Dear Students,
As we begin the Spring semester, we write to provide information about updates to the College’s policies on sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. Over the course of the 2019 Fall semester, the Presidential Oversight Committee on Sexual Misconduct (POCSM) held open forums with faculty, staff, and students to share proposed changes and solicit feedback from the campus community. The proposed changes were developed by POCSM to ensure compliance and adherence to best practice, as well as to provide clear and thorough definitions and procedural descriptions.
In December, both the faculty and the Board of Trustees approved the proposed changes and they are in effect for the Spring 2020 semester. A summary of the changes is noted below. The policies in their entirety can be found within the Student Handbook.
The Policy on Sexual Misconduct includes policies regarding non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual penetration, sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence, and stalking.
The Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Other Prohibited Conduct includes policies regarding sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, and hostile environment.
Changes made to both policies include expanded sections on retaliation, private and confidential resources, reporting to the College, and College action following a report. Sections were added to both policies to cover the timeframe for reporting and interim measures.
Changes to the Policy on Sexual Misconduct include two additions: requests for anonymity and informal resolution, and the formal resolution section was expanded to provide a more detailed overview of the investigative process.
A section on scope and jurisdiction was added to the Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Other Prohibited Conduct.
We hope you will take the time to familiarize yourself with the Student Handbook, particularly the Student Code of Conduct and these updated policies.
Sincerely,
Annette Diorio
Vice President for Campus Life/Dean of Students
Jennifer Dize
Assistant Dean of Students
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