If you are a faculty or staff member on campus, you have a vital role in helping to prevent and respond to sexual harassment (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking), sexual exploitation, and retaliation (prohibited conduct). Here are a few ways you can get involved and help your community.
Use your syllabus.
Provide a quick explanation and contact information in your syllabus. By doing so, you are providing information on resources and supports and you are informing students of your mandatory reporter status.
Syllabus Language
Here is some boilerplate language that you may choose to copy and paste into your syllabus.
University of Tennessee faculty are committed to supporting our students and upholding gender equity laws as outlined by Title IX.
Please be aware that if you choose to confide in a faculty member regarding an issue of sexual harassment (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking), sexual exploitation, and retaliation (prohibited conduct) we are obligated to inform the University’s Office of Title IX. They can assist you in connecting with all possible resources both on- and off-campus.
If you would like to speak with someone confidentially, the Student Counseling Center (865-974-2196) and the Student Health Center (865-974-3135) are both confidential resources.
For additional resources and information, visit titleix.utk.edu.
If you are a distance education student and do not have access to confidential on-campus resources, you are not alone.
The Office of Title IX can assist to identify confidential resources in your local area. You do not have to provide any information or even your name.
Alternatively, you may contact the following national resources for referrals and support information.
- Sexual Assault: National Sexual Assault Telephone Line, 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
- Domestic Violence: National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233
- Stalking: The Stalking Resource Center, 1-855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846)
Encourage and attend educational and prevention programming on campus.
By fostering a campus culture of gender equity and respect through programming, training, and awareness campaigns, faculty and staff can help prevent sexual harassment (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking), sexual exploitation, and retaliation (prohibited conduct).
UT offers and promotes many events both on- and off-campus that are open to all. It is important that students see faculty and staff as part of the Vols Help Vols community.
Visit the Center for Health Education and Wellness to stay current with prevention initiatives.
Check the campus calendar for relevant upcoming events, and encourage your students to do so as well.
Participate in faculty and staff training.
You can help educate your peers by requesting a training for your department or unit. Call the Office of Title IX at 865-974-9600 or complete our training request form.
Beyond that, you may choose to help your colleagues become more responsive to and aware of sexual violence issues by being trained as a facilitator or trainer yourself. Ask for training that specifically addresses faculty and staff roles and responsibilities.
Have up-to-date resources on hand to provide to students if they disclose to you.
Faculty and staff members can be influential in ensuring that students have access to important information if they report to you.