TITLE IX

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 regulations include behaviors based on gender that deny a student the ability to fully participate in their educational experience. This includes all forms of sexual violence including sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence and domestic violence.

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.

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 Karen Webber in the Occupational Student Success Program Office via our Contact Form or at 269-294-4241.

For questions or concerns about Title IX or other non-discrimination compliance matters, contact the Title IX Coordinator, Tonya Howden, Dean of Students, via our Contact Form or at 269-294-4230.

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 Assistant Dean of Students (for students, community members, and visitors) and the Director of Human Resources (for College employees):

Tonya Howden
Dean of Students
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.

GOCC Sexual Misconduct Policy (3.95)

Glen Oaks has developed a comprehensive Title IX investigation policy called the Sexual Misconduct Policy.

Definitions of Sexual Misconduct

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment is unwelcome, gender-based verbal or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it unreasonably interferes with, limits or deprives someone of the ability to participate in or benefit from the college’s educational program and/or activities and is based on power differentials (quid pro quo), the creation of a hostile environment or retaliation.

Non-Consensual Sexual Contact

Non-Consensual Sexual Contact is any intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any body part or object, by a man or a woman upon a man or a woman that is without consent and/or by force. This includes the attempt to commit any of these acts.

Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse

Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse is any sexual intercourse however slight, with any object or body part, by a man or woman upon a man or a woman that is without consent and/or by force. This includes the attempt to commit any of these acts.

Sexual Exploitation

Sexual exploitation occurs when an individual takes non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for his/her own advantage or benefit or to benefit or advantage anyone other than the one being exploited and when that behavior does not otherwise constitute one of the other sexual misconduct offenses. This includes the attempt to commit any of these acts.

Retaliation

Retaliation is the act of harassing or bothering the complainant during or after an informal or formal investigation. Retaliation may be by the charged individual or by another individual doing so on their behalf. Retaliation will not be tolerated and may result in severe sanctions or an additional charge.

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

Expectation of Consent

The expectations of our community regarding sexual conduct can be summarized as follows: In order for individuals to engage in sexual activity of any type with each other, there must be clear, knowing and voluntary consent prior to and during sexual activity. Consent is sexual permission. Consent can be given by word or action, but non-verbal consent is not as clear as talking about what you want sexually and what you don’t.

Some important things to know about consent:

Consent to some form of sexual activity cannot be automatically taken as consent to any other form of sexual activity. Silence–without actions demonstrating permission–cannot be assumed to show consent.

There is a difference between seduction and coercion. Coercing someone into sexual activity violates this policy in the same way as physically forcing someone into sex. Coercion happens when someone is pressured unreasonably for sex.

Because alcohol or other drug use can place the capacity to consent in question, sober sex is less likely to raise such questions. When alcohol or other drugs are being used, a person will be considered unable to give valid consent if they cannot fully understand the details of a sexual interaction (who, what, when, where, why or how) because they lack the capacity to reasonably understand the situation. Individuals who consent to sex must be able to understand what they are doing.

Under this policy, “no” always means “no”, and “yes” may not always mean “yes.” Anything but clear, knowing and voluntary consent to any sexual activity is equivalent to a “no.”

Reporting Sexual Misconduct

To Report Confidentially

If one desires that details of the incident be kept confidential, they should speak with a private 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).

Reporting to Those Who May Be Able to Maintain Privacy

You can seek advice from certain resources that are not required to tell anyone else your private, personally identifiable information unless there is cause for fear for your safety, or the safety of others. 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.

Formal Reporting Options
You are encouraged to submit a College Concerns Form. You may also speak to officials of the institution to make formal reports of incidents (deans or other administrators with supervisory responsibilities, campus security, and human resources). The college considers these people to be “responsible employees.” Notice to them is official notice to the institution. You have the right and can expect to have incidents of sexual misconduct to be taken seriously by the institution when formally reported, and to have those incidents investigated and properly resolved through administrative procedures. Formal reporting means that only people who need to know will be told and information will be shared only as necessary with investigators, witnesses, and the accused individual.

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.

Title IX Coordinator

The College Sexual Misconduct Policy shall apply to conduct that occurs on college premises, at college- sponsored activities, and to off-campus conduct that adversely affects the college community and/or the pursuit of its objectives. All reports of sexual misconduct will be handled by the Dean of Student Services:

Office: Student Services, A53

Phone: (269) 294-4230

Email: thowden@glenoaks.edu

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)