Preamble:
On December 14, 2011, the Kansas Board of Regents adopted a
requirement that each "... University shall specifically address
and adopt procedures for the mandatory reporting, to appropriate
law enforcement agencies, of any child sexual abuse witnessed by
staff or faculty. For purposes of this provision, child
sexual abuse means those crimes defined in K.S.A. 21-5501 et
seq. that relate to minors as victims." This policy
statement has been promulgated in response to this Board of
Regents requirement.
Policy Statement:
1. The reporting obligations of those University employees who are currently required by state law, by virtue of their professional or employment responsibilities, to report situations where they suspect that a child has been harmed as a result of physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect or sexual abuse remain unchanged and are not impacted by this policy statement.
2. University faculty and staff are required to report any incident of child sexual abuse which they witness occurring on University property or in connection with a University event or activity. Reports should be made as soon as possible to the Vice President and General Counsel's Office, the Wichita State University Police Department or a local law enforcement agency.
3. For purposes of this policy, "sexual abuse" should generally be considered as any contact or interaction with a child in which the child is being used for sexual stimulation of the perpetrator, the child or another person. Sexual abuse shall include allowing, permitting or encouraging a child to engage in prostitution or to be photographed, filmed or depicted in pornographic material.
4. For purposes of this policy, a child is anyone under the
age of eighteen.
5. For additional information, see also Section
3.07, Section
8.16, Section
3.33, Section
8.18, Section
3.06 and Section
8.11.
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Implementation:
This policy shall be included in the WSU Policies and
Procedures Manual and shared with appropriate constituencies
of the University.
The Vice President and General Counsel shall have primary responsibility for publication, dissemination and implementation of this University policy.
Effective Date:
January 9, 2012