WHAT IS CONFIDENTIAL RESOURCES ADVISING?

The Office of Prevention and Education at Northeastern’s (OPEN) Confidential Resource Advising provides free, confidential, non-judgmental, restorative-informed services for Northeastern students or organizations who have been accused of any form of sexual violence and/or who have concerns about beliefs and behaviors that could lead to harm.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

Confidential Resource Advising (CRA) Staff will listen to your concerns, provide information about relevant university policies and resources, gather additional information if needed, help you evaluate your situation, and at your request and as appropriate, they may contact offices or departments to seek additional information for clarification to better understand the nature of the complaint or situation. They can also assist to facilitate interim remedies available (i.e., no-contact orders, housing changes, academic support) and provide on and off campus counseling and resources. 

CRA Staff will not tell you what you should or should not do; instead, they will provide information and resources for you to explore what next steps would best support you and/or your peer(s).

All Northeastern University community members have the right to access resources and services. Phone translation services are available in over 200 languages including ASL. CRA Staff will work to accommodate any other accessibility needs.  

IS THIS SERVICE CONFIDENTIAL?

All OPEN staff members are considered Confidential Employees according to Northeastern University policy. This means that students who have concerns related to sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment (Prohibited Offenses) can seek support without having their name or any identifying characteristics reported to the Title IX Coordinator or Office for University Equity and Compliance (OUEC). 

This means that any information disclosed during Confidential Resource Advising will not be reported to the Office for University Equity and Compliance (Title IX), the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, or any other campus office. Exemptions to this include:

  1. When they are given permission to share information by the person who disclosed it;
  2. When there is an imminent threat of harm to self or others;
  3. When the conduct involves suspected abuse of a minor under the age of 18 or of an elder;
  4. When otherwise required by law or court order.

Most faculty and staff are considered “responsible employees” meaning that they are obligated to notify the Title IX Coordinator if they are made aware of an incident of sexual violence.

Besides the Office of Prevention and Education at Northeastern (OPEN), other confidential resources include University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS) staff on the Boston Campus, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on the Oakland Campus, Sexual Violence Liaison Officers on the London Campus, and Spiritual Advisors at The Center for Spirituality, Dialogue and Service.

HOW CAN I ACCESS THIS SERVICE?

The best way to access Confidential Resource Advising services is to fill out OPEN’s Sexual Violence Service Request Form. This service is available Monday though Friday from 8:30am – 5:00pm EST, though meetings can occur outside those times to accommodate schedules.