Report a Concern
Where to Report a Concern
Western Washington University recognizes its obligation to maintain the highest ethical standards and its commitment to ethics. Members of the university community are expected to report concerns of suspected or alleged unethical conduct, noncompliance, violations of university policy, law, or regulations, fraud, or any other improper conduct. In many circumstances, É«»¨Ìà employees must report any suspected misconduct to the appropriate office.
If you have reason to believe that violations of university policy or other misconduct have occurred, including fraud, violations of the law, or other improper conduct, you should report your concerns through one of the following mechanisms listed on this webpage. Please use the information below and your best judgement for which office to report your concern to.
The University has established an , independently administered by a third-party provider, Lighthouse Services, to allow for anonymous and confidential reporting of activities that may involve improper conduct or violations of Western Washington University policies. All reports will be investigated promptly and discreetly by the University, receiving careful consideration to address any improper conduct or violation of University policy.
If you would like to discuss your concerns confidentially, submit an anonymous complaint through the .
A bias incident is language or an action that demonstrates bias against an individual or group of people based on actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, age, or veteran status. Report bias incidents to the .
Reports of sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination must be reported to the .
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 offices responsible for specific compliance areas.
University Offices Information – For Specific Issue(s)
- Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance – Harassment, discrimination, sexual misconduct, and any bias concerns or incidents.
crtc@wwu.edu - Human Resources – Employment issues or concerns.
HR@wwu.edu - Internal Audit – Financial, fraud, compliance, or ethical issues.
Internal.Auditors@wwu.edu - Office of Student Life – Concerns or complaints related to a particular Western Washington University student. Contact the or email
student.life@wwu.edu - Research Integrity and Compliance - Research activities, including misconduct, research safety, animal welfare, or other safety or research compliance matters.
researchintegrity@wwu.edu - Ethics and Compliance – Any compliance or ethics issues or concerns. Contact the University Ethics Advisor: Darin.Rasmussen@wwu.edu
- Health Privacy and Compliance – Privacy of Health Information. Contact the University HIPAA Privacy Officer: Carol.Rehnberg@wwu.edu
- Faculty Relations – Report external intimidation, abuse, harassment, outside work, or compensated professional activities.
- Office of the Attorney General – Legal or ethical issues or questions.
Note: Western Washington University’s Office of the Attorney General represents the University. University attorneys cannot provide personal legal advice.
Spam, phishing emails, malware, viruses, suspected data leaks, or other information security incidents that should be addressed directly by Western's Information Security Team. Please report these incidents by emailing atus.helpdesk@wwu.edu.
Criminal activity should be reported to the (UPD). Western Washington University students, staff, and faculty are urged to report all crimes and emergencies promptly, whether they occur on or off campus.
- Emergency Police Response: Dial 911
- Non-Emergency Police Response: (360) 676-6911
Refer to the page on the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) website for details on how to report safety incidents. EHS can also be contacted at ehs@wwu.edu. For more information on emergency procedures for other types of emergencies, visit the website or contact them directly at Emergency.Management@wwu.edu.
If you believe Protected Health Information may have been accessed, used, or disclosed by someone who is not authorized to do so, it is your responsibility to . Once you report, the HIPAA Privacy Officer will be able to respond promptly and responsibly to incidents that may involve inappropriate use or disclosure of personal health information.
Breaches of confidentiality and similar breaches related to research activities must be reported to (see website for reporting guidance). They can be contacted directly at researchintegrity@wwu.edu.
We strive to provide inclusive experiences for all students, staff, and faculty. Despite our efforts, you may run into a barrier in our digital or physical spaces that hinders the Western experience. We want to remove any barriers, so please let us know how we can make Western more accessible.