A. Department of Public Safety
The University of Iowa campus is subject to many of the same safety concerns as are experienced in the community in which it is located. In order to facilitate the prevention of crime on the 1900 acres of University property and monitor the more than 200 University buildings, the University provides professional law enforcement through the Department of Public Safety. The Public Safety Department consists of three divisions (Police, Investigative, and Security). Located at 808 University Capitol Centre on campus, the Department of Public Safety operates separately from the Iowa City Police Department and responds to University interests within Johnson County.UI Police officers are trained and certified by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and have full arrest powers. In May, 2007, the Department of Public Safety staff included 17 patrol officers, one bomb detection K-9, and nine lieutenants in the Uniformed Police Division. Two investigators constitute the Investigative Division. As part of the Security Division, the Department of Public Safety employs 14 full-time security guards and 12 part-time student guards during the fall and spring semesters. The full-time security guards receive annual training in CPR and fire suppression as well as instruction on University of Iowa Rules and Regulations. Full-time security guards receive on the job training from designated trainers. The Security Division members are required to have extensive knowledge of academic buildings and residence halls located on University of Iowa property.
The Department of Public Safety supplements the other divisions by employing five full-time Public Safety Dispatchers. Dispatchers are required to become state certified within their first year of employment. They are required to operate the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Iowa On-Line Warrants and Articles (IOWA) computer systems, and attend a 40 hour training course at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Dispatchers routinely monitor over 250 fire and burglar alarm accounts, multiple agency radio frequencies, 911 emergency calls, and calls for service using a Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) system. Public Safety also employs University of Iowa students as part-time dispatchers, who are required to meet the same employment standards as full-time dispatchers.
In addition to the three divisions, two important services provided by Public Safety include Crime Prevention and Fire Safety.
CRIME PREVENTION: The UI Police Crime Prevention Specialist (CPS) is available to all faculty, staff and students. The CPS is trained in basic and advanced crime prevention with an emphasis on campus crime prevention. Educational presentations are available upon request at no cost. Presentations and informational materials include: alcohol awareness, club drug information, personal safety and self-protection, dealing with disruptive persons, identity theft information, Refuse to be a Victim, counterfeit currency detection, and Project ID designed to discourage theft and promote registration of student owned valuables. The CPS publishes the Crime Prevention Newsletter six times a year located on the Public Safety website (www.uiowa.edu/~pubsfty/). For these and other crime prevention services please contact the CPS at 335-5043.
FIRE SAFETY: The Fire Safety and Security Coordinator (FSSC) maintains a comprehensive university fire inspection and prevention program, acts as the university liaison with state and local fire and emergency management officials, assists with fire safety inspections of university buildings, enforces fire safety and emergency management directives, collects and prepares related documentation for dissemination to key personnel, researches and enforces all applicable codes, standards, and laws to ensure that the university is in compliance and serves as a member of the Fire Safety Advisory Group. For fire safety related information please contact the FSSC at 335-5389.
B. Reporting Crimes
Importance of Reporting
All local police departments remain in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This includes the University of Iowa Police, the Iowa City Police Department, the Coralville Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. While police officers are trained to deter crime for the protection of the general public, crime prevention cannot take place without assistance from the greater community. As citizens of the community, all University students, faculty, administrators, and staff are urged to participate actively in the criminal prevention process. This includes the prompt reporting of crimes and suspicious behavior as well as cooperating with authorities during the investigation and prosecution of crimes, whether minor or serious infractions.
Crime Prevention
The Department of Public Safety maintains a full-time Crime Prevention Specialist. This specialist maintains a comprehensive crime prevention program that includes presentations, security audits, research, and crime prevention literature.
Reporting Policies
In order to maintain a safe environment for work and learning, the University supports a fully staffed professional police agency on campus, provides facilities for storing criminal information, and stations monitors in critical areas of campus. Because the cooperation of ordinary citizens is also essential to the prompt and accurate reporting of crimes, faculty, students, and staff members are instructed to contact the Department of Public Safety in the event they receive criminal or emergency information.
