Restricted Contact, Location Restriction, and No-Trespass Orders
I. Purpose and General Statement for Campus Protective Orders
These protocols help promote a safe and secure campus, reduce the risk of retaliation, assist in preventing discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and violence, and can serve as a supportive measure to victims of violence. Designated Willamette University personnel are authorized to issue a Campus Protective Order which includes: restricted contact orders (RCO), location restricted orders (LRO) and no trespass orders (NTO). These protective orders prevent contact between Willamette University students, faculty, and staff employees or non-affiliated individuals when there exists a reasonable concern that physical or psychological harm may result from such contact, or as an appropriate supportive measure by designated Student Affairs staff, the Title IX Coordinator, or Human Resources. The policy supports the university’s responsibility to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), as amended by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.
II. Scope
Provisions regarding Campus Protective Orders apply to all university employees, contractors, volunteers, and undergraduate and graduate students (including individuals enrolled or auditing courses in any Willamette Schools, Colleges or programs), and non-affiliated persons or entities accessing Willamette’s property or programming, or educational activities. Willamette has the sole discretion to determine whether to implement a Campus Protective Order.Without limiting the foregoing authority, Protective Orders will typically be reasonably tailored to the particular risks of harm.
III. Definitions
Campus Restricted Contact Order (RCO): An RCO is a written directive given for a specific period of time to ensure an identified party affiliated with the University has no direct or indirect contact with another identified University party. RCOs can be issued as a supportive measure following a report of prohibited conduct, as part of an investigation, an agreement between conflicting parties, or as a finding of responsibility for a violation of the University’s policy whereby restricting contact between parties is deemed appropriate by the Office of Student Affairs or Human Resources.
Campus Location Restriction Order (LRO): An LRO is a written directive given for a specific period of time to ensure an identified party affiliated with the University does not enter a designated area of University premises as a supportive measure following a report of prohibited conduct, as part of an investigation, as an agreement between conflicting parties, or as a finding of responsible for a violation of the University’s policy whereby restricting contact between parties is deemed appropriate by the Office of Student Affairs or Human Resources.
The LRO will define the space to be avoided, which may include particular rooms, buildings, outdoor areas, events, or other spaces as described in the LRO. The LRO could require a housing reassignment or reassignment to a different section of a course for one or multiple individuals identified as part of a sanction.
RCOs and LROs are not necessarily disciplinary in nature; however, failing to comply with the terms of an RCO or LRO may constitute a violation of the RCO/LRO and the individual may be subject to discipline under the Student Code of Conduct or Human Resources policies.
Contact: Generally, contact refers to any intentional words or actions, whether on or off campus. Examples include:
- Intentional touching of any kind
- Telephone calls, text messages, online chats, emails, or electronic communication through any form of social media
- Non-verbal contact including making gestures or staring, giving/sending gifts, pictures, videos, notes, music or other items of monetary or sentimental value
- Entering the person’s private space (residence hall room, studio, office)
- Destruction or vandalism of personal property.
- Third-party communications including communication through the use of proxies.
Non-Affiliated Individuals: An individual who is neither an employee nor a student subject to the Student Code of Conduct or other policies of the University.
No-Trespass Order (NTO): A NTO excludes a non-affiliated individual from all, or a portion of, University-owned or -controlled property, for a specified period of time, including specifying if it the order is not time limited, based on an alleged violation of University policy, local ordinance, or public law.
Retaliation is any adverse action taken against a person making a complaint under a university process, cooperating in an investigation or hearing of alleged misconduct, or against any individual perceived to be involved in reporting, in an investigation, or hearing of misconduct. Retaliation includes threatening, intimidating, harassing, coercing, or any other conduct that would discourage a reasonable person from engaging in an educational opportunity, a university process, or investigation.
IV. Procedure for Obtaining a Campus Protective Order
Individuals concerned for their immediate safety should contact Campus Safety at 503-370-6911 in Salem or 503-621-2061 in Portland, or dial 911.
Issuance of a Campus Protective Order to students may be issued by the Vice President of Student Affairs or Dean of Students. For employees, they may be issued by the the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, and, if the behavior is related to sexual misconduct, they may be issued by the Title IX Coordinator. Students who wish to discuss the option of a Campus Protective Order should contact the Office of Student Affairs at student-affairs-office@willamette.edu or by calling 503-370-6447. If the request is related to sexual misconduct the Title IX Coordinator should be contacted at titleIX-info@willamette.edu. Employees should contact Human Resources at hr@willamette.edu or call 503-370-6210. A request for a Campus Protective Order can also be put in writing via an incident report, or sexual misconduct report as appropriate.
