Safe@Weber

Weber State University is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all individuals on its campus. The university prohibits all forms of violence, discrimination and harassment, in accordance with university policy. Such behavior may take many forms and include sexual harassment, sexual violence, rape, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and sexual exploitation. 

Specifically, sexual harassment is a type of discriminatory harassment involving unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature directed against a person based on that person’s sex, sexual orientation or their gender identity/expression. Sexual harassment can range from unwelcome compliments, invitations or requests for sexual favors, sexual advances or other verbal or nonverbal conduct of a sexual nature, to the other more serious behavior such as sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. No person may engage in sex-based harassment that creates a hostile environment. This includes harassment which is so severe or pervasive that it denies or limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the university’s program, unreasonably interferes with an employee’s work performance or creates an intimidating or offensive work environment. Both subjective and objective factors are considered when evaluating whether a hostile climate exists. 

Reporting

Students who experience or become aware of any form of violence, sexual violence or sexual harassment are encouraged to immediately report such behaviors. To report any crime or emergency, call 911 or University Police at 801-626-6460, 3734 Dixon Parkway. For help responding to non-emergency situations, call any of these offices:

The university encourages you to seek out these resources regardless of whether the behavior occurred on or off campus.  These resources are available to assist you in making decisions about how to proceed.   

Anonymous reporting can also be done by filling out this form. Any information given may assist the police in determining if there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method or suspect, and may enable the police, in appropriate circumstances, to alert the campus community to potential dangers. Filing an anonymous report may limit the ability of the police department to provide specific assistance or to investigate or solve a crime.

Confidentiality

When you seek help from anyone on campus, first ask what level of confidentiality they can provide and what they are required to report. Many survivors seek out a supervisor, professor or individual in a position of trust. You are strongly encouraged to talk to somebody about what happened in order to get needed support. However, certain WSU personnel have reporting obligations:

  • All WSU faculty, staff and administrators are required to report disclosures of sexual harassment to the Title IX Coordinator, with the exception of the Counseling and Psychological Services Center.
  • Some faculty, staff and administrators (Campus Security Authorities) are also required to report criminal activity, absent identifying information, to the WSU Police Department. See http://weber.edu/police/reporting.html for further information about CSA reporting.
  • Other laws prevent confidentiality from being maintained in cases of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of minors or vulnerable adults, or if a determination is made that you are in imminent danger of harming yourself and others.    

Other off-campus resources have different levels or reporting requirements and none have reporting requirements to the university. If you are reluctant to come forward to university personnel, please seek help somewhere. A list of off-campus resources is available below.

Procedures

The university’s procedures for disciplinary action when a student alleges policy violations are outlined in the University’s Policies and Procedures Manual, including PPMs 3-32 (Sexual Harassment), PPM 6-22 (Student Code), PPM 5-36a (Safety, Response, and Reporting). 

The person responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning nondiscrimination policies is the university's Executive Director of Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity, who is also the university’s Title IX Coordinator, Barry Gomberg. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education, including sexual harassment. Students who come forward with a sexual harassment claim also are entitled to have a Weber State University Advocate, through the Women’s Center and Safe@Weber Program, or personal support person with them when speaking with the Title IX Coordinator.

When there is an allegation of a violation of university policy regarding sexual harassment, the Title IX coordinator will work with the individual to prevent recurrence or retaliation, determine next steps and assist the person to understand options and resources available. The Title IX coordinator reviews all incidents where discrimination or harassment implications are raised. Such allegations should be reported as soon as possible after the event(s) giving rise to the complaint. Complaints should be filed within six months of the most recent act which violates the policy. Where the interests of justice require, however, this time limit may be waived by the Title IX coordinator. Where it is determined that the complaint warrants disciplinary action against a student, staff or faculty member, the Title IX coordinator will send that determination to the Vice President (or designee) with supervisory authority over the responding party, for review and initiation of disciplinary proceedings, as appropriate. Decisions of the Vice President (or designee) may be appealed in accordance with university policy. Reported incidents not involving discrimination or harassment will be referred to other appropriate areas for similar proceedings.

The Dean of Students is designated to handle disciplinary sanctioning for all students found to be in violation of the Student Code under procedures described in PPM 6-22 (Student Code), PPM 5-36a (Safety, Response, and Reporting). In cases involving discrimination and harassment, including where sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking are involved, the Dean of Students reviews determinations and recommendations of the Title IX coordinator and makes decisions about appropriate disciplinary actions. All parties are notified of decisions at the same time.

In all instances, informal procedures may be used, but, ultimately, formal hearings are available to resolve these disputes. All parties have equal opportunities for participation and can expect decisions to be made by fair, unbiased, trained decision makers. Further details about the steps involved, anticipated timelines and decision-making processes are described in the policies.

Interim Measures/Accommodations

Students who experience or become aware of any form of violence, sexual violence or sexual harassment may request changes to academic, living, transportation, working situations and protective measures by contacting the Title IX Coordinator, Barry Gomberg, or WSU’s Safe@Weber Survivor Advocate at 801-626-6372, for assistance. Such accommodations will be provided as reasonably available, regardless of whether the student chooses to report to police. Examples of possible interim measures/accommodations that may be available:

