Responsible Employee FAQ's for Faculty and Staff

All employees are required to report sexual harassment incidents

Why do I have to report a sexual assault or sexual harassment incident?

First and foremost, CCCD strives to provide a safe environment in which students can pursue their education free from the detrimental effects of sexual harassment. If there is a culture of sexual harassment in our community, then we are not meeting this effort. Reporting incidents of sexual harassment help us in meeting this effort. Reporting incidents of sexual harassment help us to create a space conducive to our students and employees well-being and success.

Second, Title IX of the United States Department of Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities. Sexual harassment, which includes acts of sexual violence, is a form of sexual discrimination. A student who is sexually harassed or assaulted may also suffer from unequal access to educational opportunities and may be afraid to come to campus, go to class, or visit a faculty or staff members office.

What do I have to report?

If a student reports that she/he has been sexually victimized then you are required by Title IX to report all information you are given to the District’s Title IX Officer or Title IX coordinators at your campus.Even if the assault occurs off campus, if it involves District students, it must be reported. For your convenience, there is Report Form that you can fill out on-line.

What is Considered Sexual Harassment and relationship violence?

• Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind
• The attempt to have non-consensual sexual contact or
• The threat of such contact
• Sexual exploitation
• Emotional/psychological abuse
• Sexual harassment
• Stalking
• Dating violence
• Domestic violence

Sexual contact means touching of any private body part, including, but not limited to: genitalia, buttocks, anus or breasts of another or causing such person to touch genitalia, anus, buttocks or breasts of another.

Sexual contact is considered non-consensual if:

• No clear consent is freely given
• The person is substantially impaired by alcohol or drugs, or
• The person is otherwise without the physical or mental capacity to give clear consent

When do I let the student know that I am required to report?

If a student begins to tell you about a sexual assault or sexual harassment incident you should explain that as a responsible employee, you are mandated to report any information she/he confides in you. Being prepared by having the statement below on your syllabus or in your office may help to keep misunderstandings from occurring.

Because your health and safety are paramount to every member of the Golden West College family, the College has a policy that all Responsible Employees your professors included are required to file a formal report if we hear of any occurrences of gender-based (or sex-based) discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, retaliation, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. If you disclose information relating to any of the aforementioned occurrences to me, or to any other employee on this campus (with the exception of licensed therapists in the GWC Student Health Center), we are obligated to report your name, the name of the alleged perpetrator/s, and any other relevant information you provide. The College absolutely encourages you to make a formal report to the Title IX coordinator, but we also respect survivors’ and victims’ rights to choose how to report their experiences. Knowing that I am required to report the incident, you may feel more comfortable contacting one of the licensed therapists in the GWC Student Health Center. They are trained to help survivors and victims of assault and are not required to report the incident to authorities. You will find many links to sexual assault hotlines, resources, and awareness organizations in our class Canvas shell. You can find additional information regarding confidential and non-confidential reporting options and on- and off-campus resources in the Crisis Resources Live Binder. To make a non-confidential report, you may also contact the College’s Title IX Coordinator/Dean of Students, Carla Martinez, at cmartinez@gwc.cccd.edu or (714) 895-8781

How should I respond to a student who reports to me?

The most important things to do are to listen, believe the student, ask if the student feels safe, and determine how to help with physical and mental health. Encourage the student to report the incident to one or more of the following options:

Emergency 9-1-1

If the incident involves CCCD faculty or staff, you can file a complaint with the District Office of Human Resources – (714)438-4708.

All of the above options are available to the student, and can be pursued individually or simultaneously.You might offer to walk the student over to the Student Health Center.

How soon do I have to report?

You need to report the incident immediately after hearing or witnessing a sexual assault or sexual harassment incident. The sooner you report, the sooner the information can be investigated and less opportunity for an offender to continue the behavior.

How far back can a case be reported?

Sexual misconduct incidents can be reported as far back as the victim OR the alleged offender was a student at the District at the time of the incident.

Examples of Sexual Harassment:

• A professor insists that a student have sex with him/her in exchange for a good grade.
• A student repeatedly sends sexually oriented jokes around on an email list she/he created, even when asked to stop, causing one recipient to avoid the sender on campus
• Explicit sexual pictures are displayed in a professors office, or on a computer monitor in a public space. Two supervisors frequently rate several employees bodies and sex appeal, commenting suggestively about their clothing and appearance.
• A professor engages students in discussions in class about their past sexual experiences, yet the conversation is not in any way germane to the subject matter of the class. She probes for explicit details, and demands that students answer her, though they are clearly uncomfortable and hesitant.
• An ex-girlfriend widely spreads false stories about her sex life with her former boyfriend to the clear discomfort of the boyfriend, turning him into a social pariah on campus.
• Male students take to calling a particular brunette student Monica because of her resemblance to Monica Lewinsky. Soon, everyone adopts this nickname for her, and she is the target of the relentless remarks about cigars, the president, sexual relations, and Weight Watchers.
• A student grabbed another student by the hair, then grabbed her breast and put his mouth on it.
• Non-consensual video or audio-taping of sexual activity
• Going beyond the boundaries of consent (such as letting your friends hide in the closet to watch you have consensual sex)
• Engaging in Peeping Tommery

NOTE: Investigations of sexual assault and sexual harassment incidents are not your responsibility. Trained individuals will talk with the survivor and the alleged perpetrator (if a student), as well as friends and colleagues to gather information.