The University of Mississippi OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSPERSON 318 Trent Lott Institute, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848 CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY AND AGREEMENT Please read the following in order to understand the confidentiality policy and exceptions BEFORE identifying your complaint to the office. The Office of the Ombudsperson is a confidential resource and shall not disclose the identity of visitors or confidential communications unless given permission to do so, except as required by law or where there appears to be an imminent risk of serious harm. What does this mean? In almost all circumstances, the ombudsperson shall NOT disclose your identity or confidential communications without your consent. Law requires that the ombudsperson make disclosures in some circumstances, including: When the ombudsperson perceives an imminent risk of serious harm and there is no reasonable alternative to disclosure available When there is reasonable cause for suspicion of child abuse When disclosure is required by a court of law When the ombudsperson receives a report of gender-based misconduct and is required by law to make a report to the appropriate campus office* *Gender-based misconduct The Office of the Ombudsperson strives to be a safe place to discuss incidents of stalking, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, gender-based discrimination and harassment, and other gender-based misconduct. In order to comply with federal requirements, this office may be required to make reports to the Title IX office in certain circumstances. Upon request, the Ombudsperson can discuss what types of cases must be reported. Not an Office of Record or Notice The Office of the Ombudsperson does not keep formal records of complaints and does not accept notice for the University. If you would like to make a formal complaint or put the University on notice, the ombudsperson will direct you to other offices or resources. Reporting trends and data to the University The Office of the Ombudsperson will keep data documenting concerns in a confidential manner. All identifying information will be removed, including names, specific job titles, and specifics of the complaint that could likely lead to identification of the visitor. The office routinely destroys identifying documents and will resist providing documents or testimony about your case. The University of Mississippi Office of the Ombudsperson, 2015