Guidance from the President's Office

Abuse and Harassment of Minors and Adults Guidance from the President's Office

Guidance from the President's Office regarding Abuse and Harassment of Minors and Adults, including Reporting Obligations.

Abuse and Harassment of Minors and Adults:

Guidance for Teachers College Faculty and Staff on Reporting Obligations

Recent events at other universities have served as a powerful reminder that we are all obliged to report and help prevent assault, abuse and harassment. Changes in federal guidance on Title IX, which prohibits gender-based misconduct, sexual harassment and discrimination at educational institutions, have modified our legal obligations, as has the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Please carefully read these guidelines to understand what is required of you.

[1] If you are not sure whether you are a mandated reporter, assume that you are. In New York, mandated reporters include psychologists, social workers, therapists, mental health professionals, substance abuse and alcoholism counselors, EMTs, certain hospital personnel, registered nurses and physician assistants, school officials (including teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, administrators and others required to hold teaching or administrative licenses or certificates), child care, foster care, residential care, day care center and social service workers, and children camps directors.  A full list is at www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications/Pub1159.pdf.  Mandated reporters must report– or cause to be reported -- suspected abuse or maltreatment when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child encountered in their professional capacity is abused or maltreated or when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is abused or maltreated because a parent, guardian, or other legally responsible person encountered in their professional capacity states from personal knowledge facts, conditions or circumstances which, if correct, would mean that the child is abused or maltreated.  

[2] “Minor” generally means under 18; some professions must also report abuse of other vulnerable individuals.

More Information on Reporting Child Abuse

This Policy in the TC Policy Library

  1. All allegations of gender-based misconduct (including sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, and sexual exploitation) must be reported.  You must report any allegations of gender-based misconduct and sexual harassment of any adult or child to one of the following:

The College will take appropriate steps to investigate and respond. If you learn, directly or indirectly, of an allegation of discrimination or harassment, you are obligated to report it. You should also describe available resources to anyone complaining of or concerned about harassment and encourage him or her to contact one of those listed above.  

a. Please review the CU/TC Gender Based Misconduct Policies and Procedures for Students and the TC Policy and Procedures on the Protection from Discrimination and Harassment for more information.

b. While the law on other forms of discriminatory harassment is less clear in specifying community members’ obligations, you should also report (to the same people) allegations of harassment based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, pregnancy or other protected classes.

c. You cannot promise confidentiality to any community member (student, staff or faculty) reporting discrimination, harassment or gender-based misconduct, although you should assure them that TC will handle their concerns as sensitively and privately as possible. If a person desires greater confidentiality, you should direct them to:

Remember: TC faculty and staff members who are psychologists, counselors or lawyers cannot promise confidentiality to a student or colleague unless they are acting in their professional counseling or legal advice-giving capacity.  These privileges do not apply to instructor-student or collegial relationships.  

If a child is in immediate danger, call the police (911) immediately.   Then call Tamara Britt, General Counsel x3438, Janice Robinson, Title IX Coordinator x3391, or Public Safety at x3333.  

In New York, “mandated reporters” [1] have an obligation to report abuse or mistreatment of minors,[2] including sexual assault.  Even if you are not a mandated reporter, you can help protect children by following the same procedures. 

Call the Child Abuse Hotline:  (800) 635-1522 (mandated reporters) or 800-342-3720 (others).  If you make a report, you must also alert TC immediately by contacting Tamara Britt x3438, Janice Robinson x3391, or Public Safety x3333.  TC needs to know about possible abuse to protect children and the TC community.

Many members of the TC community work with minors. There are minors at Hollingworth, the Rita Gold Center and elsewhere on campus; many faculty and students work with children in schools and other institutions.   Many TC programs have specific procedures for reporting abuse; faculty and staff supervising TC students who work with minors should provide guidance on reporting obligations and procedures.   If your program has established procedures, please follow them.  If you are not sure what to do or if you have questions, please call Tamara Britt, General Counsel, or Janice Robinson, VP for Diversity and Community Affairs and Title IX Coordinator.

  1. Policies and Procedures are available in the TC Policy Library, www.tc.edu/policylibrary. They include:

       For more on reporting child abuse, see https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/cps/ 

Updated: October 2023

Contact Us

Title IX Compliance

Address: Teachers College, Columbia University
525 W 120th Street New York, New York
10027-6696

Email: odca@tc.columbia.edu

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