Victim Advocacy Resources
Check out these informational guides for assistance to support yourself, peers and students.
Advocate Hotline
Advocate Hotline: (813) 257-3900
Quick Campus Contacts
Victim Advocacy Hotline
(813) 257-3900
Southard Family Building, room 256
Campus Safety
(813) 257-7777
Innovation and Collaboration Building (first floor)
Medical and Counseling Services
(813) 253-6250
Dickey Health and Wellness Center
Student Conduct Office
(813) 258-7228
Vaughn Center, room 210
Safe Escort Service
(LASER Team)
(813) 257-4515
Vaughn Center, Information Desk
The University of Tampa is pleased to provide free confidential Victim Advocacy services to all UTampa students who have been a victim of a crime, regardless of whether the incident occurred on or off campus, and whether the crime occurred recently or in the past.
The program is staffed with our trained advocate, Bridgette Shipley, who is designated by the Office of the Attorney General to provide victim services to students. The Victim Advocate may be contacted via email at victimadvocacy@ut.edu or through the 24/7 UTampa Victim Advocate Hotline* at (813) 257-3900, during fall and spring semesters. If you need immediate assistance or need to contact the Victim Advocate during summer terms or between academic terms, Campus Safety can connect students with an advocate.
*Please note: The Victim Advocacy Hotline is staffed by trained individuals from the office of Student Care and Advocacy. Confidentiality will be maintained when the hotline is being utilized.
Campus Advocates can provide a number of services for students who have been a victim of a crime. These services include:
- Providing students with on and off campus resources;
- Providing information on reporting procedures to both on and off campus agencies;
- Processing reactions to the crime and listening to feelings and concerns;
- Addressing specific issues related to personal safety on and off campus;
- Attending appointments and/or hearing meetings with the victim; and
- Contacting others on behalf of the victim with their permission.
Confidential Support
In recognition of the distinct needs of victims, The University of Tampa has designated four areas as confidential reporters for incidents of sexual and relationship violence:
- The Victim Advocate
- UTampa Counseling Services
- The 24/7 Student Support Line
- UTampa Medical Services (when treating a related medical issue)
Conversations with staff members in these areas are treated with utmost confidentiality and will not automatically trigger further action by the University, unless additional steps are taken by the student. Reports filed with the Victim Advocate will be shared for inclusion in mandatory Clery Act crime statistics, but will NOT disclose personal identifying information.
Victims of crime have options to report. It is up to each individual what is right for them. While reporting can be difficult, it could serve to aid in overall recovery, feelings of personal safety, and a sense of regaining control over life. An advocate can support you as you decide what is right for you.
Here are some reporting options:
Reporting to local law enforcement
Tampa Police Department holds jurisdiction for crimes occurring on-campus and within Tampa city limits and can be contacted at (813) 231-6130. For crimes occurring outside the Tampa city limits, Hillsborough County Sheriff Department can be contacted at (813) 247-8200.
Filing a student conduct report (if the attacker was or is also a student)
See the Information and Resources page (pages 1-6) of the Student Code of Conduct for specific information on how to report certain incidents to Student Conduct. To file a report, contact the Student Conduct Office at (813) 258-7228 or via email at conduct@ut.edu.
Filing a Title IX complaint
All students, faculty, staff, and community members are encouraged to file a complaint of sexual misconduct and relationship violence in any of the following ways:
- By contacting the Title IX coordinator (listed below) or filing a report online through the Title IX website;
- By filing an incident report on the Office of Student Conduct website;
- By reporting to any responsible employee or Campus Safety authority;
- By consenting to a confidential employee to share information with the Title IX coordinator or deputy Title IX coordinator.
Title IX Coordinator
Taylor Parker
Human Resources
Southard Family Building 276
Phone: (813) 257-3947
tsparker@ut.edu
Personal safety is always a priority but is particularly important after being a victim of a crime. The University offers many options for students who have concerns for their safety.
- A no-contact order between students may be issued by the Office of Student Conduct.
- On-campus housing assignments may be changed or an individual’s access to certain halls may be restricted.
- Course sections may be changed.
- The student escort service, the LASER team, is available for a golf cart escort around campus.
- A student can complete a safety plan to identify steps to increase safety and help to prepare in the event of future violence.
Students are encouraged to contact the Department of Campus Safety, a resident assistant and/or a campus victim advocate.
The Sexual Assault Forensic Exam is available to victims of sexual assault within 120 hours of the assault. This exam allows for evidence to be collected and stored at the Crisis Center for up to a year, giving the victim time to decide if they would like to report to law enforcement or not. Sexual Assault Forensic Exams can ONLY be given at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay locations and includes both medical and advocacy support services. Exams are performed by nurses (APRNs and RNs) trained to meet the needs of victims of sexual assault. Advocates are on site during the exam to provide emotional support and resources. There is no cost to receive any of these services.
- Services are offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- All exams must be performed within 120 hours post-assault.
- Exams are given to any individual ages 13 and up, regardless of gender.
- Victims are not required to report to law enforcement to receive these services.
- Preventative medications can be provided at the exam at no cost to the patient.
- Per Florida Statute 90.5035, the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is legally and ethically required to protect your confidentiality. Unless you sign a release, no information will be shared.
While the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay can provide an Advocate at their locations, Students may contact the UTampa Victim Advocacy Hotline (813-257-3900) and request for the on-call Advocate to be present with them during the exam.
Additional information about the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and their advocacy services can be found through the link below.
It is important to preserve evidence of any offense – it may be necessary proof to obtain a protection order or to prosecute the offender.
- Sexual Assault
- Forensic evidence collection is best done within 72 hours of the assault and best collected immediately following an assault. The state of Florida will collect evidence up to 120 hours following an assault; however, it is important to remember that the more time passes between the sexual assault and collecting the evidence, the less likely it will be to collect physical evidence that may be very important to the prosecution of a criminal case.
- To preserve evidence in the case of sexual assault, it is recommended that you do not shower or bathe, wash your hands, use the toilet, douche, eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth, change clothing, or wash clothing or bedding before a medical exam. Even if you have already taken any of these actions, evidence may still be collected, and you are encouraged to have prompt medical care.
- If you wish to make a report to the police, or if you wish to have evidence collected so you can make this decision later, you may seek services by calling the Tampa Police Department (813) 231-6130 or the Department of Campus Safety (813) 257-7777 and requesting transportation to the Crisis Center or contacting the Crisis Center of Hillsborough directly at (813) 234-1234. The Crisis Center facilitates sexual assault forensic examinations for the city of Tampa.
- It is preferred that a police department facilitates the collection of forensic evidence on site. However, if you are not sure if you would like to report to the police or if it has been longer than 72 hours after the assault, you may wish to gather all clothing and bedding that may be used for evidence and place them into a clean paper bag or clean sheet. Items should be stored at room temperature that will not damage evidence. The Victim Advocate program at UT can provide replacement bedding by calling their hotline at (813) 257-3900.
- Dating or Domestic Violence
- In the case of dating violence and domestic violence, the resource you choose to report the crime to (a doctor, the police, an advocate, etc.) may recommend ways to preserve evidence such as logging incidents, photographing injuries, seeking medical care, etc.
- Stalking
- Stalking is demonstrated through a pattern of unwanted contact. Find out how to document stalking. In addition to logging unwanted contact, an advocate or police officer may recommend you save and photograph unwanted text messages, emails, letters and gifts, and store them in a secure location.
