreetly and shared with a limited circle of university employees or designees who need to know in order to assist in the assessment, investigation, resolution of the report, and related issues. OEO staff members receive training on how to safeguard private information. In all such proceedings, the university will maintain the privacy of the parties to the extent reasonably possible.

Can I submit an anonymous report to OEO?

You are welcome and encouraged to share information about an incident even if you would like to remain anonymous. 

If you choose to remain anonymous, please be aware that the Office of Equal Opportunity will not be able to follow up with you regarding available resources and support options and the university may be limited in its ability to address the incident.

All information submitted will be reviewed by the Office of Equal Opportunity and the university will attempt to address the situation.

Providing information may help the university maintain accurate records regarding the number of incidents involving students, employees, and third parties; determine if there is a pattern of conduct with regard to a particular location or Respondent; and alert the campus community to potential dangers when appropriate. Depending on the amount of information available in the anonymous report, however, the university’s ability to respond with an investigation or resolution process may be limited. The university will not decline to investigate a matter based solely on whether the report was submitted anonymously.

Can I submit a report if I am not the one who experienced the incident?

You are welcome and encouraged to share information about an incident even if you were not directly involved in the situation. Please share whatever information you are comfortable sharing. Even if you do not know all of the relevant details, you are welcome and encouraged to report.

Keep in mind that if not enough relevant facts are provided or the Complainant does not respond to outreach from the Office of Equal Opportunity, the university may be limited in its ability to address the incident.

All information submitted will be reviewed by the the Office of Equal Opportunity and the university will attempt to address the situation, beginning by reaching out to the Complainant (the individual who is alleged to have experienced prohibited conduct). 

Please note that if you are reporting as a third party you are unlikely to receive follow-up from the Office of Equal Opportunity. This is so that we can prioritize the needs, wishes, and privacy of the Complainant. If you have specific questions and would like follow up, please indicate that when submitting your report or contact Asha Reynolds, Associate Vice President for Equal Opportunity.

Can I request anonymity after reporting to the Office of Equal Opportunity?

Once a report has been shared with OEO, a Complainant may request that their identity not be shared with the Respondent (request for anonymity), that no investigation occur, or that no resolution process be pursued. The university will carefully balance this request in the context of the university's commitment to provide a safe and non-discriminatory environment for all university community members. In some cases, including where the university determines that the failure to pursue a resolution process would be inconsistent with its legal obligations, the university may choose to pursue a resolution even if a Complainant requests that no resolution be pursued.

In Title IX cases, the university will make all reasonable efforts to respond to the report consistent with a Complainant’s request, but in order to pursue a resolution against a Respondent under the Title IX Policy, the Respondent must be provided with sufficient notice of the reported conduct, including the Complainant’s identity if known.