  • Academic accommodations:
    • Transferring to another section of a lecture or laboratory
    • Rescheduling an academic assignment or test
    • Accessing academic support (e.g., tutoring)
    • Arranging for incompletes, a leave of absence or withdrawal from campus
    • Preserving eligibility for academic, athletic or other scholarships, financial aid, internships, study abroad or foreign student visas
  • Medical and mental health services, including counseling
  • Change in campus housing and/or dining locations
  • Assistance in finding alternative housing
  • Assistance in arranging for alternative university employment arrangements and/or changing work schedules
  • A “no contact” directive pending the outcome of an investigation. Such a directive services as notice to both parties that they must not have verbal, electronic, written or third-party communication with one another.
  • Providing an escort to ensure that the individual can move safely on campus
  • Transportation accommodations such as shuttle service, cab voucher or parking arrangements to ensure safety and access to other services
  • Assistance identifying an advocate to help secure additional resources or assistance including off-campus and community advocacy, support and services
  • Assistance connecting the student to community crisis centers, hotlines and legal advocacy

STAR Team

The Strategic Threat Assessment Team is charged with assessing and responding to actual or potential threats of violence of any kind at Weber State University, as more fully described in PPM 3-67, Violence Prevention. In cases of sexual violence, the STAR Team works with the Title IX coordinator, as appropriate, to make recommendations regarding the safety of individuals at Weber State University. However, the Title IX coordinator is not required to report any incident to the STAR team where the Title IX coordinator has determined confidentiality is of paramount importance and will not put the safety of individuals in jeopardy.

Code Purple

Your safety while attending WSU is extremely important to us. The university maintains a campus alert system called Code Purple that provides notices about significant emergency situations on campus such as snow closures, power outages, gas leaks or other potentially dangerous threats. We encourage you to sign up for campus alerts at weber.edu/codepurple.

Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report

The university also publishes an Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report that provides information about crime statistics, crime prevention, alcohol and drug policies, fire statistics, etc. This report also describes more information regarding options, resources and processes. This report can be found at https://apps.weber.edu/wsuimages/police/2014-15%20Clery%20Book.pdf. You may request a physical copy by calling 801-626-7440 or visiting the WSU Police Department at the Weber State Campus, 3734 Dixon Parkway, Ogden, UT 84408.

Safe@Weber Violence Prevention Training & Advocacy Services


Safe@Weber Workshops

WSU takes safety seriously and therefore provides comprehensive violence prevention and advocacy services through Safe@Weber. Safe@Weber envisions a future where all relationships are healthy and built upon a foundation of safety and respect. Safe@Weber provides free online and in-person education and skill training on the following topics:

  • Sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape
  • Intersections of alcohol use and sexual violence
  • Domestic violence and dating violence
  • Stalking
  • Consent
  • Healthy relationships
  • Healthy relationships for LGBTQ communities
  • Bystander intervention
  • How to support a survivor
  • Reporting violence on campus
  • Campus and community resources for survivors and their community
  • Survivor rights and Title IX
  • Screening for domestic violence and sexual assault and supporting survivors for future health care professionals

All students, faculty and staff are expected to complete the university’s free online training program, Haven. Students can find this program by logging into the Weber ePortal and searching for Safe@Weber and clicking on the link. Employees can find this program by logging into the Weber ePortal and searching for Haven for Employees and clicking on the link. You may also go here: portalapps.weber.edu/everfiSSO/. Others who wish to take this training may contact the WSU Police Department at 801-626-7440.

Bystander Intervention

A bystander is someone other than the victim who is present when an act of dating violence, domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault is occurring or when a situation is occurring in which a reasonable person feels as though some protective action is required to prevent sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking. Bystanders, if active, can prevent harm or intervene with safe and positive options before a situation gets worse.

Examples of active bystander intervention include: not leaving an overly intoxicated person in a bar/party alone, walking a classmate to his/her car after class, calling police when a potentially violent situation is unfolding, not leaving an unconscious person alone (alerting an RA, EMS, campus police, etc.), or intervening when someone is being belittled, degraded or emotionally abused.

Other options are walking victim away from abuser, making a distraction, contacting others for help, like those around you, friends of the victim or abuser, an RA, bartender, 911, YCC or Safe Harbor’s 24-hour hotline, Safe@Weber, the WSU Counseling Center, Dean of Students, etc.

Other On-Campus Resources

Besides the resources listed above, there are many other areas which can help students through any problems they have stemming from safety or other concerns. Some of these are:

Women's Center Safe@Weber Programming and Survivor Resources

WSU Counseling and Psychology Services provides free and confidential counseling to students, which can be an extremely important part of the healing process. Please note that confidentiality cannot be maintained in cases of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of minors or vulnerable adults, or if a determination is made that you are in imminent danger of harming yourself or others. 801-626-6406

Safe@Weber provides advocacy services for WSU survivors. The Safe@Weber Survivor Advocate, Paige Davies, provides support services to survivors, resources, safety planning, academic modifications, and works closely with the Title IX coordinator to ensure the survivor a fair and timely Title IX investigation. Safe@Weber advocacy services are non-confidential. Safe@Weber Survivor Advocacy Services: 801-626-6372, Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dean of Students Dr. Hurst responds to general student concerns and helps students find solutions to their specific problems. The dean enforces the student code, tracks code violations, and encourages responsible citizenship within the university. 801-626-6256, Student Services Center, jhurst@weber.edu

Due Process Officer Dr. Eric Amsel assists students to understand university policy and processes. 801-626-6658

Visa and Immigration

Weber State University International Student Center, 801-626-6853. 

Financial Aid

Weber State University Financial Aid, 801-626-7569.

Off-Campus Resources

Off-Campus Victim Response and Advocacy Services

Weber County

Your Community Connection (YCC) of Ogden
24/7 Crisis Helpline: 801-392-7273
ycchope.org
info@ycchope.org

Davis County

Safe Harbor of Davis County
24/7 Crisis Helpline: 801-444-9161
safeharborhope.org

Statewide

Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault
24/7 Rape Crisis and Info Hotline: 1-888-421-1100
ucasa.org

Legal Resource 

Utah State Bar at utahbar.org