A. Criteria for a Restricted Contact Order/Location Restriction Order
The issuing administrator will consider all facts and circumstances that may be relevant to whether a Restricted Contact Order or Location Restriction Order should be issued, including, but not limited to, evidence of the following factors:
- Whether the alleged prohibited conduct indicates an act of physical violence or threatened act of physical violence.
- Whether the alleged prohibited conduct indicates any threat to the safety, health, or property of an individual or harassment or intimidation of any individual affiliated with the University.
- Whether there is a substantial, objective risk of psychological harm to an individual based on continued contact.
- Whether continued contact between the parties may negatively impact the University’s Title IX or other type of alleged prohibited conduct investigation.
- Whether a Willamette student or employee requests one as a supportive measure as part of a Title IX process.
A Campus RCO is issued as a bi-lateral directive meaning both parties must refrain from direct or indirect contact. The duration of the Campus RCO is determined by the issuing office. Both parties will receive written notice of the RCO.
A LRO may or may not impose restrictions to both parties refraining from entering a particular location.
The issuing administrator will copy the following University officials on the Restricted Contact Order and/or Location Restriction Order:
- Director of Campus Safety
- Dean of Students
- Director of Residence Life if either party lives in a University owned or operated housing
- Vice President for Student Affairs
- Title IX Coordinator (if involving sexual misconduct)
- Human Resources and/or supervisor as appropriate
- Appropriate Faculty/Staff, as applicable by educational need (i.e., if it restricts the individual from attendance at a class, meeting or event they oversee)
A Campus Protective Order may be imposed by the University without an individual’s request, particularly as part of an ongoing investigation. There is no appeal process, however an individual seeking the modification or rescission of a Campus Protective Order should contact the issuing administrator. The issuing administrator will consult with both parties before determining whether or not to modify or rescind the Campus Protective Order. In most cases, Campus Protective Orders will be issued on a time limited basis.
B. Prohibited Conduct
A RCO prohibits the parties involved from contacting one another, but it generally does not restrict an individual’s movement around university grounds or prevent the individual from being in the same University building or space as the other party.
A LRO would be issued if such restrictions are deemed necessary, and would outline the specific restrictions. Prior to imposing any restrictions, the issuing administrator looks to modify course schedules, work schedules, and housing assignments to minimize the chance of contact between the parties. When restrictions are imposed, attempts are made to impose the least restrictive measures necessary (e.g., barring one party from entering the other party’s residence hall or a University building during a time when only one party has class or practice) to ensure a safe environment and minimize conflicts.
A RCO and LRO informs the parties involved of the restrictions and responsibilities regarding their restrictions both on and off campus with the person(s) named in the Restricted Contact Order or Location Restriction Order.
RCOs/LROs are designed primarily to prevent intentional contact. Incidental contact is not considered a violation of a RCO/LRO; individual RCOs may include rules regarding interactions in specific, public locations.
Retaliation against a student or employee because they initiated a RCO/LCO or because such person reported prohibited conduct or participated in an investigation is not tolerated and should be immediately reported to the issuing authority. Retaliation may be present even where there is a finding of “no responsibility” on allegations of Prohibited Conduct. Retaliation does not include good faith actions lawfully pursued in response to a report of Prohibited Conduct.
Students or Employees who have interpersonal conflicts that do not meet the requirements of a formal Title IX complaint or other harmful behavior as indicated in the Student Code of Conduct or University policies may not be granted RCOs/LROs. Support measures and resources will be offered to assist the parties to resolve conflicts. For assistance with interpersonal conflicts employees should contact their supervisor or Human Resources, and students should contact their student group advisor or a member of the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership if related to conflict within a student group, or the Office of Student Affairs.
V. No-Trespass Order
A no-trespass order may be issued if a non-affiliated person or entity has engaged in, or is reasonably likely to engage in, criminal activity, a violation of University policy, or conduct that is or may reasonably be deemed to be threatening, disruptive to University property, self, or any member of the University community, or disrupts the University’s educational, working, and living environment. Failure to comply with the NTO will result in outreach to law enforcement.
A. Issuance of No-Trespass Order
The Director of Campus Safety or the Vice President for Student Affairs may issue a No-Trespass Order requiring individuals or groups to vacate and not re-enter University premises. The Director and Vice President may, in their sole judgement, issue a No-Trespass Order if they deem it is in the best interest of the university or its community members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following behavior will typically be considered in a decision about a No-Trespass Order: i (1) violates civil or criminal laws (e.g., laws governing disorderly conduct or excessive noise); (2) poses a threat to the health, safety, welfare, or academic experience of members of the University community; (3) causes significant disruption to the regular operation of University functions, both academic and administrative; or (4) causes or threatens harm to persons or property.
Copies of all No-Trespass Orders will be provided to the Director of Campus Safety, the Office of Student Affairs, and other offices as appropriate.
Modified 7-11-25
