TITLE IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires that all entities that receive federal funds or financial assistance must prohibit sex discrimination in their education programs and activities. Sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, are all forms of prohibited sex discrimination.

Title IX (United States Education Amendments of 1972)

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Title IX requirements apply to all aspects of education programs and activities at GOCC, including student admission, financial assistance, access to academic offerings, and athletics. The law also applies to all aspects of GOCC’s employment processes, including hiring, tenure, compensation, and training.

GOCC is obligated to:

Provide assurances that all education programs and activities are in compliance with Title IX.
Designate a Title IX Coordinator to oversee compliance efforts.
Establish procedures to resolve student and employee Title IX complaints.
Provide notification to students and employees that sex discrimination is prohibited within its programs.
Ensure that all administrators familiarize themselves with and implement Title IX provisions.
Ensure that all employees who serve as Title IX Coordinators, Investigators, Hearing Officers, Decision Makers, or Appellate Officers are trained annually to serve in these functions.

Bathroom Access

All students, faculty, staff, and visitors have the right to use the bathroom that coincides with their gender identity.

Non-Discrimination Statement

It is the policy of Glen Oaks Community College that no discriminatory practices based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, height, weight, genetic information, citizenship status, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law be allowed in instructional opportunities, programs, services, employment or in policies governing student conduct and attendance. Any person believing that Glen Oaks Community College or any part of the organization has engaged in a discriminatory practice should contact the Glen Oaks Title IX Coordinator, Tonya Howden, at 62249 Shimmel Rd., Centreville, MI 49032; (269) 294-4230 or thowden@glenoaks.edu, office A53.

Title IX Coordinator

GOCC’s Title IX Coordinator’s responsibilities involve the development, implementation, and monitoring of efforts to comply with Title IX legislation and regulations. The Title IX Coordinator monitors the application of GOCC policy and Title IX law in relation to complaint procedures. This includes notification, investigation and disposition of complaints, creation of educational materials and training for the campus community, ensuring a fair and neutral process for all parties, and monitoring all other aspects of the GOCC’s Title IX compliance.

Office:
Student Services, A53

Phone:
(269) 294-4230

Email:
thowden@glenoaks.edu

Hours:
Mon-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Title IX Advisors

Complainants and Respondents in a Title IX process have the right to have an advisor/advocate present at any grievance proceedings. This advisor/advocate may be anyone of the students’ or employees’ choosing. If either or both of the involved parties do not have an advisor/advocate, the college will provide one for them. The following employees may serve as advisors/advocates for Title IX proceedings:

Reporting Sexual Harassment, Misconduct, or Discrimination

To Report Confidentially

If one desires that details of the incident be kept confidential, they should speak with a licensed counselor, members of the clergy and chaplains, or off-campus rape crisis resources who can maintain confidentiality. The college recommends contacting Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services at 1-800-828-2023 (crisis line).
If you are unsure of someone’s duties and ability to maintain your privacy, ask them before you talk to them. They will be able to tell you and help you make decisions about who can best help you.
Personally identifiable information will be shared in the event that the incident reveals a need to protect you or other members of the community. If personally identifiable information is shared, it will only be shared as necessary with as few -people as possible, and all efforts will be made to protect your privacy.

To File a Formal Complaint

You are encouraged to electronically submit a Sexual Harassment and Misconduct form by clicking the Report a Concern button at glenoaks.edu (https://www.glenoaks.edu/public-safety/report-a-concern/). You may also speak to the Title IX Coordinator directly to file a formal report. You have the right – and can expect to have incidents of sexual harassment or misconduct – to be taken seriously by the institution when formally reported, and to have those incidents investigated and properly resolved through grievance procedures. Information will be shared as necessary with the accused individual(s), investigators, witnesses, advisors, and others who serve in the Title IX grievance process.

Sexual Harassment (Title IX) Policy

Complete Harassment Policy

Members of the college community have the right to be free from all forms of sex/gender harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct.

Three separate types of conduct that would constitute “sexual harassment” under Title IX and would warrant a Title IX investigation include:

An employee of the College makes providing an aid, benefit or service of the College conditional upon an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct.
There is unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that a reasonable person would deem so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the College’s education program or activity; or
An individual is subjected to “sexual assault,” as defined by the Clery Act, which is classified as a forcible or non-forcible sex offense under the uniform crime reporting system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Any allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct that do not fall under the jurisdiction of Title IX will be handled through the college’s Student Code of Conduct Policy.

