INTRODUCTION
Garden City Community College (“the College”) is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities, that are free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations, and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program or activity, the College has internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair, and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination, or harassment on the basis of protected class status, and for allegations of retaliation. The College values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the parties in the grievance process for all those involved.
The core purpose of this Policy is the prohibition of all forms of discrimination. Sometimes, discrimination involves exclusion from activities, such as admission, athletics, or employment. Other times, discrimination takes the form of harassment or, in the case of sex-based discrimination, can encompass sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, sexual exploitation, dating violence, or domestic violence. When an alleged violation of this Policy is reported, the allegations are subject to resolution using the College’s Informal or Formal Grievance Processes, determined by the Title IX Coordinator.
If You Have Experienced Sexual Misconduct:
- Get to a safe location as soon as you are able.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you are injured or believe you may have been exposed to an STI/STD or potential pregnancy.
- Contact any of the following for immediate assistance: [*Denotes the resource is confidential] If you are off campus and experiencing an emergency situation, you can call local police by dialing 911.
- GCCC Title IX Coordinator - Kellee Munoz (620) 276-9574, Regular business hours, M-F
- Other than the denoted confidential reporters, all GCCC employees are designated as responsible mandated reporters
- GCCC Campus Security - (620) 272-6828, Day & Evening
- GCCC Counseling Services* - (620) 276-9683 or (620) 276-9635, Regular business hours M-F
- Local Law Enforcement and Emergency Services - 911
- GCCC Campus Health Nurse* - Trisha Miller, R.N., B.S.N. - (620) 276-9601, Regular business hours M-F
- St. Catherine Hospital, Emergency - 911, Non-Emergency - (620) 272-2222, 24/7 (401 E Spruce St, Garden City, KS, http://www.centura.org)
- Compass Behavioral Health* - 1111 E Spruce - (620) 276-7689; Hotline 1-800-259-9576
- Finney County Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), Emergency - 911, Non-Emergency - (620) 272-2222 (St. Catherine Emergency Room)
- Family Crisis Services*, Crisis Hotline - Bethany Gonzalez, Campus Advocate (620) 275-5911 or the office at (620) 275-2018 Also available Text 2 Talk for non-emergencies (620) 640-9050
- Genesis Family Health*, (620) 275-1766, Beth Tedrow Student Center, Or 712 St. John St, Garden City
- Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence*, Crisis Hotline - 1-888-END-ABUSE (363- 2287), (http://www.kcsdv.org)
- National Sexual Assault Hotline* - 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), (https://ohl.rainn.org/online/)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline* - 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Preserve Evidence
It is important to preserve physical evidence that may include tissue and fluid samples, evidence of violence, sheets, towels, clothing, etc. You may choose to avoid washing, bathing, urinating, etc., until after being examined at the hospital, if possible. Because evidence of a sexual assault can deteriorate quickly, you may choose to seek a medical exam as soon as possible. Evidence collection should be completed within 120 hours of an assault, but fluids, hair samples, and DNA can be collected for a long time thereafter. Even if you have washed, evidence can often still be obtained. After 120 hours, it may still be helpful to have medical attention, even if you are not trying to obtain evidence of an assault. Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) are trained in the collection of forensic evidence and can check for injuries and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. If you are still wearing any clothes worn during the assault, wear them to the hospital, but bring a change of clothes, as the hospital will keep the clothes you are wearing as evidence. If you have changed clothes, bring the ones you were wearing during the assault to the hospital in a clean paper (non-plastic) bag or wrapped in a clean sheet. Leave sheets/towels at the scene of the assault. Police will collect them. Locally in Garden City, the Family Crisis Services (620) 275-5911 is available to provide assistance or answer questions you may have regarding medical and legal options.
- Choose how to proceed (You have options, and are encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator to discuss your options):
- Do nothing until you are ready
- Pursue resolution by GCCC; and/or
- File a formal written complaint with the Title IX Coordinator; and/or
- Initiate criminal proceedings; and/or
- Initiate a civil process against the perpetrator. You may choose whatever combination of options is best for you.
If you wish to have an incident investigated and resolved by the College, students and employees should contact the Title IX Coordinator. GCCC procedures will be explained. Those who wish incidents to be handled criminally should contact Campus Security or local police. A campus official may be available to accompany students in making such reports, if desired. Contact the Title IX Coordinator office for more information.
