Confidentiality in Reporting Policy Violations

Emergency Information

DIAL 911
to report a police, fire, or medical emergency.

University of Iowa Police
Non-emergency number:
319/335-5022

Rape Victim Advocacy Program
Call 24-hour Rape Crisis Line:
319/335-6000

Domestic Violence Intervention Program
319/351-1043

The University of Iowa is committed to providing students, faculty, and staff with options for learning about University policies and reporting violations, including resources that offer private advice and referrals. While the University values and honors confidentiality, some units and individuals are obligated by policy or law to report violations.

UI Mandatory Reporters

UI community members required to report certain types of misconduct include:

Collegiate deans, including associate deans and assistant deans
Academic departmental executive officers (DEOs)
Staff members whose primary job involves providing academic advice to students
Residence hall staff
Faculty members serving as departmental (or collegiate) director of undergraduate or graduate studies
University president, director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, vice presidents (including assistant and associate vice presidents), and provost (including assistant and associate provosts), and those persons' designees
Plus others; see the definition of "Academic or administrative officer" in the University Operations Manual II.4.1.b(3)

For more information, see this page on Mandatory Reporting.

Confidential Resources

If you are concerned about confidentiality when discussing a legal or policy violation, your best approach is to ask about confidentiality and mandatory reporting at the very start of the conversation.

The following staff members and units are available to provide confidential advice and support around a variety of areas of policy and criminal misconduct.

Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP) - The Rape Victim Advocacy Program provides counseling, in-person advocacy, information and referrals to people who have experienced sex-related offenses and/or sexual harassment. Services are free and confidential (specified under Iowa state law), and staff and advocates are certified sexual assault counselors.
Women's Resource & Action Center (WRAC) - WRAC offers a range of services, some of which are confidential under University policy and State of Iowa law. Please ask about confidentiality when first contacting WRAC.
University Counseling Service (UCS) - Your discussions with your counselor, any paperwork you complete, and test results are treated confidentially by the UCS. For more information, see the section on confidentiality at this page in their site.
Faculty and Staff Services / Employee Assistance Program - UI faculty, staff and family members are assured that all information is held in confidence, except in those circumstances defined by federal or state statute. For more information, see the section on confidentiality at this page in their site.
University of Iowa Police - The University of Iowa Police may keep confidential peace officers' investigative reports, except where disclosure is authorized elsewhere under Chapter 20 of the Iowa Code or by court order. However, the date, time, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding a crime or incident shall not be kept confidential Chapter 20, except in those unusual circumstances where disclosure would plainly and seriously jeopardize an investigation or pose a clear and present danger to the safety of an individual. It is our policy not to release victim information for crimes involving sexual misconduct, harassment, or assault.
Office of the Ombudsperson - The staff at the Office of the Ombudsperson have a professional obligation to keep their communications with clients confidential and will not disclose those communications unless required to do so by court order or to avoid imminent physical harm.

Making Policy and Criminal Complaints

The following units have been established within the University to handle formal complaints. Depending on the nature of the complaint/offense, confidentiality may be limited.

More Reporting Options

Use the links below for more information about reporting other types of policy violations.