Title IX, Sexual Harassment and Sex-based Discrimination

San Mateo County Community College District does not discriminate in the admission nor in the offering of programs and activities because of ethnic group identification, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy, race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, physical disability, mental disability ancestry, sexual orientation, language, accent, citizenship status, transgender status, parental status, marital status, economic status, or veteran status, medical condition or on the basis of these perceived characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more actual or perceived characteristics. 

All forms of harassment are contrary to basic standards of conduct between individuals and are prohibited by state and federal law, as well as this policy, and will not be tolerated. The District is committed to providing an academic and work environment that respects the dignity of individuals and groups. The District shall be free of sexual harassment and all forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation. 

The District seeks to foster an environment in which all employees and students feel free to report incidents of harassment without fear of retaliation or reprisal. Therefore, the District prohibits retaliation against any individual for filing a complaint of harassment or for participating in a harassment investigation. Retaliation is illegal and violates Board Policy 2.25, Board Policy 2.19, and Administrative Procedure 2.29.1.

Individuals from the Cañada College community have the right to be free from sexual violence. All members of the community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe on the rights of others. 

Definition

Cañada College does not tolerate sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct encompasses a broad range of behavior that includes all forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence. Sexual violence refers to sexual acts committed against a person's will, or where the person is incapable of giving consent because of incapacitation, unconsciousness, or any circumstance rendering one unaware that sexual activity is occurring. Sexual misconduct offenses include, but are not limited to: sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, cyber-stalking, bullying and cyber-bullying, aiding or facilitating the commission of a violation, and retaliation.

What to Do To Report

Any individual who believes he or she has been harassed, bullied or retaliated against, should report the incident to the Dean of Counseling and Title IX Coordinator, Max Hartman. For reference in filing an incident, you may refer to the procedures SMCCCD Discrimination and Harassment Procedures . Additional references include the Board Policy 2.25 and Administrative Procedure 2.25.1.

Report potential violations to the Title IX Coordinator or file an online report.

File an Online Report

Sanctions

The colleges seeks to foster an environment where employees and students are free to report incidents of harassment without fear of retaliation or reprisal. When an allegation is received, and the respondent is found to have violated any sexual misconduct policy, serious sanctions will be used. Sanctions may range from behavior contracts to expulsion, depending upon the violation.

Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. Sexual misconduct, which includes sexual harassment and sexual violence, is a form of discrimination. Cañada College is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, including discrimination based on sex. There are resources available to students to address concerns related to sex discrimination, and the Dean of Counseling serves as the Title IX Coordinator. The role of the Title IX Coordinator is to oversee overall Title IX compliance, ensure prompt and equitable resolutions, establish a centralized reporting process for all sexual harassment and misconduct allegations on campus, coordinate staff professional development, and conduct on-going campus climate checks. For more detailed information, and to report an incident, please visit our District Title IX website.

For more information, please refer to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights.

The coordinator for Cañada College’s compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the Vice President of Student Services, canvpss@smccd.edu, (650) 306-3234. The Title IX officers for Cañada College are the Dean of Counseling, (650) 306-3132, the District Director of Policy, Training and Compliance, (650) 358-6808. For additional information visit the District Title IX website.

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