Confidentiality and Reporting

Understanding your reporting options helps you make an informed decision about how to proceed. This page explains confidential resources, what mandated reporting means at APSU, and who has authority to receive your report.

Mandated Reporting

All APSU employees not designated as confidential resources are mandated reporters. They are required to share information you disclose to them with the Title IX Coordinator. This does not obligate you to any formal involvement — the Title IX Coordinator will simply reach out to offer support and the opportunity to file a formal complaint.

Requesting Anonymity with a Mandated Reporter

At your request, a Mandated Reporter may report to the Title IX Coordinator without identifying you. The Mandated Reporter may honor that request unless there is reasonable belief that a compelling threat to health or safety exists. The Mandated Reporter may consult with the Title IX Coordinator on that determination without revealing your personally identifiable information.

Anonymous reports will be investigated by APSU to the extent possible. However, anonymous notice typically limits the university's ability to investigate, respond, and provide remedies.

Even when anonymity is requested, all details of the incident other than your identifying information must still be shared with the Title IX Coordinator.

Note: Mandated reporters may not be able to maintain anonymity for Complainants who are minors, elderly, or have disabilities, depending on state reporting requirements for abuse.

Officials with Authority (OWAs)

Officials with Authority are APSU employees explicitly vested with the responsibility to implement corrective measures and provide notice to the Title IX Coordinator. A list of OWAs is located on pages 8–9 of APSU Policy 6:001.

When you give an OWA notice of an incident, APSU will:

• Offer supportive measures

• Explain your options for formal and informal resolution

If a formal complaint is filed with an OWA or the Title IX Coordinator, the incident will be investigated and resolved in a prompt and equitable manner under APSU’s Sexual Harassment Procedures.

Supportive Measures Without a Formal Complaint

You may request that the Title IX Coordinator provide you with supportive measures and resources without initiating a formal resolution process. If you wish to pursue a formal resolution process, the Title IX Coordinator will be unable to honor any request for confidentiality. The Respondent must be provided sufficient information, including the identity of the Complainant, to allow them to appropriately respond.

If APSU decides it is obligated to pursue formal resolution based on the notice you have given, the Title IX Coordinator can initiate a complaint. You are not obligated to participate in the resolution process as Complainant, or you could participate as a witness, instead. Regardless of whether you participate, you will have all the rights to which a Complainant is entitled, if you want them. The ability of APSU to enforce its policies may be limited if you decide not to participate at all.

A Note on Minors and Vulnerable Persons
Reporting obligations regarding minors (under age 18) may require reporting to state agencies and/or local law enforcement. As a result, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in those situations.