Reporting A Concern

The University has established an anonymous reporting hotline, independently administered by a third-party provider EthicsPoint, to allow for anonymous and confidential reporting of activities that may involve improper conduct or violations of Boston University policies. All reports will be investigated promptly and discreetly by the University, receiving careful consideration with the objective of addressing any improper conduct or violation of University policy. This hotline is not a substitute for, nor does it supersede, any existing reporting methods or protocols for handling concerns and complaints. If you would like to report your concern to Boston University directly and are uncertain how to begin, contact Compliance Services (comply@bu.edu; 617-358-8090) for assistance.

Office of the Ombuds
The Boston University Office of the Ombuds is a confidential, neutral, and independent resource providing informal assistance to faculty, staff, and students on the Charles River and Medical Campuses.
The Office provides informal options for managing conflict and difficult conversations. Note that discussions with the Office are off the record so people can consult the Ombuds before a problem escalates, and before a a decision to formally report a problem is made.

BU Ethics and Compliance Hotline
As described above, the anonymous reporting hotline is independently administered to allow for anonymous and confidential reporting of activities that may involve improper conduct or violations of Boston University policies. All reports will be investigated promptly and discreetly by the University, receiving careful consideration with the objective of addressing any improper conduct or violation of University policy. 

All complaints or incidents related to a person’s characteristics that are protected by law – such as shared ancestry, ethnicity, race, national origin, religion, gender, and others – must be reported through the University’s Equal Opportunity Office. Once the EOO receives those reports, a Bias Review Team will address those that that fall outside of EOO’s purview. 

Reports of sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination must be reported to the Equal Opportunity Office using their Incident Report Form.

You are encouraged to discuss any concerns directly with your supervisor, unit or department head, dean or senior leader responsible for your area.

Consider contacting the individuals responsible for specific areas of compliance, which are identified in the Compliance Matrix.

Office/Source – For Specific Issue(s)

• Equal Opportunity Office – Harassment, discrimination, sexual misconduct, and any bias concerns or incidents
  Email: eoo@bu.edu; EOO’s Incident report Form 
• Global Programs – Academic programs, research or travel abroad
  Email: global@bu.edu; Refer to Global Programs website for specific contact information
• Human Resources – Employment issues
  Email: hr@bu.edu; Phone: 617-353-2380
• Internal Audit – Financial, fraud, compliance or ethical issues
  All general inquiries for Internal Audit & Advisory Services, under Financial Affairs, should be submitted through our Customer Service Portal. If you would prefer to connect by phone, please call Internal Audit & Advisory Services at  617-353-2215. If you are unable to reach someone at that number, please contact Financial Affairs Administration at 617-353-2290 during normal business hours (Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm).
• Office of the General Counsel – Legal or ethical issues or questions
  Email: buogc@bu.edu Phone: 617-353-2326
  Boston University’s Office of the General Counsel represents the University. University attorneys cannot provide personal legal advice. Resources for personal legal advice and resources for students are available. If you need legal assistance in connection with University business, please submit a request for assistance.
• Office of the Provost – Academic affairs, faculty issues, or student issues
  Email: provost@bu.edu; Phone: 617-353-2230
• Office of Research Compliance – Research activities, including scientific misconduct, research safety, animal welfare, or other safety or research compliance matters
  Resources to report concerns are detailed on the Research Support website.
• Debt & Treasury Management – Financial issues
  Phone: 617-353-2290 or 617-353-2272; Email: treasury@bu.edu
• Director Health Privacy and Compliance – Privacy of Health Information
  Phone: 617-358-3124; Email: jcaptain@bu.edu
• Compliance Services – Any compliance or ethics issues or concerns
  Email: Comply@bu.edu; Phone: 617-358-8090

Spam, phishing emails or other information technology incidents that should be addressed by IS&T directly. Please report those incidents to IS&T by sending an email to abuse@bu.edu.

If you suspect that a minor participating in any BU-sponsored or affiliated program/activity has been abused or neglected, or you have any concerns regarding the health or safety of a minor participant, you must take the steps outlined on the BU Protection of Minors website, which includes the first step of immediately contacting law enforcement. Please see the BU Protection of Minors website for steps on how to report concerns involving minors.

Criminal activity should be reported to the Boston University Police Department (BUPD). Urgent safety incidents should be reported to BUPD immediately by calling 617-353-2121..

• Emergency Situations

DIAL 617-353-2121 or 911 for immediate police response

• Send an anonymous text to Police 24/7.

By text: Anonymous tips may be sent by text to 847411. Type BU <space> and then the message. Standard text messaging rates apply. The message is anonymous and the sender may opt out at any time by texting “stop” to 847411.
In addition, anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 617-353-6516 or filling out an online form.

• Additional BUPD Contacts

The BUPD website features a webpage with contact information for specific departments or concerns.

• Anonymous Reporting

A Silent Witness Form – The silent witness form allows individuals to anonymously provide the BUPD with information pertaining to criminal activity. Please note, if you need immediate assistance, you should call 617-353-2121 immediately. You do not need to leave your name when you call.

Boston University students, staff, and faculty are urged to report all crimes and emergency situations as promptly as possible, whether they occur on or off campus, to the Boston University Police Department. Please note that these forms are not monitored 24/7. If you have an emergency, please call BUPD at 617-353-2121.

• Anonymous Reporting
  • Silent Witness Form – The silent witness form allows individuals to anonymously provide the BUPD with information pertaining to criminal activity. Please note, if you need immediate assistance, you should call 617-353-2121 immediately. You do not need to leave your name when you call.
  • Tip 411 – Members of the Boston University community and the public at large may provide anonymous tips to the Boston University Police. Anonymous tips may be sent by text to 847411. Type BU <space> and then the message. Standard text messaging rates apply. The message is anonymous and the sender may opt out at any time by texting “stop” to 847411. In addition, anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 617-353-6516 or filling out an online form.

• Clery Act Crime Incident Report Form – This form should be completed by a Campus Security Authority (CSA) who is required to report information they receive about crimes pursuant to the Clery Act.
• Commendation – Day-to-day our officers perform commendable acts of service for the community at Boston University. We encourage members of the community to submit commendation recommendations to share information about positive experiences and interactions they have had with BUPD personnel or the department.
• File a Complaint – The Chief reviews every complaint regarding BUPD personnel and/or the department. Once your complaint is received, it will be thoroughly investigated by a person designated by the Chief. 

• Encounter Inquiry – If you have had an encounter with a member of the Boston University Police Department and you are unsure of the reason or validity, we invite you to inquire about it.

Community members must report incidents of Hazing to the University using the online Hazing report form administered through the Office of the Dean of Students.

Massachusetts law also provides that, if a person knows that another person is the victim of Hazing and is at the scene of such crime, they should report the crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable, to the extent they can do so without danger or peril to themselves or others. Failure to report a Hazing crime is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.

Emergency Reporting

If the Hazing is life threatening, dangerous, violent, or otherwise poses risk of harm, community members should immediately contact the Boston University Police Department at 617-353-2121 if they are on campus or call 911 or local law enforcement authorities for off campus hazing emergencies.

After fulfilling the Emergency Reporting obligations outlined above, community members must also report the same incident of Hazing using the confidential online Hazing report form administered through the Office of the Dean of Students.

More information on Community members reporting obligations can be found in the Interim Hazing Prevention Policy, II. Reporting Requirements.