Confidential Reports and the Procedure for Preparing the Annual Statistics
The Department of Public Safety accepts confidential crime reports for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. A confidential reporting form entitled “silent witness” is available on the Public Safety website http://www.uiowa.edu/~pubsfty/. Confidential reporting forms are also available at the University Counseling Services (UCS) and at the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Faculty and Staff Services. Information about the Department of Public Safety and crime reporting is distributed at the UCS and EAP, and counselors there encourage crime victims to report crimes to local law enforcement officials for inclusion in the annual crime statistics.
While the proper reporting channel is direct communication with a law enforcement agency, University administrators affiliated with non-police departments also receive reports of crimes (see “Non-Criminal Investigations” below). The list of titles of administrators who receive crime reports includes the Vice President for Student Services and the Senior Vice President for Finance & Operations and Treasurer. In preparing the annual security report, University officials gather campus crime data from the Office of the Vice President for Student Services and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Finance & Operations and Treasurer, as well as from the Department of Public Safety. The Iowa City Police Department and the Office of Student Life provide information about non-campus crimes in Iowa City included in the annual crime statistics.
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency, the police should be contacted immediately, particularly in the case of fire and medical emergencies. In order to facilitate a prompt response in emergency situations, 911 telephone service is in effect for the entire county. Off-campus 911 calls are routed automatically to the appropriate police authority (the Department of Public Safety, Iowa City Police, Coralville Police, or the Johnson County Sheriff). All UI Police officers are certified to administer emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and are trained in the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) which are carried in their marked police vehicles.
Emergency Telephones
Twenty-three outdoor telephones with a direct line to University Public Safety and marked “Emergency” are located at critical points on University-owned property. In addition, several indoor telephones are available for emergency use, including one located in the women’s locker room at the Fieldhouse. Visitors to campus are encouraged to use the telephones which have been installed in each residence hall near the main entrances and at various points in University Hospitals & Clinics.
Non-Emergency Situations
Reports should be directed to the respective police agency that has authority to file criminal charges in the geographic area in which the crime was committed.
University-owned property includes all residence halls, all academic buildings, University Hospitals & Clinics, recreation facilities, parking lots located near these buildings, and the Oakdale Campus. Calls should be directed to the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety. In private dwellings in Iowa City, such as fraternity and sorority chapter houses, reports of crimes should be directed to the Iowa City Police Department. If there is any question as to which police agency has jurisdiction, students, staff, and faculty members should call the Department of Public Safety.
Public Safety’s Response to Criminal Reports
In the Department of Public Safety, a record is maintained of every call received by the dispatcher. In cases where on-going criminal activity is reported, the supervisor on duty assigns patrol officers to the scene. If necessary, DPS administration assigns staff investigators to conduct necessary follow-up investigations. When there is a reasonable basis to believe that a known individual has committed a crime on campus, the person is apprehended by a University of Iowa police officer, charged by the arresting officer, and referred to the Johnson County Attorney for prosecution. In cases where incarceration is warranted, persons arrested are taken to the Johnson County Jail immediately following the arrest and booked.
Criminal Data Policies
All University police officers and investigators are required to submit investigation reports and have received specific training in documenting crimes. The DPS administration monitors the department’s response to reports. Information derived from reports is maintained in a written file and on computer by full-time records personnel, who issue daily summaries of criminal incidents which occur on University property to University departments.
Administrative Investigations
In many cases where a University student, faculty, or staff member is charged with a crime, particularly in the case of incidents that occur on University property, a follow-up investigation is conducted by University officials. When the criminal perpetrator is a student, disciplinary review is undertaken by the vice president for student services (hereinafter, “vice president”). When academic instructors have violated criminal laws, disciplinary review is the responsibility of the Provost. When other staff members are charged with criminal activity, disciplinary review is the responsibility of the Vice President for Finance & Operations and the employment department.
