Making a Report to the College
The Office of Equal Opportunity is responsible for receiving reports about, and overseeing investigations related to, discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence.
You may decide to report to the Office of Equal Opportunity because you want the college to have a record of what happened and who caused harm, but are not interested in a formal investigation.
You may decide to report to the Office of Equal Opportunity because you are interested in having the Office of Equal Opportunity engage in formal investigation.
- A formal investigation is a process that takes at least 60-90 days, if not longer.
- Learn more about Emerson's Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Violence.
- Learn more about OEO's Formal Complaint Process.
- Learn more about OEO's Title IX Grievance Process.
- The Healing & Advocacy Collective is a confidential resource that can explain the policies and processes in more detail before you decide whether or not to make a report. You're welcome to consult with us before or any time in the process of making a report or going through an investigation.
In order to make a report to the Office of Equal Opportunity you can call 617-824-8999 or email oeo [at] emerson.edu to schedule a time to meet, or access the reporting form. You have the right to have a support person or advocate with you; let us know if you’d like Healing & Advocacy to go with you as your advocate.
617-824-8999
oeo [at] emerson.edu (oeo[at]emerson[dot]edu)
Emerson community members attending and working at the Los Angeles, Kasteel Well, or Paris College of Art locations may also report to the Office of Equal Opportunity. Healing & Advocacy is available to support you.
It is important to know that:
- Emerson employees who witness or become aware of interpersonal violence also report to the Office of Equal Opportunity (except for confidential resources).
- The Office of Equal Opportunity will email the impacted individual(s).
- You have the choice on how, when, and whether or not to respond to the Office of Equal Opportunity.
- Emerson should take all reasonable steps to respond, which may include implementing supportive/protective and interim measures, accommodations, and an investigation.
- Retaliation for filing a report is taken very seriously and is considered a violation of Emerson's policies.
Supportive/Protective And Interim Measures
The Office of Equal Opportunity can implement measures to try and address academic, housing, or work concerns at Emerson, as well as implement a campus No Contact Order or Stay Away Directive.
A No Contact Order is an Emerson College order that prohibits a person (who is an Emerson student/staff/faculty/affiliated third party) from contacting you. Contact includes:
- In person (verbally, non-verbally, or physically)
- By phone or voicemail (including text message)
- Online (e.g. email, messaging, social media, networking sites)
- Written communication (e.g. notes, letters, mail)
- Via third party (e.g. asking a friend to talk with the person for you)
You can request a campus No Contact Order. The Healing & Advocacy Collective can assist with this process. Campus No Contact Orders are typically mutual and implemented by the Office of Equal Opportunity in coordination with Campus Life (students) or Human Resources (employees).
About Federal Title IX Law
Every school, college and university must have a Title IX Coordinator. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex and gender based discrimination, including harassment and violence, in education programs and activities. Federal law (Title IX, Title IV, VAWA, Clery Act) requires colleges to be responsive to any incident of sex and gender based discrimination, harassment or violence that comes to their attention and take steps to address any potential effects and prevent future harm.