Reporting and Rights

Assault Survivors Advocacy Program

If you’ve experienced gender-based violence, you have choices. You can decide if, when, and how to report.

You can report to the University, to the police, to both, or not at all. What’s most important is that you do what feels right for you.

There are multiple options to report anonymously.

Speak with an ASAP advocate to learn your options.

Confidential support is available through ASAP if you want to talk through your options first. We’re here to listen, support, and help you take the next step—whatever that looks like for you.

Reporting Options

If you choose to report gender-based violence, you can work with law enforcement to do so. Survivors can report sexual assault, relationship violence, or stalking to the University of Northern Colorado Police Department (UNCPD) if the incident happened on campus.

If it happened off campus, you’ll need to report it to the police department in the city or town where it occurred.

If you’ve experienced sexual assault, you can choose to have a SANE exam (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner exam). This exam is done by a specially trained nurse to check for injuries, prevent pregnancy or STIs, and collect evidence if you want.

There are three types of SANE exams:

  • Medical Report: You talk to the nurse or doctor during the exam. You can choose to share your name or stay anonymous.
  • Law Enforcement Report : You report the assault to the police and the evidence is sent to them.
  • Anonymous Report : Your name is not shared, but evidence is still collected and saved in case you want to report later.

You get to choose what’s right for you.

Students and employees can report gender-based violence to the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) at UNC. Reporting to the University is not the same as reporting to the police—it does not start a criminal investigation.

OIEC offers both formal and informal options, and you can choose what feels best for you. An ASAP advocate can help explain the difference between these processes and what to expect.

Even if the other person involved is not a UNC student, you can still get support through OIEC. The goal is to help you stay safe, stay in school, and succeed. Just know that UNC policies only apply to members of the UNC community.

Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights

In cases of sexual assault on campus:

  • Survivors shall be notified of their options to notify law enforcement.
  • Accuser and accused must have the same opportunity to have others present at any disciplinary proceeding.
  • Both parties shall be informed of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding.
  • Survivors shall be notified of counseling services.
  • Survivors shall be notified of options for changing academic, employment, transportation, financial aid, immigration, and living situations.
  • The Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights was signed into law by President George Bush in July of 1992. This law requires that all colleges and
  • universities (both public and private) participating in federal student aid programs afford sexual assault victims certain basic rights. The “Campus Sexual
  • Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights” exists as a part of the campus security reporting requirements—commonly known as the Jeanne Clery Act from The Clery Center for Security on Campus.

On March 7, 2013, President Barack Obama signed a bill that strengthened and reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Included in the VAWA legislation were amendments to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act which afford additional rights to campus victims of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, gender-based harassment and bullying, and stalking.

A survivor of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, gender-based harassment or bullying, and stalking shall be afforded the following rights:

  • Victim’s or survivor’s option to decline to notify authorities.
  • Accuser and accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present at any disciplinary proceeding or related meeting including an advisor of their choice.
  • Both parties shall be notified simultaneously of the outcome of any disciplinary hearing, procedures to appeal, any change of results prior to final results, and final results.
  • Written notification to victims or survivors about victims’ or survivors’ rights, options, and assistance the school is required to provide, including the institution’s obligation to arrange appropriate accommodations for academic, counseling, health services, legal advocacy and assistance filing criminal reports, housing and transportation, financial aid assistance, immigration and visa assistance, help with employment concerns, and various other on-campus and off-campus needs.
  • Information regarding how the institution will protect the confidentiality of victims or survivors, including how publicly available record keeping will be accomplished without the inclusion of identifying information about the victim or survivor, to the extent permitted by law.
  • Written notification to students and employees about existing resources and services on campus and within the local community, including counseling, medical and mental health services, immigration and visa assistance, employment, financial aid assistance, and legal services.