Members of the SMC community including students, staff, faculty and guests have the right to be free from sexual harassment or sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct prohibited by this policy includes but is not limited to sexual harassment and discrimination, sexual assault, stalking, domestic and dating violence.

What is the purpose of the Title IX Grievance Policy?

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits any person in the United States from being discriminated against on the basis of sex in seeking access to any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The U.S. Department of Education, which enforces Title IX, has long defined the meaning of Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination broadly to include various forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence that interfere with a student’s ability to equally access our educational programs and opportunities.

On May 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education issued a Final Rule under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 that:

• Defines the meaning of “sexual harassment” (including forms of sex-based violence)
• Addresses how this institution must respond to reports of misconduct falling within that definition of sexual harassment, and
• Mandates a grievance process that this institution must follow to comply with the law in these specific covered cases before issuing a disciplinary sanction against a person accused of sexual harassment.

See, 85 Fed. Reg. 30026 (May 19, 2020). The full text of the Final Rule and its extensive Preamble are available here: http://bit.ly/TitleIXReg

Effective Date

The Title IX Grievance Policy will become effective on August 14, 2020, and will only apply to sexual harassment alleged to have occurred on or after August 14, 2020. Incidents of sexual harassment alleged to have occurred prior to August 14, 2020 will be investigated and adjudicated according to the process in place at the time the incident allegedly occurred.

Making a Report Regarding Covered Sexual Harassment to the Institution

Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment), in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report.

Contact Information for the Title IX Coordinator:

• Director of Title IX & Equal Opportunity
  smctix@smcsc.edu

Such a report may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number or electronic mail address listed for the Title IX Coordinator.

Confidential Reporting

The following Officials will provide privacy, but not confidentiality, upon receiving a report of conduct prohibited under this policy:

• Director of Title IX & Equal Opportunity
  smctix@smcsc.edu

Confidential Resources

The following Officials may provide confidentiality:

• College Chaplain
  864-587-4282
  Chapel

• Director of Counseling
  864-587-4356
  Willard Hall, Suite 14 (Room 141)

Changes to the Title IX Policy

This policy is subject to frequent review. Any changes to the policy will go into effect immediately. The revised policy will be published here on the SMC website.