2. Individuals with Reporting Obligations (IROs)

Before you report, you must decide if you would like to keep your conversation confidential. The information on this page explains who at U-M must report certain types of information you disclose so you can make an informed decision on who to speak with. The next section "How to Report" expands upon three pathways you can follow to report any concerns or misconduct.

You may have heard of individuals being referred to as Individuals with Reporting Obligations (IROs), a Responsible Employee (RE), or Mandatory Reporter. While these terms can be used interchangeably, we will use the term Individual with Reporting Obligations (IRO).

Individuals with reporting obligations (IROs) are employees who are required to share with the U-M Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX (ECRT) Office (formerly knows as the Office for Institutional Equity) any information disclosed about sexual assault, sexual/gender-based harassment, intimate partner violence, stalking, retaliation, or violation of protective measures. For further information on sexual or gender-based misconduct, see the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy. If an individual is an IRO in any role they hold, they are an IRO in every aspect.

We recognize everyone may not want to involve University officials, at least not right away. If you want your conversation to be kept in complete confidence, you should instead talk with one of the confidential reporting resources in the next section "How to Report."

U-M IOE Mandatory Reporters: The individuals listed below are individuals with reporting obligations and are not confidential as they must report, but are available to speak with you about any of your concerns. If a scenario occurs that should be reported, you will be contacted by a university official to further discuss the situation and determine appropriate next steps. Faculty/staff can determine if you are an IRO here.

  • U-M IOE Faculty: Faculty who employ people, such as student temps, GSRAs, or postdocs, are considered to be IROs. This means that in U-M IOE, virtually all faculty are considered IROs. The only exemption where an instructor would not have to report is during a classroom discussion, in an assignment for class, in discussion outside of class (related to a class project), or as part of a research project directly related to the class.

  • U-M IOE Staff

Mandatory Reporters outside of IOE: