Need to File a Complaint or Report an Incident?

Contact OIE to Report Discrimination, Harassment, and/or Sexual Misconduct

Learn about the reporting process
Learn about the complaint process

Discrimination & Harassment

Duke prohibits discrimination and harassment based on age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (assigned at birth), sexual orientation, or veteran status in its employment practices or educational programs and activities. See Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct.

You have the right to raise a concern or submit a complaint regarding harassment or discrimination. You also don’t have to follow any “chain of command” to do so — you can speak to anyone in OIE, an OIE Liaison, any supervisor or manager in your department, program, or office about your concern. We are also happy to answer questions about Duke policies or talk to you about other concerns you may have. Of course, at any time during the process, you have the right to consult people or agencies outside of Duke.

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct refers to all forms of sexual- or gender-based harassment, sexual or gender violence, sexual exploitation, relationship violence (domestic violence and dating violence), and sex- or gender-based stalking. All forms of sexual misconduct—whether committed by student, faculty, staff, or others—are prohibited at Duke. See Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct.

You have the right to raise a concern or submit a complaint regarding sexual misconduct. You also don’t have to follow any “chain of command” to do so — you can speak to Duke University Police Department, anyone in OIE, an OIE Liaison, any supervisor or manager in your department, program, or office about your concern. We are also happy to answer questions about Duke policies or talk to you about other concerns you may have. Of course, at any time during the process, you have the right to consult people or agencies outside of Duke.

If you believe you are being subjected to sexual misconduct by a Duke undergraduate, graduate or professional student, please contact the Duke Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards.

Special Notice for International Students

All members of the Duke community, including international students, have the right to raise concerns or submit a complaint regarding harassment or discrimination. Duke Visa Services is a resource for international students and should be contacted for assistance in determining how participation in an investigation (as a complainant, respondent or witness) may affect their visa categories. Students can receive guidance on how any disciplinary actions could affect their visa status, and may be referred to a qualified immigration attorney. Duke Visa Services will also provide regulatory guidance for students considering a reduced course load, leave of absence or change to a nonimmigrant status.

How to File a Complaint

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Reporting concerns about a Duke Employee

To report concerns as outlined on this page about a Duke staff member (including fellows, postdocs, and residents), faculty member, vendor or contractor, please contact OIE:

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Reporting concerns about a Duke graduate or professional student

To report concerns as outlined on this page about a Duke graduate or professional student, please contact OIE:

To report concerns about a Duke undergraduate student, please contact the Duke Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards.

Reporting an Incident

Use the confidential online Incident Reporting tool to provide OIE with preliminary information concerning incidents of protected status harassment, discrimination and related misconduct involving students, faculty, or staff. OIE will respond to all submissions regardless of the nature of the report, and will forward it to the office responsible for addressing it, as appropriate. Though the form may be submitted anonymously, Duke University cannot provide supportive measures (such as academic accommodations, no-contact orders, safe housing options, changes of work schedules) with anonymous submissions. In addition, anonymous reports may also impact the University's ability to investigate and/or take disciplinary action.

Report an incident

Accommodations (Disability and Religious)

Duke is committed to making reasonable disability accommodations for employees, students, and visitors, and reasonable religious accommodations for employees. The denial of reasonable accommodations is a type of discrimination and is not acceptable at Duke.

Employees, students, and visitors should contact the Duke Disability Management System to request disability accommodations. Employees may request reasonable accommodations for their religious beliefs through their supervisors or managers. Questions about religious accommodations should be directed to Duke Human Resources Staff and Labor Relations.

The university has grievance procedures that provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints about the denial of requested disability or religious accommodations.

How to File a Complaint

If you believe you are not getting the accommodations you need, please contact OIE at oie-help@duke.edu or 919-684-8222.

Accommodations (Pregnancy)

Duke University provides a number of family-friendly benefits. These benefits are an important part of Duke’s efforts to attract and retain students and employees. This includes creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students and employees. To this end, Duke will provide reasonable academic and employment accommodations, if requested and if medically necessary, as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions.

Employees seeking pregnancy-related leave or other accommodations or parental leave can obtain additional information from Human Resources. Students seeking accommodations should submit a request to TitleIX@duke.edu. Student Health Services provides pregnancy detection and counseling services, which may be covered by the Student Health Fee. In addition, while a routine pregnancy is not a disability covered by Duke’s policies on disability accommodations, impairments arising from pregnancy might be. Students and employees should consult the Disability Management System for assistance. Additional resources for pregnant and parenting students can be found here.

As with disability and religious accommodations, the university has grievance procedures that provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints about the denial of requested pregnancy-related accommodations. 

How to File a Complaint

If you believe you’re not getting the accommodations you need, please contact OIE at oie-help@duke.edu or 919-684-8222.

Retaliation is Prohibited

Duke's policies prohibit retaliation against anyone for coming forward with a concern, submitting a complaint, participating in an investigation, or otherwise engaging in good faith opposition to what they reasonably believe is prohibited discrimination or harassment. If you believe you have experienced prohibited retaliation, you may contact OIE at oie-help@duke.edu or 919-684-8222 or the Duke Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards to address this concern, including through the filing of a complaint.