Additional Services Provided
In response to reports of a fire or medical emergency, the Department of Public Safety notifies the Iowa City dispatcher for fire fighters and ambulance service. Emergency medical care is provided at all hours at University Hospitals & Clinics. The University provides or otherwise supports post-emergency and post-crime counseling services for students, staff, and faculty members. Among the departments which provide such services are University Counseling Services, the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, Faculty & Staff Support Services, Student Health, and University Hospitals & Clinics. In addition, the Johnson County Attorney’s Office maintains a full-time Victim Witness Coordinator, who assists students, staff, faculty, and other citizens who are crime victims during and after the criminal prosecution.
C. Security of Campus Facilities
Access to University Buildings
As a public institution of higher learning, The University of Iowa welcomes anyone interested in utilizing the wide range of educational facilities on campus. For security reasons, however, not all University buildings are open to the public. University residence halls are private residences, and at certain hours of the night a person must be a guest of a resident in order to enter any area of a residence hall building where residents are housed. Only authorized personnel are permitted in many areas of University Hospitals & Clinics. Most buildings open to the public are closed and locked after regular business hours.
Personal Property Security
Facilities for securing the personal property of students, staff, faculty, and visitors are provided in or near many campus buildings. Examples include lockers in the Field House recreation building; lockers in various libraries; seven monitored parking ramps; gate-locked parking lots; and bicycle racks across the campus. In addition, the University provides housing on University property for more than six thousand students.
Housing on Private Property, Including Student Organization Housing
Since private housing property is located within the geographic jurisdiction of the Iowa City Police and Coralville Police Departments, student-occupied dwelling units located on non-University property are neither secured nor monitored by the Department of Public Safety. As of June 2007, all recognized student organizations that provide housing facilities are Greek-letter associations responsible to the Panhellenic Council, the Interfraternity Council, or an academic college. Greek-letter chapter houses are managed by private housing corporations consisting of student members, chapter alumni, and professional housing managers. Security procedures may vary from chapter house to chapter house. To obtain information about the security procedures in place at a particular chapter house, interested students should consult with the executive officers or the housing board of the student organization.
Monitoring University Property
Sworn police officers of the University Department of Public Safety patrol University-owned property 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on foot, on bicycles, and in squad cars. The frequency and intensity of the patrols increases during night-time hours. Security guards trained by the University Department of Public Safety are assigned to monitor specific buildings or areas at night. Many campus pathways remain lighted throughout the night. As part of their surveillance responsibilities, security officers report burned-out lights and other potentially dangerous situations. Maintenance crew members routinely replace lights, trim shrubbery, and remove snow, ice, and other debris from pathways. In addition to the supervision provided by the Department of Public Safety, University parking lots are patrolled five days a week by part-time and full-time employees trained and supervised by the Parking and Transportation Department.
Access to Academic Buildings
The Department of Public Safety routinely checks University buildings that are closed during non-business hours to ensure they remain locked. Each building has a scheduled time to be secured and only authorized staff members are issued keys to secured buildings. All indoor maintenance personnel wear uniform shirts with Facilities Management insignia for identification purposes, and all students and employees are issued University identification cards. In order to monitor access during secured hours, the entrances of many buildings are lighted.
Access to Residence Hall Buildings
For security purposes, the outside building doors to every residence hall are locked from midnight to 6:00 a.m. 7 days a week. Each resident is issued a key to his or her building as well as his or her room and is advised to keep the room door locked at all hours of the day. During secured hours, a non-resident may only enter the building if he or she is a guest of a resident and enters through the main entrance. Residents are held responsible for the conduct of their guests, and non-residents found in a residence hall during secured hours in violation of this rule are subject to University discipline and arrest for criminal trespass. At least one trained staff member is on duty 24 hours a day. Depending upon the rules of each particular floor, visitation by members of the opposite sex may be limited to certain hours of the day.
