Board Policy Prohibiting Sex-Based Misconduct

William Rainey Harper College is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and employment environment that is free from discrimination, harassment and other misconduct on the basis of sex, which includes sexual orientation and gender-related identity. The College prohibits all forms of sex-based misconduct, including but not limited to sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The College also prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender-related identity and expression, pregnancy, and parental status under its Equal Educational Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policies.

It is the policy of William Rainey Harper College to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (“VAWA”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“Clery Act”), the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act, and all other applicable laws and local ordinances regarding unlawful sex-based discrimination, harassment or other misconduct.

Individuals found to have engaged in prohibited sex-based misconduct will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination and/or expulsion from the College.

Title IX Compliance

As required under Title IX, the College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates. This requirement not to discriminate extends to admission and employment.

The College has designated the Dean of Students and Employee Relations Manager as the Title IX Coordinators, responsible for coordinating the College’s efforts to comply with its responsibilities under Title IX. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and 34 C.F.R. Part 106 may be directed to the College’s Title IX Coordinators, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education, or both.

Retaliation Prohibited

Any form of retaliation, including intimidation, threats, harassment and other adverse action taken or threatened against any complainant or person reporting sex discrimination, sexual harassment or other sex-based misconduct, or against any person cooperating in the investigation of allegations of sex-based misconduct (including testifying, assisting or participating in any manner in an investigation), is strictly prohibited.

Implementing Procedures

The College will establish, maintain and publish procedures implementing this Policy, which set forth:

The scope and jurisdiction of the College’s prohibition on sex-based misconduct;
Definitions of prohibited conduct;
Responsibilities of and contact information for the College’s Title IX Coordinators identified as the Dean of Students and Employee Relations Manager;
Options for assistance following an incident of sex-based discrimination, harassment or other misconduct;
Procedures for reporting and confidentially disclosing alleged sex-based
misconduct;
The College’s response to reports of alleged sex-based misconduct;
The College’s grievance process for complaints alleging Title IX sexual harassment and/or alleging sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking;
Prevention and education programming provided to College students;
and
Training and education provided to the Title IX Coordinator(s), campus law enforcement, campus security, and anyone else involved in the receipt of reports of, responding to, investigating or adjudicating alleged incidents of sexual discrimination, harassment or other misconduct, or involved in the referral or provision of services to survivors.

Source: Board Policy Manual