Key Information During COVID-19

April 28, 2020

As our campus community continues to adjust to all the changes that come with remote learning and working, Seattle University remains firmly committed to promoting and maintaining a safe, equitable, and accessible working, learning, and living environment – free from discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct.

Here you will find information that is particularly relevant during this time.

  • Reporting Options & Support Resources: Seattle University offers various ways for members of our community impacted by any form of protected class discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct, to bring forward concerns and to seek support and assistance. Key university reporting options and support resources – along with information about how they are available during this time, as well as relevant off-campus support resources, can be found below.
  • Online, Virtual, & Off-Campus Conduct: It is important that everyone understands that in addition to on-campus conduct, the university's discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct policies apply to conduct that occurs in the context of remote learning and working, including online, virtual, and off-campus behaviors. Community members are encouraged to report conduct of this nature, and those impacted by such behaviors are encouraged to seek support and assistance.
  • Dating & Domestic Violence: We are mindful that community members may be at heightened risk of dating and domestic violence during this time of learning and working remotely and following stay-home orders. Please know that the university offers support resources and assistance to community members impacted in this way – whether or not other SU affiliates are involved and whether or not a formal report is made. We encourage community members to seek the support that is right for them, and have included below resources that are available throughout the country, 24/7 and in multiple formats and languages.
  • COVID-19-Related Discrimination: We are also aware that during the COVID-19 crisis there is an increased risk of bias incidents and discrimination targeted at community members based on actual or perceived race and/or national origin, as well as disability. Here, too, university support resources and assistance are available to community members, whether or not other SU affiliates are involved and whether or not a formal report is made. In addition to the support and reporting resources outlined, below we have included information about a reporting center that is collecting and tracking anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander incidents throughout the country in response to an increase of incidents resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Access and Accommodations: The university is committed to providing equal access and reasonable accommodations for all community members, and Disability Services and Human Resources are available remotely to support students, faculty, and staff as they fulfill this commitment. Disability Services is working with faculty and students to help them meet the need for new and changing academic accommodations that come with the shift to remote learning. Helpful FAQ’s for all can be found on their web site. 

The Office of Institutional Equity encourages you to review the key university and off-campus resources below, and we welcome you to contact our office if you have any questions or our office can otherwise be of assistance.

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Reporting Options and Resources

 

Community members may seek university assistance from and/or report incidents of discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct, to the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) or other options listed below. 

When considering making a report, please be assured that the university prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes a report or otherwise provides information about discriminatory conduct. When considering seeking support and/or making a report related to sexual misconduct, please also be assured that the university prohibits discrimination based on one’s status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

 

For incidents of discrimination, sexual misconduct, or related retaliation, whether it involves a student, faculty, staff or third party, contact:

OIE staff are currently working remotely. We continue to serve our campus community by phone and email, and are available for remote meetings and consultations. Please call or email us. If you are unsure whether OIE is the appropriate office to address your concerns, please contact us. We are happy to assist with making the determination and connecting you with other resources as appropriate. 

 

For incidents involving students, you may also contact: 

The Dean of Students Office is working remotely and is available to provide support and assistance during university business hours by phone, email, or Zoom. Please call or email and they will respond by the end of the next business day. 

 

For incidents involving a faculty or staff member, you may also contact:  

The Human Resources team is working remotely and available by email, phone and Zoom appointments throughout each day. You may call or email staff directly for assistance, or, for general questions or inquires, you may contact Human Resources at the contact information provided here. 

 

For emergency and after-hours assistance, contact: 

  • Public Safety | 206-296-5911 (emergency) or 206-296-5990 (non-emergency) | 1313 Columbia Building (CLMB), Room 002 

Public Safety remains available 24/7 at 206-296-5911. In addition, community members have afterhours card swipe access to the main entry doors of the CLMB to connect with Public Safety.

 

To make an anonymous online or phone report, contact:

Reports can be made online or by phone 24/7 via EthicsPoint, with the option to remain anonymous.

 

Additional university support resources available remotely include those listed below. (A more comprehensive list, along with more information about the resources, can be found on OIE’s Resources Page.)

 

For students, faculty and staff: 

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion remains focused on the support necessary to foster an inclusively excellent campus. ODI is working remotely and available to provide consultation, support, and assistance during university business hours by email, phone, and Zoom appointments. If your needs can be better served through another network of support at SU, the office will connect you to the appropriate touchpoint as quickly as possible.

 

For faculty and staff: 

EAP phone lines are available 24/7, and, for certain needs, live chat is also available 24/7.

 

For students: 

CAPS is transitioning to tele-counseling options for students who currently reside in WA state. For students who reside outside of WA, CAPS can assist you with tele-counseling referrals in your area. Please contact CAPS to inquire about tele-counseling options & referrals. 

Students can now connect with a Campus Minister through an online form. A Campus Minister will then reach out to the student within one business day to schedule a time together for a video or phone call. Students do not have to identify as religious or spiritual to talk with a Campus Minister.  

Visit the Student Health Center website for clinic hours and any schedule changes or updates.  Most visits are over the telephone, but some visits will require an in-person visit. Due to the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” executive order the SHC is currently not scheduling routine visits such as physical exams. Please call the SHC before going into the clinic. 

Disability Services is open virtually during regular business hours. DS’s physical space (Loyola Hall, Suite 100) is closed. Please contact DS@seattleu.edu or (206) 296-5740 for general inquiries, and testingcenter@seattleu.edu or (206) 398-4378 for questions about alternative testing. 

  • Additional support resources and information relevant during this time can be found on SU’s Student Support Center web page.

 

External, off-campus resources can be found on OIE’s Resources Page, OIE’s Reporting Page, and SU’s Sexual Misconduct Page

 

National domestic/dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault support resources include those listed below. 

The National Domestic Violence Hotline, available 24/7, provides lifesaving tools and immediate support to enable victims to find safety and live lives free of abuse. Callers to The Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) or 1-800-787-3224 for TTY can expect highly trained, experienced advocates to offer compassionate support, crisis intervention information, educational services and referral services in more than 200 languages. Visitors to their site can find information about domestic violence, including stalking; online instructional materials; safety planning; and local resources. Those unable to speak safely can chat at thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522. 

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, available 24/7 and accessible by phone at 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673) and by chat at rainn.org. A range of free services are provided, including confidential support from a trained support specialist; someone to help you talk through what happened; resources that can assist with your next steps toward healing and recovery; referrals for long term support in your area; and information about the laws and resources in your community. 

The StrongHearts Native Helpline 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483) is a safe domestic violence and dating violence helpline for American Indians and Alaska Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy from trained advocates daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT. (Callers reaching out after hours may connect with the National Domestic Violence Hotline by selecting option 1.) 

Advocates who are Deaf are available 24/7 through The National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline by video phone at 1-855-812-1001 or email at nationaldeafhotline@adwas.org. Deaf advocates are able to provide culturally-sensitive crisis intervention, education, information and referrals for Deaf callers.  The National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline also offers advocacy through their online chat services at thedeafhotline.org, available every day 24/7.

 

Reporting center that is collecting and tracking anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander incidents throughout the country. 

In response to an increase of incidents resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON) and other Asian American/Pacific Islander civil rights organizations have launched a reporting center to collect and track incidents of anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate violence, adult harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying throughout the country. The reporting center enables individuals who have been directly impacted by or witnessed firsthand this issue to share their stories at a3pcon.org/stopaapihate. Incident report forms are available in multiple languages. The lead organizations plan to work with public, private and other community-based organizations to develop targeted education and media campaigns, to provide resources for impacted individuals and to advocate for policies and programs dedicated to curtailing racial profiling.