V. Role of the Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator

A. Designation of Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator 

The College has designated and authorized Kevin Peterson as the Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator. The Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the College’s compliance with its obligations under federal and state civil rights laws and this Policy. The College requires the Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator, when notified of conduct that reasonably may constitute Prohibited Conduct, to take the following actions to promptly and effectively end Prohibited Conduct in its education program or activity, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effects: treat the parties equitably; offer and coordinate supportive measures as appropriate, notify the reporter and parties of the Informal and Formal Resolution procedures if appropriate, initiate Informal or Formal Resolution procedures if appropriate and as requested, and determining when to proceed with the initiation of a Formal Resolution process in the absence of Complainant filing a Complaint with appropriate prior notice to the Complainant. The Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator shall also, regardless of whether a Complaint is initiated, take other appropriate prompt and effective steps, in addition to steps necessary to effectuate the remedies provided to an individual Complainant, if any, to ensure that Prohibited Conduct does not continue or recur within the recipient’s education program or activity. All references to actions by the Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator may be performed by the Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator or a designee.

The Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator is: 

  • Knowledgeable and trained in College policies and procedures and relevant state and federal laws;
  • Available to advise any individual, including a reporter, complainant, or respondent about the courses of action, formal or informal, available at the College and in the community;
  • Responsible for offering and implementing reasonably available supportive measures; 
  • Available to provide assistance to any College employee regarding how to respond appropriately to a report of Prohibited Conduct;
  • Responsible for monitoring full compliance with all procedural requirements, record keeping and timeframes outlined in this policy;
  • Responsible for managing training, prevention and education efforts and annual reviews of climate and culture; and
  • Responsible for facilitating periodic review of this policy as needed to maintain compliance with state and federal law.
  • When the Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator is notified during public awareness events of information about conduct that reasonably may constitute sex-based harassment under Title IX that was provided during a public event to raise awareness about sex-based harassment that was held on the College’s campus or through an online platform sponsored by a postsecondary institution, the College is not obligated to act in response to the information, unless it indicates an imminent and serious threat to the health or safety of a complainant, any students, employees, or other persons. However, in all cases the College must use this information to inform its efforts to prevent sex-based harassment, including by providing tailored training to address alleged sex-based harassment in a particular part of its education program or activity or at a specific location when information indicates there may be multiple incidents of sex-based harassment. Nothing in Title IX obligates the College to require its Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator or any other employee to attend such public awareness events.
  • The Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator will monitor the College’s education program or activity for barriers to reporting information about conduct that reasonably may constitute sex discrimination under Title IX; and take steps reasonably calculated to address such barriers.

B. Addressing Allegations of Discrimination by Policy

When a Complaint alleges that the College’s policy or practice discriminates on the basis of sex, the Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator shall conduct a prompt and thorough investigation which affords the Complainant the opportunity to present information, submit witness names and/or other evidence or information relevant to the complaint. A written determination on the Complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, shall be issued by the College’s Director of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator. The written determination shall be forwarded to the Complainant no later than 30 calendar days after the submission of the Complaint. The Complainant may submit a written request to the Chief of Staff (or designee) requesting reconsideration of the resolution within fourteen calendar days of receipt of the determination. The Chief of Staff or designee shall issue a written decision on the request for reconsideration within thirty calendar days of receiving the request.