Title IX Training and Materials

The US Department of Education regulations state that training of Title IX personnel must include:

The definition of sexual harassment;
The scope of the institution’s education program or activity;
How to conduct an investigation and grievance process, including hearings, appeals, and informal resolution process, as applicable; and
How to serve impartially, including by avoiding prejudgment of the facts at issue, conflicts of interest, and bias.

Federal regulations also require institutions to publish training materials:

Tips for Conducting Title IX Interviews PDF icon , 14 May 2020. Webinar. Title IX Solutions, LLC.: Belleville, IL.

Civil Rights Investigator Training and Certification Level I Course PDF icon . May 27-28, 2020. Association for Title IX Administrators (ATIXA).

Barber, Tanyka M. and Morris, Leslee K. Title IX Hearing Panel and Decision Maker Training and Certification Course PDF icon . June 3-4, 2020. Association for Title IX Administrators (ATIXA).

Veidlinger, R. Training on Title IX Regulations. PDF icon (September 16-17, 2020). Rebecca Leitman Veidlinger, Esq. PLLC.

Veidlinger, R. Title IX Refresher Training. PDF icon (September 23, 2021). Rebecca Leitman Veidlinger, Esq. PLLC.

Rights of Pregnant & Parenting Students

Title IX is a federal regulation that protects students from gender discrimination in educational programs or activities at colleges and universities that receive federal financial assistance. To ensure colleges and universities are following Title IX, the US Department of Education issued a letter of guidance to support pregnant and parenting students staying in school and completing their education. Glen Oaks Community College is committed to making good faith efforts to follow the requirements of Title IX and to implement these guidelines.

Glen Oaks Community College will provide adjustments and/or supports to any student who has medical documentation from a physician stating that she is facing a pregnancy-related medical issue or recovering from childbirth. With medical documentation, adjustments and/or supports may include providing a larger classroom desk, providing a designated lactation room, allowing frequent trips to the restroom, providing opportunities to make up missed work, and allowing the student to submit work after a missed deadline due to absences related to pregnancy or childbirth. If adjustments and/or supports are necessary, colleges and universities are expected to follow the same policies as other temporary medical conditions with any special services provided.

A pregnant or parenting student who needs assistance with arranging academic or other adjustments and/or supports should contact the Title IX Coordinator, Tonya Howden, in the Student Services Office via her Contact Form or at 269-294-4230.

Tonya Howden can also be contacted for questions or concerns about Title IX or other non-discrimination compliance matters.

More specific information regarding supporting the academic success of pregnant and parenting students is available from the U.S. Department of Education.

Transgender Policy (3.75)

Glen Oaks Community College is committed to a College culture that respects and values all students and employees and fosters understanding of gender identity within the College community. All students and employees will adhere to procedures established in connection with this policy to ensure a safe working and learning environment, free of discrimination and harassment.

Jurisdiction of the Policy

All questions or concerns regarding the College’s Transgender Policy will be handled by the Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator (for students, community members, and visitors) and the Director of Human Resources (for College employees):

Tonya Howden
Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator
thowden@glenoaks.edu
269-294-4230

Jamie Yesh
Director of Human Resources
jyesh@glenoaks.edu
269-294-4229

Definitions

Sex: The classification of people as male or female as assigned at birth.
Gender Identity: One’s internal, deeply held sense of one’s gender that may nor may not conform to that typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. For some people, their gender identity does not fit neatly into one of the two choices.
Gender Expression: External manifestations of gender, expressed through one’s name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics.
Sexual Orientation: An individual’s enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to another person. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. Transgender people may be heterosexual, lesbian, gay, or bisexual. For example, a person who transitions from male to female and is attracted solely to men would identify as a heterosexual woman.
Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. People under the transgender umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms – including transgender.
Transitioning: Transitioning refers to processes undertaken by some transgender people to align their gender expression with their gender identity. Aspects of transitioning may include social processes (e.g., telling others, changes in appearance, using a preferred name and/or different pronouns), medical processes (e.g., hormone therapies, gender confirmation surgery), and/or legal processes (e.g., obtaining a court-ordered name change and/or change in legal sex designation).