Security Precautions for University Apartments
Adult residents of University Apartments (including units in Hawkeye Court and Hawkeye Drive) are issued keys to their respective apartments and are advised to keep their doors locked at all hours of the day. In addition to a smoke detector and fire extinguisher, every University Apartment unit is equipped with a telephone, and important information, such as emergency and police phone numbers, is provided in writing. During daytime hours on weekdays, staff members are on duty in the University Apartments Office. During the night, officers from the University Department of Public Safety routinely conduct car patrols of Hawkeye Court and Hawkeye Drive.
Special Security Precautions in University Hospitals & Clinics
The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics' Department of Safety and Security operates an in-house safety and security service with an emphasis on personal safety and fire safety as well as security. The UIHC Safety and Security Department staff do not have arrest powers but work in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety, the authorized law enforcement agency for the UIHC. In order to maintain the physical security of UIHC, the Safety and Security Department patrols the hospitals and clinics, secures doors, monitors a safety surveillance closed-circuit television system, and responds to requests by patients, visitors, and staff. Reports of serious criminal activity are routed directly to the Department of Public Safety. In cases of minor criminal activity, copies of Safety and Security reports are sent to the Department of Public Safety for consideration and possible follow-up.
D. Campus Law Enforcement
Arrest Authority
All sworn police officers in the Department of Public Safety are authorized to apprehend crime suspects and formally charge persons with violating state and local criminal laws. Officers with this power of arrest include the director, associate director, captain of investigations, lieutenants, and uniformed police officers. Sworn officers associated with the Iowa City Police Department or other law enforcement agencies are called upon by the University from time to time to assist the Department of Public Safety in securing University-owned property. Security guards and other University security personnel are trained to report observed criminal activity on campus.
Officer Training
All uniformed police officers in the Department of Public Safety are sworn police officers who have satisfied state mandated training and continuing education requirements. Public Safety security guards and hospital security officers receive in-service training to assist the sworn officers in securing buildings, responding to reports, and identifying criminal violators.
Interagency Relationships
As a recognized police agency, the Department of Public Safety is part of the state criminal law enforcement network. This ensures that the University has access to intrastate and interstate criminal data. In the process of monitoring University property and responding to reports from the general public, the Department of Public Safety maintains regular communication with the Iowa City Police Department, which has jurisdiction over property contiguous to campus and apartments and other individual dwelling units in Iowa City. The University also works closely with the police department of Coralville, where many students reside; the Johnson County Sheriff, who oversees jail operations; and the State Department of Criminal Investigation, which maintains an office in Cedar Rapids. The Director of the Department of Public Safety or his designee regularly meets with representatives from all law enforcement agencies within Johnson County and the county attorney’s office in order to review patterns of criminal activity in Johnson County and discuss crime prevention issues.
Firearms
Faculty, staff, and students are not allowed to bring weapons on campus.
Off-Campus Student Organization Housing
It is the responsibility of every recognized student organization to ensure that all federal, state, and local laws are observed at activities sponsored by the organization. Crimes that occur in housing units maintained by officially recognized student organizations on non-University property in Iowa City are reported to the Iowa City Police Department, which shares with the University its records of crime reports occurring in or near fraternity and sorority housing units. The Office of the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students (hereinafter, “Office of the Vice President”), in cooperation with the Iowa City Police Department and the University Department of Public Safety, periodically reviews Iowa City Police crime reports in order to ascertain the number and type of reported crimes which occur on property owned or controlled by recognized student organizations. In cases where a student’s conduct on fraternity or sorority property violates University regulations, appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated by the Office of the Vice President.
E. Security Awareness Programs
General Purpose
The University undertakes programs designed to maintain an awareness in the subject of safety and encourages students, staff, and faculty to take an active role in the deterrence of crime. Security awareness is accomplished through a variety of means. The University disseminates general and specific information in writing to the University community and presents a variety of programs tailored to the interests and particular needs of the various constituencies on campus. These programs include opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to meet and discuss crime issues with the Crime Prevention Specialist in the Department of Public Safety.
