Listen. Support. Report.
Follow these simple steps to ensure you provide the survivor with all required information.
Allow the survivor to share openly without making judgments or evaluations.
Tell survivors that you cannot guarantee confidentiality. Refer survivors who want that guarantee to confidential resources including Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention & Prevention, Counseling & Psychiatry or Pathways to Healing.
The university and nearby communities have a number of resources available 24/7 to survivors.
To ensure that survivors know the full array of support available, review the contacts and resources with them.
In compliance with Title IX, university policy assigns employees (except confidential resources) an obligation to immediately report their knowledge of sexual assault of a student, whether the incident occurred on or off campus.
How to Have This Conversation
Students may disclose traumatic events — including sexual assault — to employees for a variety of reasons. If a student shares this troubling news with you, it’s important that you know how to have an appropriate, compassionate conversation with them. Learn how with help from our conversation guide.
SAVIP staff members are available to the university community for consultations on how to best support a survivor and file a report. Call 803-777-8248 to learn more.
Why You Must Report Assault
As members of the Carolina family, you have a responsibility to help create and care for a safer community. As University of South Carolina employees, federal law and university policy require you to assist survivors and report sexual assault.
Title IX is a federal law that protects students from gender discrimination, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. Title IX also prescribes the ways colleges and universities must administer Title IX-related policies and procedures, including complaints, investigations and resolutions.
In compliance with Title IX, university policy assigns employees an obligation to immediately report their knowledge of sexual assault of a student, whether the incident occurred on or off campus. The exceptions to this reporting obligation are confidential resources, employees with a legal obligation or privilege of confidentiality. Confidential resources are not required to report the identity of sexual assault survivors. At South Carolina, medical and counseling staff, sexual assault survivor advocates, members of the clergy and attorneys are confidential resources.