Health and Safety

As a non-residential institution, Southern Crescent Technical College expects that the student will normally secure medical services through a private physician. In case of a serious accident or illness, Southern Crescent Technical College will refer a student to the nearest hospital for emergency care. It is understood that the student or parent will assume full responsibility for the cost of such emergency care at the hospital, including ambulance charges, if in the opinion of the school authorities such service is necessary.

Statistical Reporting

The Southern Crescent Technical College Campus Safety & Security will collect and provide statistics on reported sexual assaults as required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. All personally identifying information will be removed from statistical reports.
Professional counselors associated with Southern Crescent Technical College by Southern Crescent Technical College with whom conversations are privileged will inform survivors of the ability to report crimes on a confidential basis for statistical purposes. Any such reporting is voluntary. All other college personnel are required to notify the Campus Safety & Security upon receipt of a report of sexual assault for Clery Act reporting purposes.

Survivor Confidentiality

Southern Crescent Technical College officials will make every effort to ensure the confidentiality of survivors, and all members of the college community are urged to treat knowledge of an individual’s status as a survivor of sexual assault/abuse in a confidential manner. Personal identification information is not published to the public.

Annual Security Report

On or before October 1 of each year, Southern Crescent Technical College publishes and distributes its Annual Campus Security Report to current and prospective students and employees through e-mail, campus web page and a paper copy can be requested through Campus Safety & Security. This report provides crime statistics for the prior three years, policy statements regarding safety and security measures, campus crime prevention programs, along with policy and procedures to be followed in the investigation and prosecution of alleged sex offenses.

Campus Security

Southern Crescent Technical College will provide a reasonable environment of safety for achieving educational goals. In compliance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 and Student Right-To-Know (Public Law 101-542), Southern Crescent Technical College has established the following policy and procedures for governing the implementation of this act.

Crime Statistics

Southern Crescent Technical College is committed to providing students with a safe and secure environment in which to learn. The College reports statistics on the following crimes and offenses annually.

Federal Definitions of Reportable Crimes

Murder/Manslaughter: the willful killing of one human being by another.
Negligent Manslaughter: manslaughter by negligence-the killing of another person through gross negligence.
Sex Offenses: any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.
Rape: the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. This offense includes the rape of both males and females.
Fondling: the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental incapacity.
Incest: non-forcible sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
Statutory Rape: non-forcible sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.
Robbery: taking or attempting to take anything of value from the car, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.
Aggravated Assault: an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
Burglary: the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft.
Motor Vehicle Theft: the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle.
Arson: any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc.
Larceny/Theft: includes pocket picking, purse snatching, shoplifting, theft from building, theft from motor vehicle, theft of motor vehicle parts or accessories, and all other larceny.
Simple Assault: an unlawful physical attack by one person upon another where neither the offender displays a weapon, nor the victim suffers obvious severe or aggravated bodily injury involving apparent broken bones, loss of teeth, possible internal injury, severe laceration or loss of consciousness.
Intimidation: to unlawfully place another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words and/or other conduct but without displaying a weapon or subjecting the victim to actual physical attack.
Destruction/Damage/Vandalism or Property (except Arson): to willfully or maliciously destroy, damage, deface or otherwise injure real or personal property without the consent of the owner or the person having custody or control of it.
Hate Crimes: includes all of the crimes listed as reportable Clery crimes that manifest evidence that the victim was chosen based on one of the categories of prejudice listed below.

Categories of Prejudice

Race: a preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons who possess common physical characteristics genetically transmitted by descent and heredity, which distinguish them as a distinct division of humankind.
Gender: a preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons because those persons are male or female.
Religion: a preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons who share the same religious beliefs regarding the origin and purpose of the universe and the existence or nonexistence of a supreme being.
Sexual Orientation: a preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons based on their actual or perceived sexual attraction toward, and responsiveness to, members of their own sex or members of the opposite sex.
Ethnicity: a preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons of the same race who share common or similar traits, heritage, languages, customs or traditions often including a shared religion and/or ideology that stresses common ancestry.
National Origin: a preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons based on their, or their ancestors’, actual or perceived country of birth and who share common or similar traits, languages, customs, and traditions.
Disability: a preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons based on their physical or mental impairments/challenges, whether such disability is temporary or permanent, congenital or acquired by heredity, accident, injury, advanced age, or illness.
Gender Identity: a preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons based on their actual or perceived gender identity (e.g., bias against transgender or gender nonconforming individuals).

Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Stalking/Violence Against Women Act

Dating Violence: violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of the relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. It is not limited to sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse.
Domestic Violence: a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed
- by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;
- by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;
- by a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;
- by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred;
- by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person's act under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.
Stalking: engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress.