General Sources of Information & Timely Reports Policy
Under state law, certain police information is public, including the date, time, specific location, and immediate facts of a crime and the name and address of a person arrested and the criminal charge. In order to learn the most current crime information, members of the University community are encouraged to read the daily police arrest reports in the Daily Iowan or Iowa City Press-Citizen. The Department of Public Safety releases a daily report and arrest log through their web site at http://www.uiowa.edu/~pubsfty/reports.htm. In addition to releasing a daily report and arrest log, the Department of Public Safety issues timely reports of crimes considered to be a threat to students and employees which are reported to local police agencies.
Information to Specific Constituencies
Depending upon the frequency and nature of criminal threats reported to the local police, warning statements may be issued to specific University constituencies in combination with statements released by the Department of Public Safety. Residence hall residents receive security statements from the Director of University Housing and other staff members; residents of Family Housing receive information from the Family Housing Manager in the newsletter The Villager; hospital employees receive information from the Hospital Safety and Security Department in Compass and Pacemaker; the semi-weekly news bulletin FYI contains security statements issued to all faculty and staff members; and parents of University students receive a special security edition of Parent Times.
Presentations
Crime prevention programs are presented periodically during the academic year by University personnel and student leaders. During orientation, new students are informed of services offered by the Department of Public Safety. A common theme of all awareness programs is student and staff responsibility for their own safety and the security of others. DPS employs a full time Crime Prevention Specialist to coordinate campus-wide prevention efforts and assist individual departments on a case-by-case basis. In addition to programs presented by officers of the Department of Public Safety, Student Services staff provide crime prevention information to undergraduate students. In addition, University departments such as the Women’s Resource and Action Center and the Rape Victim Advocacy Program present a variety of programs, many of which are related to personal safety.
Examples of Programming Offered
Due to the size of the University and the changing calendar of campus activities over the course of a year, the number of security programs presented varies month to month. Among the prevention programs regularly offered are date rape awareness workshops in the residence halls and Greek system; small-group discussion in freshman orientation; shoplifting awareness training for IMU Book Store employees; Cambus late-night and SafeRide service; fire drills in the residence halls conducted by the Iowa City Fire Department; and the Whistlestop and RAD self-defense program for women and men. September is Security Awareness Month in the residence halls, during which time formal and informal programming is provided to residents on topics related to crime prevention.
Information on Sex Offenders
Iowa law requires a person who has been convicted of a sex offense crime anywhere to register with the sheriff in the county in which they reside, and, if the person attends or works for an institution of higher education, register with the sheriff in the county in which the institution is located. Information about sex offenders is maintained by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and can be accessed at http://www.iowasexoffender.com. Locally, a public list of registrants containing photos, descriptions, and last known addresses of such individuals is available at the Johnson County Sheriff’s office (356-6020). For additional assistance, contact the UI Department of Public Safety at 335-5022.
F. Sexual Assault Policy and Programs
Introduction
The University of Iowa believes that sexual abuse in any form is reprehensible, especially within the University environment. All forms of non-consensual physical contact of a sexual nature, such as rape, unwelcome touching of genitals or breasts, and forced oral sex, are prohibited. When an assault occurs and a complaint is filed, the University will undertake every reasonable effort to discipline the offender and pursue criminal charges, regardless of the offender's status in the University community. For victims of sexual assault, the University provides a variety of confidential and free services, including advocacy and counseling, and makes reasonable adjustments to alleviate related problems with academic class schedules and housing arrangements.
Criminal Definitions & University Standards
State law defines sexual abuse as a sex act done by force or against the will of another person (Code of Iowa, §709.1). A sex act generally means any sexual contact between two or more persons, including but not limited to intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral-genital contact, and contact of genitals or anus with a finger or an object (Code of Iowa, §702.17). Criminal sexual abuse is one example of non-consensual physical conduct prohibited by University policy. University policy prohibits all members of the University community - students, staff, and faculty - from engaging in non-consensual physical conduct of a sexual nature on University property or in connection with University activities. Policy violations warrant the imposition of University disciplinary sanctions and may result in criminal charges. Sanctions may also be imposed for non-consensual physical conduct committed on non-University property which adversely affects a student's educational status or a staff or faculty member's employment status.
