About
Wake Forest University is committed to fostering equitable, inclusive, and healthy working, living, and learning environments where all members of the Wake Forest community feel safe and valued. The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) supports this vision by ensuring compliance with a range of critical policies, laws, and regulations related to harassment, discrimination, accessibility, and sexual misconduct.
Specifically, OIE is responsible for evaluating and investigating claims of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct with care and diligence. The office serves as a centralized location for faculty, staff, and students to find appropriate resources, education, and training for preventing and reporting discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.
Campus community members should consult OIE when they would like to understand their resources and reporting options for discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. You can interface with the office in a number of ways, including using the online reporting form, email, in-person office visits (during office hours), and by phone (during office hours). OIE office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You may contact University Police to make a report at anytime (24/7). You can view additional safety, medical, and advocacy and counseling support resources (including 24-hour resources) here.
Title IX Office
The Title IX Office – which is part of the broader Office of Institutional Equity – is responsible for the oversight and coordination of Title IX compliance efforts to provide an academic and work environment that is free from sexual misconduct and sex discrimination. The Title IX Office sits within the OIE umbrella.
The Office of Institutional Equity Umbrella
OIE addresses allegations of discrimination and/or harassment against faculty and/or staff members in accordance with the policies and procedures. Protected Categories include age, color, citizenship status, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
OIE also addresses allegations of policy violations involving retaliation against students, faculty, and/or staff members. For example, the University is prohibited from retaliating against employees and applicants for employment because of a “protected activity.”
See the specific policies and procedures for definitions and reporting options.
The Title IX Office, within OIE, is responsible for oversight and coordination of the University’s Title IX compliance efforts, including:
- ensuring prompt, equitable and impartial Title IX process for all students, faculty, and staff
- handling investigations of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct reports
- coordinating effective responses to reports of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct
- facilitating the implementation of interim measures and other accommodations
- identifying and addressing patterns of complaints involving possible sex discrimination and sexual misconduct
- coordinating assessment of campus climate around issues of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct
- coordinating the informal resolution process
- overseeing the formal resolution, grievance process (e.g., student conduct hearings)
- collaborating with other University offices to offer awareness campaigns and prevention programs
See the specific policies and procedures for definitions and reporting options.
OIE is responsible for managing allegations of disability discrimination among students, staff, and faculty, with OIE staff serving as the University’s Section 504/ADA Coordinator.
Any member of the Wake Forest University community who believes that they have been excluded from any educational program or service on the basis of a disability should contact the University’s Section 504/ADA Coordinator (i.e., OIE)
See the specific policies and procedures for definitions and reporting options.
What is OIE responsible for?
OIE is responsible for the University’s commitment to equitable and inclusive working and learning environments.
OIE intersects with every part of the campus community and has standing meetings to ensure ongoing communication with campus, including, but not limited to, Title IX liaisons, Title IX deputies, Athletics, Deans, Campus Life, Office of the Provost, Legal Department, etc. The OIE Executive Director also serves on the Bias team, the Campus Life leadership team, and the Human Resources leadership team. As a resource, OIE:
- responds to and investigates complaints of harassment and discrimination including sexual misconduct matters.
- educates the campus community on University resources and reporting options.
- administers training to students, faculty, and staff on the prevent of harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct.
- provides resources and supportive measures to individuals reporting harassment, discrimination and experiences involving interpersonal violence.