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Project Safe

Advocacy & Support Services

Project Safe provides confidential support, advocacy, and resources for Vanderbilt community members impacted by sexual misconduct—regardless of when or where the incident occurred. Our goal is to help you feel heard, supported, and informed about your options.

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Get Support

Individual advocacy is available to students, faculty, and staff impacted by sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, or related experiences.

24/7 Support Hotline: Call (615) 322-7233

Advocacy may include:

  • Emotional support & trauma-informed guidance
  • Information about reporting and resource options
  • Safety planning
  • Campus and community referrals
  • Support navigating academic, legal, or medical systems

Make an Appointment

  • In-person, virtual, or phone appointments — Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Call (615) 875-0660 to schedule or drop in during business hours
  • Already connected with an advocate? Email them directly

Supportive Measures

Supportive measures provide relief and help maintain safety and wellbeing — with or without filing a complaint or participating in a formal process.

Requests may be made through Project Safe, Title IX, or Student Accountability. The University determines reasonability, with oversight by the Title IX Coordinator.

  • Examples for students
    • Access to counseling services & help scheduling appointments
    • No-contact orders
    • Academic accommodations (extensions, rescheduling exams, tutoring)
    • Support changing housing, class sections, or work assignments
    • Escorts between classes
    • Leave of absence options

     

  • Examples for faculty, staff & postdocs
    • Access to counseling services
    • Workplace schedule or location adjustments
    • Escorts around campus

Confidentiality - Project Safe is a Limited Confidential Resource.

  • What Limited Confidential Means

    • Individuals who work at the Project Safe Center — including front desk staff and graduate assistants — can generally talk to any person impacted by sexual misconduct without revealing personally identifying information to others within the University.

    • A person can seek assistance and support from Project Safe staff without triggering a University investigation that could reveal their identity or that they disclosed the incident.

    • However, a person who self-discloses to Project Safe staff that they engaged in a possible violation of this policy may not be entitled to limited confidentiality.

  • Required Non-Identifying Notifications

    Without disclosing personally identifying information about the victim, Project Safe will notify the Title IX Office of:

    • the nature of an incident

    • the date and time

    • the general location

    Project Safe will also notify the Title IX Office of the name of the alleged perpetrator, if known, when the alleged perpetrator is affiliated with Vanderbilt University as:

    • faculty

    • staff

    • postdoctoral fellow/trainee

    • teaching assistant

    • independent contractor

    • adviser

    • or other similar capacity (excluding students)

    This notification helps the Title IX Office:

    • track patterns

    • evaluate the scope of the problem

    • formulate campus-wide responses to violence

  • If the Victim Wants More Information Shared

    • Project Safe staff can assist in providing additional information, including potentially identifying information, to the Title IX Office if the victim wishes.

    • Anyone who first notifies Project Safe may later decide to file a report with Title IX or law enforcement.

  • Supportive Measures Involving Non-Confidential Departments

    • Project Safe staff can assist with interim remedial and protective measures.

    • If a measure involves another University department or affects another person, identifying information may need to be shared with:

      • the relevant department

      • the involved individual

      • the Title IX Office

  • Legal/Required Reporting Situations

    While maintaining confidentiality within the University, Project Safe staff must report when required by law, including:

    • incidents involving victims who are minors

    • situations involving a threat of imminent harm to self or others

    • if subpoenaed to testify in a criminal case

    • complying with federal, state, and local laws

  • If There Is a Serious or Immediate Threat
    • If staff determine that the respondent presents a serious or immediate threat to the community (nature/severity or pattern of misconduct), relevant information will be disclosed to appropriate University authorities — including, but not limited to, the Title IX Office.
  • Clery Act Reporting

    • Project Safe will provide non-identifying information (similar to what is shared with Title IX) to Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD) for crime statistics reporting under the Clery Act.

    • This may result in timely warnings or security notices, but victim identity will not be disclosed.

How to Support a Survivor