On every occasion an individual old enough to give consent has the right to decide the extent of physical sexual activity in which he or she wishes to engage, if any, with another willing partner. Consent in other situations does not reduce an assailant's responsibility for non-consensual sexual activity. In some cases, consensual sexual activity occurs before an assault or after an assault. Disciplinary sanctions will be imposed regardless of whether the non-consensual sexual activity was preceded or followed by consensual sexual activity.
An individual who has consumed alcohol or other drugs, knowingly or unknowingly, may not be able to give free and full consent. The University urges students to be aware of the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs on human interactions. The assailant's use of alcohol or other drugs does not diminish his or her responsibility for the assault. In cases where the victim unknowingly consumed alcohol or other drugs prior to an assault, additional sanctions will be imposed upon the assailant if he or she administered the drug to the victim or was aware that a drug had been consumed.
Resources, Options for Reporting and Seeking Medical Assistance: If You or Someone You Know Has Been Assaulted
Confidential Advocacy & Counseling Resources
The following confidential resources are available to students, faculty and staff who have been assaulted:
-
Counseling Resources
- Sexual Abuse Crisis and Resource Line (335-6000 or 1-800-284-7821) open 24 hours a day.
- University Counseling Services (335-7294).
- Faculty & Staff Services University Employee Assistance Program (335-2085).
Advocacy Resources.
Rape Victim Advocacy Program (335-6000 or 1-800-284-7821). RVAP provides advocacy services within any University of Iowa administrative process or any court proceeding. - Women’s Resource & Action Center (335-1486).
- Office of the Ombudsperson (335-3608).
Other Confidential Resources
Options for Reporting
A victim of a sexual assault has two primary reporting options. An assault may be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency or to the University administration, or both. The victim should be aware that a criminal investigation is greatly enhanced if evidence is collected and maintained immediately by the appropriate law enforcement agency.
- Reporting an assault through the criminal
justice system
Assaults should be reported to the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the location where the assault or abuse occurred. Institutional officials will assist victims in reporting the incident to the police if requested to do so.- If the assault occurred on University of Iowa property, call the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety at 335-5022
- If the assault occurred in Iowa City, call the Iowa City Police Department at 356-5275
- If the assault occurred in Coralville, call the Coralville Police Department at 248-1800
- If the assault occurred in another area of Johnson County, call the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department at 356-6020
- If you are unsure where to call, contact the RVAP Sexual Abuse Crisis and Resource Line (335-6000) for assistance
- If the assault took place on non-University property and was reported to another law enforcement agency, students and staff are encouraged to contact the University Department of Public Safety for assistance with safety issues while on campus
- In case of an emergency, call 911 from wherever you are and a law enforcement officer will respond to assist you.
In many cases, someone who has been assaulted can talk with a law enforcement officer about whether or not to file charges before making that decision. Victim advocates have special training in working with law enforcement. The RVAP Sexual Abuse Crisis and Resource Line can help the victim make an appointment with a law enforcement officer to discuss options. - Reporting an assault to University administration University administrators affiliated with non-police departments also receive reports of crimes. Assaults that are reported to the director of equal opportunity & diversity or the vice president for student services & dean of students are included in the annual campus crime statistics. Under the University Violence Policy, residence hall personnel (including resident assistants) are mandatory reporters and will forward reports of assaults to the dean of students and the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity.
- You are entitled to have an advocate from a sexual assault crisis center present with you to provide support during the exam.
- The sexual assault evidence exam and follow-up treatment are paid for by the State of Iowa. You should not receive a bill.
- The exam is available to women and men. When children are assaulted they are often seen at one of Iowa’s Child Protection Centers. You may want to check with your local law enforcement agency about this possibility.
