Important Resources

Reporting Child Abuse

Introduction

°®¶¹´«Ã½ law now requires a state university administrator, upon receiving information of suspected abuse, to report known or reasonably suspected abuse of a child committed on the property of the university, or during an event or function sponsored by the university. The new law also requires that a person who knows, or has a reasonable suspicion, that a child is the victim of abuse, report that knowledge or suspicion to the °®¶¹´«Ã½ Abuse Hotline.

Training for Administrators

All °®¶¹´«Ã½ employees defined as administrators (see list below) must complete the

The Board of Governors has defined administrators as:

  • University President
  • Provost
  • Senior/Executive Vice Presidents
  • Vice Presidents
  • Associate/Vice Provosts
  • Associate Vice Presidents
  • Deans
  • Chief of Police
  • Equal Opportunity Programs Director
  • Intercollegiate Athletics Director
  • Internal Audit Director
  • Title IX Coordinator
  • University Compliance Officer

Institutional Penalties for Failure to Report

If a state university administrator knowingly and willfully fails to report or prevents another from reporting known or suspected child abuse, neglect or abandonment committed on university property (whether or not at a °®¶¹´«Ã½ activity) or at a university-sponsored event, the university will be subject to a one million dollar fine for each failure. The law provides that the DCF will determine whether child abuse, neglect or abandonment occurred; university administrators must report, even if there is a suspicion.

*Please note that, in addition to the above institutional requirements, all persons in °®¶¹´«Ã½ have an independent, individual obligation to report known or suspected child abuse, neglect and abandonment to the DCF Hotline at (800) 962-2873 or via . The abuser can be anyone - not just a parent or caretaker - including, if the abuse is sexual in nature, another child. Knowing and willful failure to report constitutes a third-degree felony.

For More Information

Contact Human Resources at 813-974-2970.