CFAES is committed to upholding our Principles of Community for all CFAES students, staff and faculty members. Sometimes, a member of our community is subjected to unwarranted and hurtful words, behaviors or actions. This can include:
- perceived unfair treatment, including bullying, mobbing and harassment
- interpersonal, intercultural and group conflicts
- conflict or struggles with advisors or peers
Understanding the terms used to document discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct are important steps in helping you identify and name the incident you would like to report.
- Discrimination (disparate treatment and disparate impact) occurs when an adverse action is taken under university authority against a university community member in an educational program or activity and the action is based upon one’s protected class status.
- In the education context, harassment is unwelcome verbal or physical conduct based on a protected class that interferes with, denies, or limits an individual’s ability to participate in or benefit from the university’s educational programs and activities..
- Sexual misconduct is a broad term that encompasses sexual harassment (university definition and/or Title IX), sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation.
University Reporting
The Office of Institutional Equity exists to help the Ohio State community prevent and respond to all forms of protected class harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct.
If you have experienced an incident of discrimination, harassment or sexual misconduct, the Office of Institutional Equity is here to support you. Read more on the OIE website, equity.osu.edu.
The Office of Institutional Equity also coordinates the university’s response to all complaints of harassment and discrimination based on age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, protected veteran status, or any other bases under the law
To report an incident, click this link or navigate to equity.osu.edu to complete the form. An incident report does not, on its own, initiate an investigation. An investigation will only begin after a signed complaint is submitted to OIE, either by the complainant or by an OIE director.
To learn more about the OIE complaint process, please review the information on this page.
CFAES Support
- The CFAES Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion can offer support and guidance for community members when dealing with issues related to discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct.
If you are unsure if your experience fits into any of the complaint categories or you would like to discuss your experience with a CFAES staff member, please connect with Assistant Dean and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dr. Kathy Lechman.1@osu.edu or Multicultural Student Initiatives Director, Dr. Tiffany Halsell.5@osu.edu
Other Support Options
- Counseling and Consultation Services including CFAES embedded counselors.
- Student Advocacy Center
- For graduate students, an additional option to is to contact the Graduate and Professional Student Ombudsperson