When a person experiences sexual harassment or sexual violence, or is accused of engaging in these things, that person may need help and support. At Case Western Reserve University, the Title IX Coordinator in the Office for Equity, and its staff, are responsible for providing outreach to persons impacted by sexual harassment or sexual violence about support, resources and information, including initiating an investigation of possible sexual harassment or sexual violence. The Office for Equity is available to support any person impacted by an experience with or an accusation of sexual harassment harassment or sexual violence. This support is available regardless of whether a person initiates or participates in an investigation of that conduct. The Office for Equity encourages people impacted by sexual harassment or sexual violence to seek support from the Office for Equity.
Where to find support or learn about the investigation process
To obtain immediate and other support as a person who is impacted by sexual harassment or sexual violence, or to share that another person requires that support, or to initiate an investigation of possible sexual harassment or sexual violence, members of the CWRU community should contact the Office for Equity by using the contact information below or by completing this form. Individuals can call, text, email, or walk-in to the Office for Equity to request a meeting with an Equity Specialist & Investigator. People seeking support can share details about their experience or choose not to do so - regardless, they are still entitled to assistance from the Office for Equity.
In addition, anyone who is impacted by sexual harassment or sexual violence, including someone who is accused of engaging in that conduct, or who knows that someone else is impacted by sexual harassment or sexual violence, can share their information with any faculty or staff member including, but not limited to those in the Office for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity, Office of Student Affairs, CWRU Police Department, and Residence Life. Faculty and staff in these offices are Responsible Employees who will then notify the Title IX Coordinator that a member of the CWRU community may require support from the Office for Equity, including possibly seeking that the Office for Equity conduct an investigation. The Office for Equity will then reach out to the person who needs support.
The Residence Life On-Call (On-campus residents) or CWRU Police (On-Campus and Off-Campus) at 216.368.3333 are available when immediate help is required in the evenings or on weekends or holidays. Residence Life On-Call contact information is available at the entrance of each residence hall and on each residential student's myHousing portal. Residence Life and/or CWRU Police will notify the Title IX Coordinator that someone impacted by sexual harassment or sexual violence may need assistance, including information about initiating an investigation, from the Office for Equity.
The Office of Equity
- Share that someone needs support here
- Mailing Address: 2120 Cornell rd. Nursing Research Building, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
- Office Location: Nursing Research Building, Suite 1180
- Phone: 216.368.3066; or evenings and weekends (text or call) (937) 756-2179.
- Email: equity@case.edu
Anonymous Reports
Reports can be submitted anonymously through the Integrity Hotline to the Title IX Coordinator for investigation. The Office for Equity's experience is that it is very difficult to effectively investigate an anonymous report of sexual harassment or sexual violence, or support the person who most needs help, when the only information that the Office for Equity has came from an anonymous report.
The Office for Equity urges those people considering sharing their experience, or another person's experience, anonymously to remember that the Office for Equity will never force anyone to participate in an investigation, share the name of the person who hurt them (or someone else), go to the police or take any other action that person isn't ready to or doesn't want to take. Alternatively, a person considering sharing their experience or someone else's anonymously should telephone the Office for Equity to ask the questions or express the concerns or that may be generating the interest in anonymity. Equity promises not to attempt to determine the identity of the caller in that case.
University faculty, staff, officials and student employees are Responsible Employees
Case Western Reserve University employees (faculty, staff, administrators, resident assistants, teaching assistants and orientation leaders) are required to share information with the Office for Equity when they learn that a member of the CWRU community may have experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence, or may be accused of engaging in that conduct. The purpose of the Responsible Employee rule is so that the Office for Equity learns the names of the people in the CWRU community who may need support relating to an experience of sexual harassment or sexual violence, including being accused of those things.
When a member of the CWRU community, who may have experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence, or may be accused of engaging in that conduct, shares information about their situation with a Responsible Employee, that Responsible Employee can connect that person with resources and information, including those relating to crime reporting and violations of CWRU policies. Responsible Employees will promptly share with the Title IX Coordinator when they know that a member of the CWRU community may be impacted by sexual harassment or sexual violence. The Office for Equity will promptly reach out, usually by email, to offer various kinds of support that are available on a no-questions-asked, no-strings-attached basis.
Faculty, staff, administrators and student employees can report actual or suspected discrimination or harassment to the Office of Equity at using the contact information above or this form. Information about being a Responsible Employee can be found here.
CWRU has confidential resources on campus who are not required to share with the Office for Equity when they learn that a member of the CWRU community may have experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence, or may be accused of engaging in that conduct. Confidential Resources may offer options and resources without any obligation to share information with the Office for Equity. Confidential Resources are available here.