Reporting to OIE

Many times, individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct, protected class discrimination or harassment, or related misconduct will seek help from friends, family members, or trusted individuals. 

If you are reporting for someone else, you can do so by reaching out to the Office of Institutional Equity by phone at (719) 255-4324, by email at equity@uccs.edu, or through our online reporting form. By reporting to OIE, you are helping ensure an individual is safe, making negative behaviors stop, and letting OIE gather more in-depth information from the individual so the best support can be offered. 

When an individual notifies the OIE that they have experienced sexual misconduct or discrimination and harassment, the OIE will provide referral information as needed in accessing on- and off-campus services, including but not limited to counseling, health services, mental health services, victim advocacy, and/or forensic sexual assault nurse exams (“SANE”).

Additionally, an individualized assessment of appropriate supportive measures will take place for anyone who reports to OIE. Supportive measures, which may be available, include but are not limited to: 

• No-Contact Orders enforced by the University
• Academic accommodations
• Housing accommodations
• On-campus employment accommodations
• Other appropriate accommodations as determined by the Title IX Coordinator or designee

For assistance with accommodations and supportive measures, please contact OIE, at (719) 255-4324. Some remedies are also available confidentially. Please contact the Wellness Center at (719) 255-4444 for information on confidential assistance.

Regardless of whether or not an individual wants to proceed with a formal complaint or a police investigation, it is important to preserve any evidence of the misconduct so that if an individual decides at any point in time to report the incident, that evidence is still available.

Examples of evidence to preserve include, but are not limited to:

• Screenshot any text messages, social media posts, or other electronic evidence. This can also include keeping relevant voicemails. 
• Take photos of any injuries or property damage. 
• Keep a journal and document your experience and feelings. Include dates, times, locations, and a detailed description of what happened. 
• Keep a list of names of witnesses and contact information. 

If you are a victim of a sexual assault, you may request a medical forensic exam. This is important if you think you want to seek legal action. It is vital that a victim obtains medical treatment as soon as possible and does not bathe, shower, douche, or change clothes until given permission by medical personnel. You can have the exam without having to report the assault to law enforcement. You will not be charged for the cost of the exam.

Please note that if some or all this evidence is unavailable or does not exist, you are still encouraged to report. The lack of evidence does not preclude an investigation from taking place. 

Because the school's primary concern is student safety, minor alcohol and drug violations by a complainant will be handled informally whenever possible. The complainant's use of alcohol or other drugs does not make the complainant at fault for being a victim of sexual violence.

Providing false or misleading information related to misconduct is contrary to the purposes of the Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Abuse and Stalking Policy and the Nondiscrimination Policy. Members of the University community must provide reports of misconduct in good faith. A person who knowingly or recklessly alleges a false complaint of misconduct or knowingly or recklessly provides false information during the course of an investigation violates the Applicable Policy. Making a report or providing information in good faith, even if the facts alleged in the report are not later substantiated, will not constitute providing false or misleading information.