Frequently Asked Questions

Once EOAA determines that the reported incident is within the purview of the office, a case will be created. If the incident is outside the purview of the office, it will be referred to the appropriate office where possible. If warranted, an EOAA investigation will be conducted to determine whether or not there was a policy violation.

No, EOAA is not a confidential resource, but information shared with us will not be shared to anyone outside the case. The University defines a confidential resource as a resource that does not have a duty to report. For a list of confidential resources, please refer to our NYASH Resource Sheet.

You may notice that there is one set of policies and two sets of procedures in EOAA Policies & Procedures. 

Our policies prohibit discrimination, harassment, and gender-based misconduct; identify employee reporting requirements; outline prohibited romantic and sexual relationships between faculty and undergraduate, graduate students, and other relationships; and detail University accommodation policies.

Our two sets of procedures guide how EOAA will manage a report of prohibited conduct. When EOAA receives a report, it will evaluate the allegations and determine whether the report should be reviewed under EOAA Discrimination & Harassment Procedures or the Interim Title IX Grievance Process. Only allegations that meet Title IX’s narrow definition of sexual harassment and gender-based misconduct will go through the Interim Title IX Grievance Process. This is required by the Title IX regulations that became effective on August 14, 2020. All prohibited conduct not covered by Title IX will be addressed through EOAA Discrimination & Harassment Procedures.

Both sets of procedures provide for a thorough, fair, and unbiased review of the allegations, due process for all parties, and all complainants and respondents may have an advisor. The key difference is that the Title IX Grievance process requires a hearing with cross-examination of parties and witnesses.

It is not the responsibility of the person making a report to determine which procedures apply. All reports should be directed to EOAA, as always. You can also consult with EOAA or the Title IX Coordinator if you have questions about the procedures and how they apply.

Yes. All parties may be accompanied by one advisor of their choice from the beginning of the reporting process through the resolution of the report. Parties participating in a Title IX Grievance Hearing are required to have an advisor for the hearing.

EOAA does not decide sanctions. Managers, supervisors, and department chairs, in consultation with EOAA, Human Resources, and/or Faculty Affairs, decide sanctions.

Once a case has been created, you will be contacted by the EOAA Office. If you have a question about the status of your case and you have not yet been contacted by the Office or are a mandatory reporter or witness, please contact [email protected].

Please contact [email protected] with questions or concerns.

Reports to the University should include all of the information the reporter knows about an incident or issue being reported. This may include:

• The name and role (e.g., employee, student, third party) of the person or people allegedly engaged in misconduct and the person(s) who was the target of the alleged misconduct;
• Details about the incident(s) or conduct that may have violated an EOAA Policy;
• Date(s) and location(s) of the incident(s);
• The name and role of any witness(es) to the incident(s) and their email address(es), telephone number(s), and street address(es) if known.

Incidents should be reported via the online referral form available at eoaa.columbia.edu. Just click where it says “Report an Incident.”  

Mandatory reporters should identify themselves as mandatory reporters where it asks for the role of the submitter in the section titled Background Information. If, in addition to being a mandatory reporter, you are also a witness to any of the alleged prohibited conduct, you should also identify yourself as bystander/witness in the section “Involved Parties/Witnesses” section of the report form.

If you are the target of the prohibited conduct, you should identify yourself as the “Complainant.” If you observed what happened, please identify yourself as a “Bystander/Witness.” And if you have engaged in or been accused of engaging in prohibited conduct, please identify yourself as the Respondent.

If you are a mandatory reporter and did not witness the alleged prohibited conduct, you will receive an email acknowledging your report. You should not expect to be contacted by the EOAA Office again about the matter unless EOAA determines that you may have additional information.

If you are a complainant, witness, or respondent, EOAA will contact you to learn more about the issue reported.

When the alleged prohibited conduct falls outside EOAA’s jurisdiction, the matter is referred to Human Resources, a supervisor/manager, University Life, the Gender-Based Misconduct Office,      and/or another appropriate office.

Most reports that come to EOAA are typically resolved in fewer than sixty (60) days. A case may be settled through an inquiry or mediation/facilitated dialogue, investigated, or administratively closed.

EOAA strives to preserve the privacy of information shared leading up to and during an investigation where maintaining such privacy does not conflict with its obligations to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation.

EOAA is grateful to Columbia employee’s for fulfilling their obligations as mandatory reporters and to witnesses who report alleged misconduct and participate in an investigation.

Mandatory reporters and witnesses should not expect to be updated on the status of a case or its outcome. Typically only the complainant, respondent, and the respondent’s supervisor are informed of the case outcome.

No. Just because a complaint was made, you do not have to participate in any EOAA process.

Yes. All parties may be accompanied by one advisor of their choice from the beginning of the reporting process through the resolution of the report. Parties participating in a Title IX Grievance Hearing are required to have an advisor for the hearing.

Yes. If after reviewing the report, speaking with the Complainant (if relevant), and reviewing other available information it is determined that there should be an inquiry or investigation, employees accused of violating EOAA policy must participate.

Yes. All parties may be accompanied by one advisor of their choice from the beginning of the reporting process through the resolution of the report. Parties participating in a Title IX Grievance Hearing are required to have an advisor for the hearing.

You can easily request a training or workshop here.

Yes, several of our programs are available to complete asynchronously. Please contact [email protected] for more information.