Rights for Victims

This webpage provides a summary of victim rights at the University of Wisconsin–Madison with respect to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment, and/or stalking. A complete and detailed listing of each of these policies and rights can be found in the most recent UW–Madison’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Victims have the right to

• Be notified, in writing, of existing resources for counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, visa and immigration assistance, student financial aid, and other services available within the institution and in the community.
• Be notified, in writing, about options for, available assistance in, and how to request changes to academic, living, transportation, and working situations. UW–Madison will provide such supportive measures if the victim requests them and they are reasonably available, regardless of whether the victim chooses to report the crime to campus police or local law enforcement.
• Report to UW–Madison. The offices formally designated to receive complaints are the Office of Student Assistance and Support and the Title IX Coordinator. Victims are encouraged to use these offices for formal reporting.
• Report to law enforcement authorities, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison Police Department, and to be assisted by UW–Madison campus authorities in so doing.
• Decline to report to law enforcement.
• Victims can request that UW-Madison not disclose their name to the accused and not conduct an investigation. UW-Madison will determine on a case-by-case basis whether or not it can honor the request while still providing a safe environment for all. Honoring such a request may limit the ability of the university to take action against the accused.
• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice and/or U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

It is against Federal and State law and UW–Madison policy to discriminate or retaliate against a person who, in good faith, files a complaint, participates in an investigation, or who opposes discrimination.

UW–Madison utilizes a state administrative code known as Chapter UWS 17 and its own policies for campus student disciplinary proceedings of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. See students.wisc.edu for more information.

• UW–Madison uses a preponderance of the evidence (i.e. more likely than not) standard in student misconduct proceedings pertaining to sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, and/or stalking.
• Sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, and stalking cases require a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation and resolution once notice of an incident is received.
• Investigating officers and hearing committee members must receive annual training on sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, and stalking cases.
• Investigations and resolutions of these cases shall proceed regardless of any criminal investigation or proceeding. An investigation may be temporarily postponed while law enforcement gathers evidence, then should be promptly resumed and completed. Any postponements or extensions should be communicated to the complainant (the person alleging the misconduct) and respondent (the student accused of misconduct).
• The complainant and the respondent must have an equal opportunity to participate in the investigation and any subsequent hearing.
• Information about the respondent’s or complainant’s past disciplinary history, if any, will not be shared with the opposite party unless permitted by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Formal hearings for sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, and stalking shall only be conducted via hearing committee.
• The respondent shall have the opportunity to hear and respond to the information presented against them and be afforded the opportunity to present questions to adverse witnesses, including the complainant.

• Hearing procedures may be modified to allow the complainant to provide information in a manner that prevents a hostile environment. Such modifications may include allowing requests to have the complainant and respondent pose questions to each other through their respective advisors or the hearing committee, to offer testimony via phone, and/or to put up a room partition between the parties.
• The complainant and respondent will be notified simultaneously and in writing of the outcome of any investigation, hearing, and appeal.
• The complainant and respondent will be notified simultaneously and in writing of any change to disciplinary results that occur prior to the time that such results become final; and of when such results become final.
• At no time can a complainant be required to keep the outcome confidential, or be prohibited from discussing the case.
• The complainant shall have the same appeal rights as the respondent.
• Resolution can only be offered through settlement after the investigating officer has offered to consult with the complainant.
• UW-Madison students, its officers, employees, and other agents – including anyone involved in a report or investigation – cannot retaliate, coerce, or otherwise discriminate against any individual for exercising their rights or responsibilities to report. Retaliation against a complainant for exercising their rights in good faith under these procedures is prohibited and may be subject to disciplinary action.
• The complainant and respondent have an equal opportunity to have others present throughout disciplinary proceedings, including the opportunity to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by an advisor of their choice. If a hearing takes place following an investigation, the parties may be required to have an advisor present; the parties will be notified and provided more information beforehand.
• In accordance with UWS 17.10, the disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed for nonacademic misconduct, in accordance with the procedures of UWS 17, are any of the following: a written reprimand; denial of specified university privileges; payment of restitution; educational or service sanctions, including community service; disciplinary probation; imposition of reasonable terms and conditions on continued student status; removal from a course in progress; enrollment restrictions on a course or program; suspension; and/or expulsion. One or more of the sanctions may be imposed.