- You can get an evidentiary exam even if some time has passed since you were assaulted.
- If the assault just happened, try and wait until after the exam to shower or bathe, so that the greatest amount of evidence might be preserved. If you have already showered, it is still fine to go ahead and have the exam.
- If you have had any period of amnesia associated with the assault, tell the sexual abuse examiner you would like to give a urine sample to screen for possible drugs. If you cannot remember what happened you may have been given drugs without your knowledge.
- If you are still wearing the clothes you had on during the assault, it might be best to wear them to the exam and bring a change of clothing with you to wear home.
The Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity is the administrative department designated to investigate disciplinary complaints of sexual assault involving faculty, staff or students. When a complaint is filed, an investigation is undertaken pursuant to the Policy on Sexual Harassment. The findings of the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity will be forwarded to the appropriate University administrator responsible for discipline of the respondent depending upon the status of the person accused of misconduct.
Individuals with questions or concerns about the University's sexual assault policy and its enforcement may contact the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity (335-0705).
Seeking Medical Assistance
Whether or not you want to seek medical help is your decision. The following information may help you in making that decision.
Student Disciplinary Action and Sanctions
A University of Iowa student who is found guilty of sexual assault in violation of the Code of Student Life is ordinarily suspended or expelled from the University. When a complaint is filed alleging that a student has committed a sexual assault, the Dean of Students imposes interim sanctions as appropriate in consultation with the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity. A University no-contact order is issued, and the student accused of assault is told in writing that any contact with the complainant will result in disciplinary action. In addition, the accused student may be involuntarily transferred to a different residence hall, different class, or different work unit following receipt of a complaint depending upon the circumstances of the case and available alternatives. University policy prohibits a student accused of misconduct from retaliating against the complainant or witnesses, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.
If the Dean has probable cause to bring disciplinary charges based on the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity investigation, the complaint will be resolved at a formal hearing. At the hearing, evidence will be presented against the accused student. Hearings are conducted by administrative hearing officers, who record the evidence presented and determine whether the student charged is guilty of violating University regulations. Both the complainant and the accused are entitled to have an advisor present during the initial investigation and during a hearing. A student accused of misconduct is provided a minimum of seven business days to prepare for a hearing, and the hearing officer will issue a decision within two weeks following the conclusion of the hearing. Both parties will be informed in writing of the final determination regarding the outcome of the complaint and any sanctions imposed upon the accused.
If the accused student is found guilty, the sanctions determined by the Dean of Students will be imposed. A student found guilty of violating the Code of Student Life may appeal the hearing officer's decision to the University Provost. Appeals must be filed within 10 days following receipt of the hearing officer's decision, and the Provost answers appeals within 30 days. A complete description of the Judicial Procedure for Alleged Violations of the Code of Student Life posted at section II.B of Policies and Regulations affecting Students.
Educational Programs
The University urges all students and employees to be aware of one's personal safety and assume a responsible role in educating others. Persons age 16 to 24 are more vulnerable to sexual assault than any other age group, and the Iowa City community is not immune to the problems which persist in more densely populated environments. Although no single individual is invulnerable to sexual assault, research indicates that most victims of unwanted sexual attention are women, and in many cases the male aggressor is not a stranger.
Each year, a copy of this policy is mailed to every student and employee, along with the Code of Student Life, the Sexual Harassment Policy, the Violence Policy, and the Campus Security Statement. Throughout the academic year, members of the University community are invited to attend a variety of extracurricular programs presented on campus. Programs include sexual harassment seminars conducted by the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity; security awareness skits in freshman student orientation; RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) classes taught by UI police officers; healthy relationship and communication workshops organized and conducted by students; professional training on sexual assault issues provided for University staff by RVAP; and Saferide, a late-night fixed route transportation service offered by the Cambus Transit System. In addition to investigating reports of sexual assault and filing criminal charges, Public Safety law enforcement officers are available to speak to the University community about a variety of security-related issues, including sexual assault.