Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy
Policy Statement
Policy Statement: Members of the NCC community, guests and visitors have the right to be free from sexual discrimination, harassment and misconduct. All members of the campus community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. When an allegation of misconduct is brought to an appropriate administrator’s attention, and a Respondent is found to have violated this policy, serious sanctions will be used to reasonably ensure that such actions are never repeated. This policy has been developed to reaffirm these principles and to provide recourse for those individuals whose rights have been violated. This policy is intended to define community expectations and to establish a mechanism for determining when those expectations have been violated.
Northampton Community College is committed to providing a learning, working and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility and mutual respect in a place free of discrimination on the basis of sex; which includes all forms of sexual misconduct. Sex discrimination violates an individual’s fundamental rights and personal dignity.
Northampton Community College considers sex discrimination in all its forms to be a serious offense. This policy refers to all forms of sex discrimination, including but not limited to: sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking by employees, currently enrolled students, or third parties.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. To ensure compliance with Title IX and other federal and state civil rights laws, the College has developed policies and procedures that prohibit sex discrimination in all of its forms.
In accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable state and federal laws, Northampton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related medical conditions, or any other basis of prohibited discrimination in its programs and activities. This policy extends to employment, programs and admission to the College.
This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors. It also governs student-on-student sexual discrimination, including sexual assault, occurring on campus and, in certain limited contexts, off campus.
Persons who experience discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct may respond to the experience in many different ways, including feeling confused, vulnerable, out of control, embarrassed, angry, or depressed. The College provides a variety of resources to assist individuals who have experienced discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct to address the effects of the incident and to help them determine whether and how to make a formal complaint about the incident. Additional resource-related information can be found in Section VIII.
All reports of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation shall be promptly made to the Title IX Coordinator as appropriate (or one of the designated Deputy Coordinators). Employees asserting claims of discrimination pursuant to Title VI, VII or ADA/504 must notify the Director of Human Resources of his/her complaint within five (5) Business days of having knowledge of the action(s) that gave rise to the compliant.
Deputy Coordinators and/or Investigators will be appointed by the Title IX Coordinator in consultation with President’s Cabinet as appropriate. Reporting responsibilities are described in Section III below for those individuals who become aware of incidents involving discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct. Additionally, a Reporter’s options for reporting are addressed more specifically in Section IV below.
II. Scope/Jurisdiction/Application
III. Reporting Responsibilities
IV. Complaint Resolution Process
VI. Statement of Rights for Reporting and Responding Parties
Appendix