Violence Awareness and Prevention

Make a Report

Report Concerning or Threatening Behavior

To report concerning or threatening behavior, or anyone (student or employee) that may become a threat to themselves or others, click on the link below to initiate a review by the appropriate university department or officials.


                                    TO MAKE A REPORT CLICK HERE

Mandatory Reporting

University students and employees are required to report crimes, concerning behaviors that are potential warnings of future violence to the appropriate university office/official in accordance with federal and state regulations. Reporting is necessary to help the institution intervene when necessary and appropriate and to accurately captures instances of violence to inform ongoing violence prevention efforts.

Report Acts of Violence: University students and employees may report acts of violence in one of four ways:

Threat Assessment Team (TAT)

Report any behavior that appears to be a precursor to violence to TAT.  Behaviors that might indicate future violence or harm to oneself include:

Concerning Behaviors and Potential Warning Signs
  • Making threats:
    • Verbal or Written
    • Direct or Indirect
    • Expressions of violent plans or impending ominous events
  • Attempts to harm self or others
  • Engaging in threatening or intimidating behavior towards others, such as:
    • Hostile, aggressive, abusive, stalking, bullying, or harassing
  • Behavior that would cause an objectively reasonable person to have a significant safety concern or find the conduct to be disruptive:
    • An escalation in problematic or concerning interpersonal interactions with others
  • A real or perceived grievance:
    • An inability to pursue non-violent resolutions to a grievance
  • Significantly diminished resiliency or compromised ability to cope with:
    • Stressors, setbacks, loss, humiliation
  • Contextually displaying paranoia or distrust disproportionate to a situation
  • Identifying with or idolizing persons who have engaged in violence:
    • Mass murder
    • Weapons
    • Fixation with hate group, terrorist, or extremist material
  • Change in baseline behavior:
    • Significant decreased performance in work or academics
    • Increased isolation, depression, and withdrawal from normal activities
    • Significant changes in mood, disposition, hygiene or appearance, disregard for future consequences
    • Increased or decreased usage of alcohol, drugs, or medications

For more information about behaviors associated with individuals who commit acts of violence, please visit this FBI Reference Guide

Clery Act Crimes – University Police

In accordance with Federal regulations, the following crimes must be reported to University Police by phone (703)993-2810, by email cleryact@gmu.edu, or on line by visiting this link.

Clery Act Crimes
  • Non-negligent manslaughter
  • Negligent manslaughter
  • Rape
    Fondling
  • Statutory Rape
  • Incest
  • Robbery
  • Aggravated Assault
  • Burglary
  • Motor vehicle theft
  • Arson
  • Domestic violence
  • Dating violence
  • Stalking
  • Liquor or drug law violation
  • Illegal weapons possession

Report Acts of Violence

Report to Police

Report the crime to University Police at (703) 993-2810 or local police (911) with the intent of pressing criminal charges.

Report Anonymously

Report the crime to University Police anonymously using the Mason Crime Solvers anonymous tip line at (703) 993-4111.

Report to Student Conduct

Report the crime to the university with the intent of using the Conduct Process to hold the offender responsible. Click here to learn more about this option.

Report to Title IX

Any student, faculty or staff member, or applicant who has concerns about sex- or gender-based discrimination or sexual misconduct is encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator.  Contact the coordinator if you, if you think you have encountered gender discrimination or sexual misconduct, need help handling a situation, experience a situation that warrants a university investigation, seek guidance on possible informal remedies or administrative measures or have questions about Mason’s policies and procedures.  Click here to learn more about this option.

Discrimination

To file a complaint, Fill out an intake form, email the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), or call the office at (703) 993-8730. Once submitted, you will meet with a member of the ODEI team to discuss your concerns. Upon filing an intake form and meeting with ODEI, we will make a threshold determination as to whether the allegation(s) contained in the complaint may constitute a violation of university policy. This threshold determination will be made within five (5) business days of the intake meeting.

Discrimination is any impermissible act or failure to act, based wholly or in part on membership in a protected class, which adversely affects existing privileges, benefits or working conditions and results in the disparate treatment of—or has a disparate impact on—members of the Mason community.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, as well as retaliation against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, and/or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.

At George Mason, ODEI investigates alleged discrimination based on:

  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • Ethnic National Origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics)
  • Sex
  • Disability
  • Military Status (including veteran status)
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Gender Identity
  • Gender Expression
  • Age
  • Marital Status
  • Pregnancy Status
  • Genetic Information
  • Any other characteristic protected by law
Mandatory Reporting

Find out which behaviors must be reported to the university in accordance with federal and state regulations.

Report Acts of Violence

University students and employees may report acts of violence in one of four ways. To make a report click here.

Discrimination

Reports acts of discrimination related to race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.

Concerns for Student or Employee

The university investigates concerns about student and employee well-being. To find out more about the process click here.

Immediate Danger

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or  (703) 993-2810.  If an act of violence has already occurred, click here.

Concern for a Student or Employee

The University is committed to improving community safety through a proactive, collaborative, coordinated, objective, and thoughtful approach to the prevention, identification, assessment, intervention, and management of situations that pose, or may reasonably pose, a threat to the safety and well-being of the campus community.

Upon receipt of a report of concerning behavior, university officials will review the report and determine an appropriate course of action (e.g., intervention, discipline, referral, monitoring, notation, or no action) in accordance with university, state, and federal procedures.  Reports will be investigated by a university office or official which may involve, Office of Student Conduct, Human Resources & Payroll, University Police, Title IX Coordinator, or the University’s Threat Assessment Team.

In all cases, the university strives to support those members of our community in distress through support, accommodations, and counseling.  In some instances, disciplinary action, suspension, expulsion, arrest, or termination may result from student and employee misconduct.  The university makes every effort to ensure equity and fairness throughout an investigation or disciplinary process.  Investigations can be lengthy to protect the privacy and rights of all involved.

Due to privacy laws and/or university policy, individuals who report concerning behavior are not privy to the actions taken by the university when a report is received.