Importance of Reporting

Dear Deans, Directors and Department Heads:

The University of Michigan is devoted to the highest ethical standards; we expect honesty and integrity from every member of our faculty, staff and student body. An important component of these values is a commitment to reporting suspected criminal activity and the knowledge that retaliation for making a report is never acceptable.

I write today to remind our community of our reporting expectations and, in some cases, reporting obligations, and to reinforce that I share the goal that all members of our community should feel encouraged and comfortable in reporting suspected criminal activity.

Please share the information in this message with faculty, students and staff under your direction. I also ask that you incorporate this information into orientation materials for new faculty, students and staff, if it is not already included.

As a dean, director or department head, it is important that you promptly report suspected wrongdoing. Everyone in your unit should know that you will handle issues properly, resolving them or reporting them to higher authorities as appropriate. I urge you to maintain open communication and assure your staff that reporting suspected wrongdoing will never result in reprisal.

Individuals should act immediately if they suspect abuse or other crimes, or where they find themselves either a victim or a witness to questionable activity.

Our current system for reporting is described below:

Emergency Assistance

All campuses and Michigan Medicine:

  • If immediate emergency assistance is needed or a crime is in progress, dial 9-1-1 for emergency response.
  • At the Ann Arbor medical campus, dial 9-9-9 for cardiac arrests, medical emergencies or patient-related incidents.

Non-Emergency Assistance

Ann Arbor campus, including the medical campus:

  • For non-emergency situations, call the U-M Division of Public Safety and Security at (734) 763-1131. Public safety professionals can help assess the situation and determine what other notification or action is necessary.

Dearborn campus:

  • Call the UM-Dearborn Police Department at (313) 593-9953.

Flint campus:

  • Call the UM-Flint Department of Public Safety at (810) 762-3333.

All campuses and Michigan Medicine:

  • Information on potential criminal activity also may be reported anonymously by calling the university’s Anonymous Tip Line at (800) 863-1355.
  • Many of you also are considered Campus Security Authorities under the Clery Act or Individuals with Reporting Obligations under Title IX and therefore have additional reporting obligations for certain crimes and conduct. Information for Individuals with Reporting Obligations (IROs) can be found in Section VII of U-M’s Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct. For more information on the Clery Act, contact the Division of Public Safety and Security. For information on Title IX reporting, contact your campus Title IX coordinator (Ann ArborDearborn, and Flint).
  • University community members who believe they have witnessed any type of wrongdoing — including but not limited to financial, regulatory, NCAA or patient safety — can report the situation confidentially or anonymously through the university’s Ethics, Integrity & Compliance website.

Thank you for your continuous support and leadership commitment to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all.

Sincerely,

Mary Sue Coleman
President