Apr 24, 2024  
Catalog/Handbook 2021-2022 
    
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Catalog/Handbook 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct is an umbrella term that includes all forms of non-consensual activity  or unwelcomed sexual conduct. Sexual misconduct includes a broad range of behaviors including (but not limited to) rape/sexual battery, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence are illegal. Several state and federal laws prohibit these behaviors. Two key federal laws in this area are Title IX of the Education Amendments Acts of 1972 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) in higher education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

Title VII prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion.

Polk State College prohibits the commission of any act of sexual assault, misconduct, or battery, as well as other crime of violence, upon employees, students, or prospective students, applicants, volunteers, visitors, vendors, or contractors; or any other affiliates who are conducting College business, or assisting with events or activities at the College.

  • Polk State’s Title IX Statement outlines the College’s obligations under Title IX. The Title IX Statement also identifies the College’s Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinators who are responsible for overseeing the College’s compliance with federal regulations. The Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinators are also identified in the Sexual Misconduct section in the Polk State College Annual Security Report.
  • Polk State’s Non-Discrimination Policy prohibits sex discrimination. There are many forms of sex discrimination under this policy, including sexual harassment and sexual violence.
  • Polk State’s Sexual Harassment Policy provides detailed guidance about the College’s prohibition of sexual harassment.
  • Polk State’s Sexual Misconduct Policy Statement gives specific guidance to support victims of rape and sexual battery, to assist with apprehending perpetrators, and to outline special reporting obligations for anyone with knowledge of these types of crime.

Definitions Related to Sexual Misconduct:

Domestic Violence refers to any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.

Dating Violence refers to violence between individuals who have or recently had a continuing and significant relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.

Sexual assault refers to the oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another, or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object without consent.

Stalking is willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following, harassing, or cyberstalking another person causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose.

The full sexual misconduct policy statement can be found in the Polk State College 2019-2020 Annual Security Report.

The College has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct regardless of who commits the offense. When the College becomes aware of possible sexual misconduct, Title IX requires the Polk State to conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation to eliminate the harassing conduct, to address its effects on the victim, and to prevent it from happening again.

All students and employees are encouraged to report anything they witness that might be sexual misconduct to the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the Human Resources Department, or the Executive Dean of Student Services.

Additional information about Polk State’s rules and policies on harassment and misconduct can be found through the following documents:

 

District Board of Trustees Rules:

 

Polk State College Procedures