Reporting at WSU

Medical practitioners, school personnel, employees of state and private higher education institutions, law enforcement, and any supervisor with a nonprofit or for-profit organization who have reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect must report at the first opportunity (no longer than 48 hours) to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), or to the appropriate law enforcement agency (RCW 26.44.030).

• Reports may be made by:
  • Calling 911 for emergencies;
  • Contacting the WSU Police (Pullman campus) or the applicable campus safety/security department (see Criminal Conduct section for local law enforcement numbers);
  • Contacting the regional office for the DCYF; telephone 1-800-557-9671; or
  • Calling the DCYF 24/7 hotline; telephone 1-866-363-4276.
• In addition, promptly notify a supervisor, program administrator, dean, executive vice president, or vice president.

All volunteers participating in WSU programs governed by Executive Policy 14 (Protection and Safety of Minors), as well as non-University organizations and entities operating programs or activities on campus involving minors, who have reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect must immediately contact the WSU supervisor, sponsoring unit, or program coordinator.

Academic integrity violations can be reported to the Center for Community Standards, which helps guide and correct behaviors that do not align with WSU’s values and the WSU Standards of Conduct for Students.

Is you suspect research/teaching animal misuse or noncompliance with federal regulations/campus policies, please report to:

• The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) – by email at iacuc@wsu.edu or through the options or form on the IACUC website;
• Alan Ekstrand, Animal Welfare Program Assistant Director, at (509) 335-7951 or alan.ekstrand@wsu.edu; or
• Office of Research Compliance Hotline at (509) 335-1289 or or.hotline@wsu.edu.

More information from the Office of the Campus Veterinarian on reporting animal care concerns is available: Reporting Animal Care Concerns.

To report a utility outage, contact:

• WSU Everett: Facilities & Operations, tel: 425-315-4014
• WSU Pullman: Facilities Services, tel: 509-335-9000
• WSU Spokane: Facilities Operations, tel: 509-358-7994
• WSU Tri-Cities: Facilities Maintenance, tel: 509-372-7497
• WSU Vancouver: Facilities Services, tel: 360-546-9000

WSU community members are encouraged to report crimes to local law enforcement. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, contact your local police.

Depending on specific needs, there are multiple avenues to report accessibility concerns. Please review the below list to identify the best reporting avenue:

Discrimination and discriminatory harassment based on a protected class and as defined in the WSU Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment (Executive Policy 15) (see additional information below) can be reported to:

Protected classes include: sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity/expression), race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulations, or government contract.

WSU prohibits certain forms of discriminatory conduct, including disparate treatment, disparate impact, discriminatory harassment, violation of discrimination law, quid pro quo harassment, hostile environment harassment based on sex, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. To review definitions of misconduct that are prohibited by WSU, please visit Executive Policy 15.

Some discriminatory harassment rises to the level of a crime (e.g. hate crimes) and may also be reported to law local law enforcement (see Criminal Conduct section for local law enforcement contact information).

Employee misconduct can be reported to a variety of campus resources. The list below will include some general reporting options, but some of the other reporting options listed on this website may be more appropriate. For example, if an employee’s behavior is threatening, the reporting options for threatening behavior could be used instead of the general resources listed below. As another example, if an employee is engaging in fraud, waste, or ethics violations (conduct that may implicate Executive Policy 45), the reporting options described in “Misuse of WSU resources, Fraud, Waste, or Ethics violation” can be utilized. If after reviewing the reporting options, you are unsure who to contact, please reach out to Human Resource Services at hrs@wsu.edu.

University employees and officers can reach out to the Ethics Compliance Advisor with questions about the application of the University Ethics Policy, Executive Policy 45, and their obligations under state ethics requirements.

A summary of the substantive rules and restrictions is also available online: Ethics Guide. If the concern to be reported is related to activity/actions already taken that implicate Executive Policy 45, see reporting options under “Misuse of WSU resources, Fraud, Waste, or Ethics violations.”

It is the policy of Washington State University to support and promote each individual’s right to express their views and opinions for or against actions or ideas in which the individual has an interest, to associate freely with others, and to assemble peacefully (WAC 504-31-010). Infringement on speech rights or academic freedom by a WSU employee may be reported to:

Faculty may also consult with the Office of the Provost if they have questions or concerns about their academic freedom.

