The University of Michigan announced updated policies Tuesday effective immediately that expand reporting obligations to all University non-confidential employees and establish a new interim anti-discrimination policy for students.
Previously, reporting requirements applied only to a select group of supervisors, faculty and staff known as Individuals with Reporting Obligations. Now, all non-confidential employees of the University, including student employees, are mandated to report information about alleged discrimination, harassment, retaliation or sexual misconduct learned in the scope of their employment to the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office within 48 hours.
Reportable information gathered from a classroom, classroom discussions or assignments are not required to be brought to ECRT, and the updated policies do not apply to employees already held to confidentiality agreements, such as therapists and healthcare professionals. Failure to report information may result in sanctions from a formal reprimand to expulsion depending on the number of infractions.
Other institutions such as Michigan State University, Northern Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University already have mandatory reporting obligations for all employees.
The University also introduced a new Interim Policy and Procedures on Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation by Students, which outlines the University’s non-discrimination policy, support options and processes for complaints. ERCT will conduct listening sessions for the University community before the policy is finalized.
The updates fulfill a 2024 agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights requiring the University to clarify procedures for addressing complaints after an investigation launched June 2024.
Daily News Editor Emma Spring can be reached at sprinemm@umich.edu.
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