Notice of Complaint

Upon receipt of a complaint or notice to the Title IX Coordinator of an alleged violation of the Policy, the College initiates a prompt initial assessment to determine the next steps the College needs to take.

 The College will initiate at least one of three responses:

  1.  Offering supportive measures because the Complainant does not want to proceed formally; and/or
  2.  An informal resolution; and/or
  3.  A Formal Grievance Process including an investigation and a hearing. 

The investigation and appropriate grievance process will be used to determine whether or not the Policy has been violated. If so, the College will promptly implement effective remedies designed to ensure that it is not deliberately indifferent to harassment or discrimination, their potential recurrence, or their effects. 

Initial Assessment

Following receipt of notice or a complaint of an alleged violation of this Policy, the Title IX Coordinator engages in an initial assessment, which is typically one to five business days in duration. The steps in an initial assessment can include:

  1. If notice is given, the Title IX Coordinator seeks to determine if the person impacted wishes to make a formal complaint, and will assist them to do so, if desired.
    • If they do not wish to do so, the Title IX Coordinator determines whether to initiate a complaint because a violence risk assessment indicates a compelling threat to health and/or safety.
  2. If a formal complaint is received, the Title IX Coordinator assesses its sufficiency and works with the Complainant to make sure it is correctly completed.
  3. The Title IX Coordinator reaches out to the Complainant to offer supportive measures.
  4. The Title IX Coordinator works with the Complainant to ensure they are aware of the right to have an Advisor (Process A only).
  5. The Title IX Coordinator works with the Complainant to determine whether the Complainant prefers a supportive and remedial response, an informal resolution option, or a formal investigation and grievance process.
    • If a supportive and remedial response is preferred, the Title IX Coordinator works with the Complainant to identify their wishes and then seeks to facilitate implementation. No Formal Grievance Process is initiated, though the Complainant can elect to initiate one later, if desired and no other resolution has been reached.
    • If an informal resolution option is preferred, the Title IX Coordinator assesses whether the complaint is suitable for informal resolution, which informal mechanism may serve the situation best or is available, and may seek to determine if the Respondent is also willing to engage in informal resolution.
    • If a Formal Grievance Process is preferred, the Title IX Coordinator determines if the misconduct alleged falls within the scope of Title IX:
      • If it does, the Title IX Coordinator will initiate the formal investigation and grievance process (Process A), directing the investigation to address:
        • an incident, and/or
        • a pattern of alleged misconduct, and/or
        • a culture/climate issue, based on the nature of the complaint.
    • If it does not, the Title IX Coordinator determines that Title IX does not apply (and will “dismiss” that aspect of the complaint, if any), assesses which policies may apply and refers the matter for resolution under Process B.  Dismissing a complaint under Title IX is just procedural, and does not limit the College’s authority to address a complaint with an appropriate process and remedies.