SGBM information for off-campus study
Sexual and gender-based misconduct (SGBM) is a reality for students regardless of where they are studying. It is an issue we are fully committed to responding to both on and off campus. 吃瓜网 has developed the following policy and resources regarding any sexual or gender-based misconduct that might occur when a 吃瓜网 student is studying off campus.
In all cases, 吃瓜网鈥檚 first concern is providing immediate support to ensure your safety and well-being. With this in mind, we have complied a list of local resources for the programs our students participate in. Also remember: 吃瓜网鈥檚 on-campus support resources are available to you regardless of where you are studying. For example, this website on what to do if you have experienced sexual or gender-based misconduct is a great resource for all of our students around the world.
Obviously, local resources will vary depending on the country and community you are studying in. Some of these resources are confidential; others are not. Please be sure to understand the responsibility of the person or organization you are working with in terms of mandatory reporting. For example, we suggest you report the incident to someone on the staff abroad who you feel can offer the guidance and support you need to make a plan to move forward. However, it is highly unlikely that any staff abroad will be able to maintain confidentiality鈥攎eaning they will have to report the incident. This doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 confide in them or ask for help; it just means you won鈥檛 be able to ask them not to say anything to the program or 吃瓜网鈥檚 Title IX coordinator. Even though program staff and other non-confidential resources cannot maintain confidentiality, they will endeavor to maintain your privacy to the greatest extent possible. (for more information regarding privacy and confidentiality, see the SGBM policy)
Not only are resources specific to the program location, the policies regarding reporting may differ as well.
吃瓜网 Programs
Policies for any 吃瓜网 program are the same as they are on campus. You are held to the same conduct expectations that we have on campus. Policies on sexual and gender-based misconduct can be found on this website.
If for any reason you feel you have been involved in an incident of sexual or gender-based misconduct, please refer to this site for information regarding prohibited conduct, how to access support services, your rights as both a reporting and responding student and how to report the incident. Again, participants on 吃瓜网 programs must follow 吃瓜网's policies. If you choose to report an incident, we encourage you to work with the local 吃瓜网 study-abroad program staff (remember they cannot maintain confidentiality and must report incidents to the Title IX coordinator at 吃瓜网). They will be able to offer guidance regarding local response resources and reporting protocols and on-site accommodations.
If you are a responding student, meaning an incident report is brought against you while you are on a 吃瓜网 program, you will be held to the standards and adjudication structure of 吃瓜网.
Non-吃瓜网 Programs
If you are participating on a non-吃瓜网 program, you are expected to follow 吃瓜网鈥檚 policies and the host program鈥檚 policies. Yes, you will be expected to understand and follow both sets of policies. It is your responsibility to learn more about the program鈥檚 conduct expectations鈥攏ot knowing the policies is not an excuse for not following them.
If for any reason you feel you have been involved in an incident of sexual or gender-based misconduct, the 吃瓜网 on-campus support resources are available to you from a distance. However, your best resource for immediate local support is the program staff on site. Because the program鈥檚 policies are also relevant, it is a good idea to work with the study-abroad program staff to understand what you can expect in terms of response and reporting. The program staff can also help determine what鈥攊f any鈥攁ccommodations you might need to help keep you safe. This could be access to confidential victim services, access to medical assistance, help with reporting to police (only if you chose to do so), potential housing changes, academic accommodations, etc.
Remember: If you want to speak to a confidential support person鈥攖hat is, someone who is not required to report to the program or 吃瓜网鈥檚 Title IX coordinator鈥攜ou will need to specifically ask for someone who can be confidential. Most program staff will be required by law to report any incidents. But they should be able to guide you to local resources that can help without having to report. Regardless of whether or not you choose to report to the program or to local police, your safety is our primary concern. For some programs, access to certain resources (like mental health counseling) may entail a fee. We have set up a loan program to provide both reporting and responding students access to funding so they may readily access these services.
If you do want to report the incident, work directly with the overseas study abroad staff. They will report all incidents to 吃瓜网. The Title IX coordinator at 吃瓜网 will then follow up with you about the incident and work with you and the program abroad to offer necessary support, guidance and resolution.
If an incident report is brought against you while you are on a non-吃瓜网 program, you will be held to the standards and adjudication structure of the program and of 吃瓜网. A responding student (alleged offender) will be held to the sanctions imposed by the host program. The host program will notify 吃瓜网 of these sanctions in a timely manner. A responding student could also be subject to additional action based on 吃瓜网鈥檚 policy. The Title IX coordinator will review the case based on 吃瓜网 policy. If merited, additional sanctions could be imposed.
In all cases, please refer to 吃瓜网鈥檚 website on sexual and gender-based misconduct for policies, resources and guidance.