Procedures

Campus Records: At the request of the student, the College will engage in reasonable and good faith efforts to use a preferred name and/or gender on internal College records such as class rosters and class schedules. The College is not permitted to use a preferred name and/or gender on the following records: enrollment verifications, transcripts, diplomas, financial aid documents, Visa documents, W-2 forms, and third party reports. There may be some situations where it may be necessary to clarify that a preferred name is different from a legal name. Examples of this include official interactions with police/law enforcement, security, and verification of medical records.
Restrooms: All students, faculty, staff, and visitors have the right to use the restroom that coincides with their gender identity.
Privacy: College personnel shall not disclose information that may reveal a student’s transgender status. Under the Family Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA), only those College employees with a legitimate educational need may have access to a student’s records or the information contained within those records.
Names/Pronouns: When requested by the student or employee, College staff should engage in reasonable and good faith efforts to address students and employees by their preferred names and pronouns that correspond to their gender identity, regardless of whether there has been a legal name change. Consistent with these guidelines, College personnel should make every effort to maintain the confidentiality of the student’s transgender status. Students who need to change their names or pronouns under this policy should submit a Change of Status form to the Records and Registration Office. College employees who need to change their names/pronouns under this policy should submit their requests to Human Resources.
Student ID Cards and E-mail Addresses: Students and employees may request an ID card be issued in the name that reflects an individual’s gender identity that is consistently asserted at College. Once a student has submitted the Change of Status Form to the Records and Registration Office and the name change is approved, the student may obtain a new student ID card. Should students need to change a College-issued e-mail address to include the name that reflects the individual’s gender identity consistently asserted at College, they should contact the Records and Registration Office, who will complete an IT work order to change the information appropriately. Records and Registration staff will notify the student of the new login information after IT has completed the request. College employees who wish to request a change of their College-issued email under this policy should submit their requests to Human Resources.
Athletics and Physical Education: Transgender students shall have the same opportunities to participate in physical education as all other students. Students may participate in physical education and athletics in accordance with the student’s gender identity that is consistently asserted at College. Participation in competitive athletic activities will be resolved on a case-by-case basis by the Title IX Coordinator and the Director of Athletics.
Locker Room Accessibility: GOCC aims to support transgender students and employees while ensuring the safety of all. The use of restrooms and locker rooms by transgender students, employees and members of the community requires colleges to consider numerous factors, including, but not limited to: the transgender individual’s preference; protecting privacy; maximizing social integration; minimizing stigmatization; ensuring equal opportunity to participate; the student’s age; and protecting the safety of all persons. A transgender student or employee who expresses a need or desire for increased privacy will be provided with reasonable alternative arrangements, which may include the use of a private area, a separate changing schedule, or a single stall restroom. A transgender person may not be required to use a locker room or restroom that conflicts with the individual’s gender identity consistently asserted at the College.
Gender Segregation in Other Areas: In any other circumstance where students are separated by gender in College activities (i.e. overnight field trips), students will be permitted to participate in accordance with their gender identity consistently asserted at College. Activities that may involve the need for accommodations to address student privacy concerns will be addressed on a case-by-case basis considering the factors set forth above.

Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination

Discrimination, bullying, and harassment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression is prohibited. It is the responsibility of the College and all staff to ensure that all students, including transgender and gender nonconforming students, have safe school environments. The scope of this responsibility includes ensuring that any incident of discrimination, harassment, or bullying is given immediate attention, including investigating the incident, taking appropriate action, and providing students and staff with appropriate resources and supports. Enforcement of anti-bullying policies should focus on education and prevention rather than exclusionary discipline.

Complaints alleging discrimination or harassment based on a student’s actual or perceived gender identity or expression are to be taken seriously and handled in the same manner as other discrimination, bullying, or harassment complaints.

Resources for Survivors
of Sexual Assault or Sexual Abuse

State of Michigan 24 Hour Sexual
Assault Hotline: 1-855-VOICES4

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services
(DASAS) 24 hour line: 1-800-828-2023

Community Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services: 1-269-467-1000

CMH after hours: 1-800-622-3967

(Crisis Line can provide information to callers)

Campus Sexual Assault Handbook

Be an Active Bystander

Be aware of your surroundings. You can often tell when a person is in danger. Many times in sexual violence situations, bystanders were able to see that something was not right.
Recognize it as a problem. As you are active in your surroundings, keep an eye open for behaviors that you recognize to be a problem.
Feel Responsible to Act. Each individual must accept the fact that it is his responsibility to act. Many times people feel that somebody else will take care of the situation, or that it is none of their business. It is up to each person to take responsibility and react to situations they see.
Make a plan. Be aware of the different options to intervene. Once you take a look at the situation, determine the best course of action to prevent the act.
Safely Intervene. Take action and stand up for the safety of others. When taking action, make sure you do not to place yourself in unnecessary danger.

Office Hours:

Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Summer hours:

M-Th, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed on Fridays)