About Confidentiality and Privacy:
To make informed choices, all parties should be aware of confidentiality and privacy issues, as well as Garden City Community College’s mandatory reporting requirements.
As the College’s procedure for handling complaints is initiated and completed, all involved parties will be expected to respect the sensitive nature of the matter and to protect, to the extent possible consistent with the College’s legal obligations, the confidentiality of the complainant, the person accused, and all those involved in the investigation. Garden City Community College will respect the privacy of the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as possible, consistent with the College’s legal obligations to investigate and to take appropriate action. Only people who “need to know” will be told, and information will be shared only as necessary with investigators, witnesses, and the accused individual.
Confidential Reporting
Every effort is made by the College to preserve the confidentiality of reports. The College will not share the identity of any individual who has made a report or Formal Complaint of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation; any Complainant; any individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation; any Respondent; or any witness, except as permitted by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or its implementing regulations, or as required by law; or to carry out the purposes of 34 C.F.R. Part 106, including any investigation, hearing, or grievance proceeding arising under these Policies and procedures.
The College reserves the right to determine which College officials have a legitimate educational interest in being informed about incidents that fall under this Policy, pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Only a small group of officials who need to know will typically be told about the complaint, including but not limited to: Residential Life, CARE Team, Campus Safety & Security, Athletic Director, and the Division of Student Services. Information will be shared as necessary with investigators, decision-makers, witnesses, and the parties. The circle of people with this knowledge will be kept as tight as possible to preserve the parties’ rights and privacy.
Officials With Authority / Mandated Reporting
All GCCC employees who are not identified above as confidential, are designated as Officials With Authority - OWA’s (or mandated reporters) for all the details they are aware of about an incident. They are required to share this information with the College’s Title IX Coordinator. Giving a responsible employee notice of an incident constitutes official notice to the institution. Incidents of sexual misconduct will be taken seriously when official notice is given. Incidents of sexual misconduct will be investigated and resolved in a prompt and equitable manner under the College’s Title IX - Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy which is discussed later in this guide.
Anonymous Reporting
Members of the campus community can report incidents anonymously through the online assessment form. The Assessment Form is found under the Counseling and Advising page of the website or at the following URL: http://www.gcccks.edu/student/counselingadvising/safetyassessment/.
Reports to the Title IX Coordinator can be made via email, phone or in person at the information above. Failure of a non-confidential employee, as described in this section, to report an incident or incidents of sex or gender harassment or discrimination of which they become aware, is a violation of College policy and can be subject to disciplinary action for failure to comply with the College policies.
TITLE IX COORDINATOR
The College’s Title IX Coordinator oversees compliance with all aspects of sex/gender harassment, discrimination and misconduct policy. The Coordinator reports directly to the President of the College, and is located in the Student Community Services Center (SCSC). Questions about this policy should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator. Anyone wishing to make a report relating to discrimination or harassment may do so by reporting the concern to the College Title IX Coordinator:
Kellee Munoz, Title IX Coordinator, kellee.munoz@gcccks.edu, 620-276-9574
Tammy Tabor, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, tammy.tabor@gcccks.edu, 620-276-9508
Registered Sex Offender Enrolled
Any individual considered a sex offender by the federal or state judicial system is required to register this status with the College when enrolled. Failure to register with the College will subject the student to disciplinary action which may include probation, suspension, or expulsion from school. A copy of the documentation is kept in the GCCC Campus Police Department. A list of registered sex offenders in a community is kept on file with the local police department. The website address for Registered Sex Offenders in Kansas is https://kansas.gov/kbi/ro.shtml.
Title IX Non-Discrimination / Anti-Harassment
Garden City Community College does not discriminate against applicants, employees or students on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), age (40 or older), disability, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information or other non-merit reasons, or handicap, nor will sexual harassment or retaliation be tolerated, in its employment practices and/or educational programs or activities. Harassment is prohibited based on race, color, age, sex, religion, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or other factors which cannot be lawfully considered, to the extent specified by applicable federal and state laws. The Title IX Coordinator coordinates the College’s efforts to comply with Title IX regulations. Concerns about the above should contact Kellee Munoz, Student and Community Services Center, 801 Campus Dr., Garden City, KS 67846, (620) 276-9574.
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