Employees, student employees, or volunteers who have reasonable cause to believe that hazing has occurred must report hazing incidents to the Center for Community Standards at:

• Center for Community Standards
  • CCS Online Reporting Form
  • Tel: 509-335-4539

All other individuals are encouraged to report hazing incidents to the Center for Community Standards too. Hazing incidents can also be reported to:

• Compliance and Civil Rights for incidents relating to the WSU Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment
  • CCR Online Reporting Form
  • Tel: 509-335-8288
  • Email: ccr@wsu.edu
• Law enforcement
  • Emergencies: 9-1-1
  • WSU Police Department, 509-332-2521
  • Pullman Police Department, 509-332-2521

All information security incidents involving institutional systems, services, devices, and data are to be reported by email or telephone as soon as it is practicable to the office below. This includes incidents involving inappropriate release of or possible access to patient health information, FERPA protected information, or other sensitive personally identifying information. It may also include incidents in which information technology equipment with sensitive information is lost or stolen.

For more information, see Information Security Incident Management and Breach Notification (BPPM 87.55).

For breaches of protected health information, employees have additional reporting obligations outlined in BPPM 88.05:

International Travel is governed by International Travel Policy (BPPM 95.53). Individuals traveling for WSU-related activities who experience an emergency abroad can contact:

Individuals experiencing interpersonal conflict are encouraged to review self-help resources, guidance, and training: Conflict Resolution.

When the individuals experiencing a conflict struggle to resolve it on their own, it may be beneficial to seek support, guidance, and structure from others. Resources may include:

• Mediation services through the WSU Ombuds’s Office
• Law enforcement for criminal investigation and response (see Criminal Conduct section for local law enforcement contact information)
• WSU Threat Assessment Team for internal review for recommended safety options
• Human Resource Services for concerns involving employees
• Center for Community Standards for concerns involving student misconduct
• Compliance and Civil Rights for concerns of discrimination and harassment

Reports of employee intoxication or incapacitation due to alcohol or other controlled substances; employee unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs or alcohol on University-controlled property; or illegal use, possession, or sale of intoxicating beverages can be reported to:

Per the University Ethics Policy (Executive Policy 45), suspected violations may be reported to:

• Employee’s WSU supervisor;
• Human Resource Services at hrs@wsu.edu;
• Internal Audit at ia.central@wsu.edu; or
• Executive Ethics Board.

Improper governmental action reporting is protected; more information on the whistleblower program is available in BPPM 10.20. Reports may also be submitted directly to the State Auditor’s Office:

Per BPPM 60.14, WSU prohibits employees from holding positions of academic or professional authority or engaging in other institutional decisions affecting family or household members. To report misconduct or to proactively seek a conflict management plan, contact Human Resource Services at hrs@wsu.edu.

WSU departments receive requests for data or information from federal, state, and local agencies from time to time. For example, a department may receive a request for research data from a federal granting agency, or a department may receive a request for information from a local law enforcement agency. Some of these requests are standard and expected, but sometimes, a request is unexpected. Where a department is unsure of how to respond to a request, or who should be looped in, the department should submit the request in the below form to Compliance and Risk Management (CRM). CRM will identify the appropriate WSU department or resource to help respond to the request. For some circumstances, WSU may also have a responsibility to report data provision to state agencies (e.g. some requests for information about healthcare provision must be reported to the Washington State Office of the Attorney General).

Romantic or sexual relationships between an employee and an individual over whom the employee has a position of academic or professional authority are prohibited by BPPM 60.13. Reports about such behaviors or to proactively request a conflict management plan, contact Human Resource Services at hrs@wsu.edu.

The Research Integrity Officer (RIO) or designee is the University official responsible for assessing allegations of research misconduct, and overseeing inquiries and investigations. Concerns about possible research integrity and misconduct should be submitted to:

For more information, review the following policies:

• Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct, Executive Policy 33
• University Research Personnel Conflict of Interest, Technology Transfer, and State Ethics Requirements, Executive Policy 27

There are multiple resources to report gender based violence such as sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. Where survivors are unsure which resource to access, they are encouraged to contact a confidential victim advocate or Compliance and Civil Rights for a consultation (information listed below). Confidential resources are marked as such below.

Spam emails include unwanted messages sent out in bulk for business and advertisement purposes; spam emails do not need to be reported, but users may reference this guidance to block such emails and learn about the different between spam, phishing emails, and malware.

Phishing emails are fraudulent, malicious messages sent to steal personal information and sensitive data, including login credentials, credit card or bank information, and more. Typically, the email will ask you to do something, such as click on a link, open an attachment, reply with information, or contact an unknown identity. Phishing emails may also disguise malware in links or attachments. These emails can be forwarded to:

For more information, see Information Security Incident Management and Breach Notification (BPPM 87.55).

The Student Care Network allows anyone to share concerns about a student’s emotional or psychological well-being, physical health, or academic performance. The WSU Student Care Team will respond with appropriate outreach and resources.

Student misconduct can be reported to the Center for Community Standards, which helps guide and correct behaviors that do not align with WSU’s values and the WSU Standards of Conduct for Students.

The WSU Policy on Threat Assessment, Executive Policy 42, designates the University’s Threat Assessment Team (TAT) to identify, assess, and address threats to WSU’s community and property. Anyone may submit a report of instances of distressing, disruptive, or dangerous behavior to the TAT through email or the reporting tool.

The TAT is not a substitute for police or emergency involvement. Persons witnessing or engaged in an emergency situation should call 911.

Human Resource Services – Labor Relations provides advice, guidance and direction to employees, supervisors and administrators on a wide range of Labor Relations and collective bargaining matters including grievance administration, investigation, mediation and arbitration. To file a grievance that the University committed a specific violation, misapplication, or misinterpretation of the terms of a labor agreement, submit a grievance to the university’s Labor Relations Officer via email or hard copy to: hrs.labor@wsu.edu or mail Labor Relations Officer, WSU Human Resource Services, PO Box 641014, Pullman, WA, 99164.

Employees are expected to treat each other, staff, faculty, students, and members of the public in a professional manner while conducting WSU business or otherwise representing WSU per WSU’s Maintaining a Professional Workplace Policy, BPPM 50.31. Unprofessional or abusive conduct in the workplace can be addressed informally by meeting with a supervisor or Human Resource Services (HRS) to request a supervisor intervene or through a facilitated discussion with the offender to resolve the issue. Formal complaints of unprofessional or abusive conduct can be reported to HRS.

WSU protects the rights of employees who disclose improper governmental action. For more information on the whistleblower program, whistleblower rights, and what is considered improper governmental action, please review (BPPM 10.20). State employees can report improper governmental action to:

Employees with workplace conflicts or concerns, not covered by other policies, are encouraged to resolve issues directly, if possible, or to contact a supervisor or next-level supervisor for assistance. Depending on the specific concern, the following departments may also be able to assist employees:

• Human Resource Services, hrs@wsu.edu, 509-335-4521
  • Workplace Concern Resolution Process (PDF), available for civil service, administrative professional, and non-student hourly employees
• Office of the Provost, provost@wsu.edu, 509-335-5581
• Faculty Status Committee
• Office of the University Ombuds, ombuds@wsu.edu, 509-335-1195
• Employee Assistance Program, 1-877-313-4455 (TDD/TTY users, please call via WA Relay at 711)

Faculty and staff are responsible for following University safety policies, including the WSU Safety Policies and Procedures Manual (SPPM) and memoranda from relevant offices such as Environment Health and Safety, Biological Safety Office, Radiation Safety Office, Risk Management Services, Public Safety Department, and Fire and Safety Compliance.

University personnel who observe serious safety concerns affecting or potentially affecting University employees are to contact their supervisor, the unit administrator, and/or the campus Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), per SPPM 2.52.

Personnel are to report all safety hazards to the unit’s administrator, safety committee, and campus EHS by telephone, email, or using the applicable hazard notification/reporting form. Urgent hazards not requiring an emergency response (i.e. 9-1-1) must be reported by telephone.

University faculty, staff, volunteers, and students are to promptly report all accidental injuries and work-related illnesses to immediate supervisors per SPPM 2.24. Supervisors coordinating the use of University facilities or University-sponsored activities are responsible for reporting all accidental injuries incurred by individuals who are not employed by WSU. Supervisors must submit reports of major accidents, work-related injuries and illnesses per SPPM 2.24. Depending on the nature of the incident and injured person, there are different reporting avenues available. Please review SPPM 2.24 for the appropriate reporting avenue.

Workplace violence (including violence perpetrated by students, faculty, staff, visitors, volunteers, and all other personnel) can be reported to law enforcement or campus safety, Human Resource Services and/or a supervisor. More information on reporting and the university’s response to workplace violence is available in Business Policies and Procedures Manual (BPPM) 50.30.

Police (911 if an emergency), campus safety, HRS, supervisor, BPPM 50.30