Southern Crescent Technical College’s Campus Safety & Security maintains records of all incidents that occur on campus including those which are not required to be reported under the Campus Security Act.

Furthermore, Southern Crescent Technical College must provide the following geographic breakdown of the crime statistics in the annual report:

On-campus;
In a non-campus building or on non-campus property;
On non-campus public property including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, or parking facilities that are within the campus or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

Students may contact Campus Safety & Security or Student Affairs to view the updated log of Campus Crime Incidences. The College must provide this information within two (2) working days of the request.

The data collected for the previous calendar year can be located on the Internet by the following steps:

Website: http://ope.ed.gov/security
Click on Get data for one institution/campus
When the Step 1 - Institution/Campus Search criteria form appears, scroll down to: Name of Institution; type in Southern Crescent Technical College, then click Search.
At Step 2 - Select Campus, choose Main Campus.
After clicking on Main Campus, a cover sheet about the institution will display. If you scroll down the page you can click on any of the following located on the gray bar:
1. Criminal offenses
2. Hate offenses
3. Arrest and disciplinary actions

Crime Prevention Tips

Immediately report any crime, suspected crime, or suspicious circumstances/persons to campus security, either day or night.
Never leave personal property in your classroom unattended. If in a classroom, office, or the library take your possessions with you.
When walking on or off campus at night, employ the buddy system and walk with a friend. Also, let friends know when and where you are going, how you are going and what time you expect to arrive. This alerts them if you are overdue.
Park your car in a lighted area. Always lock your car. Do not leave CDs, tapes, or other valuables in plain sight. Lock them in the trunk or keep them out of view.
If you observe criminal activity or suspicious circumstances/persons, call 911 and attempt to provide identifying information such as:
Person – Name (if known), sex, age, height, weight, clothing, apparent condition, and any other identifying information.

Auto – License number, make, model, color, outstanding characteristics (rust, dents, etc.), or special features.

Property – Complete description, serial number, operation I.D.

Identify your belongings! Put your name and address on textbooks, inside the cover and on an inside page or two.

Procedures for Reporting All Crimes and Emergencies

For all crimes-in-progress or emergencies, E-911 should be called first, followed by dialing the Campus Safety & Security Dispatch at 770-467-4491. An officer will then be dispatched to the location, along with any other required emergency personnel. Campus Safety & Security will generate all criminal and emergency response reports as needed, and be the repository for such documents in these incidents.

Daily Crime Log

A daily log of all criminal offenses reported on the campus is maintained by Campus Safety & Security and is available for public inspection between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at 501 Varsity Road, Griffin, Georgia 30223, excluding holidays when the College is closed and online at https://www.sctech.edu/police/daily-crime-log/.

Campus Safety & Security may withhold information from the daily crime log if the release of such information would jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of an individual, cause a suspect to evade detection or flee, and/or result in the destruction of evidence.

Campus Safety & Security’s crime log covers the most recent 60-day period and is open for public inspection during normal business hours. Crime log information dating back more than 60 days will be made available for inspection within two business days of a written request.

Campus Safety & Security maintains fire drill logs for each campus and center. Information requests should be directed to the Campus Safety & Security’s office during normal business hours.

Counseling Resources

Tiger Assistance Program (TAP)

Espyr provides counseling to Full-Time students and their families in the areas of: Marital, Adolescence, Family, Grief, Stress, Alcohol and Drugs, Emotional, Financial, Legal or any personal trouble. (1-866-734-3890) http://www.espyr.com

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Espyr provides counseling to employees and their families in the areas of: Marital, Adolescence, Family, Grief, Stress, Alcohol and Drugs, Emotional, Financial, Legal or any personal trouble. (1-800-334-6014) http://www.espyr.com

To find a rape crisis center near you please call 1-800-656-HOPE to locate the closest center.

Drug Abuse Prevention

The Higher Education Amendments of 1986 require that all post-secondary institutions make provisions for drug abuse prevention programs in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

The Student Affairs Office schedules alcohol and substance abuse seminars throughout the academic year. Notices of seminars are posted throughout the campus and on the plasma screens.

For further information, see https://www.sctech.edu/currentstudents/student-services/health-and-wellness/ or contact the Student Affairs Office for available programs and services.

Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act

POLICY: 6.7.1. (V.E.)

This policy has been developed in concert with the federal Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, which was enacted to ensure that any institution of higher education that receives funds under any federal program has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the use of illicit drugs and abuse of alcohol by students. It also incorporates the statutory mandates required under the state Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990 (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-20 et seq.)

No student may engage in the unlawful manufacture, possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol on the technical college's property or as part of any of its sponsored activities.

Such unlawful activity may be considered sufficient grounds for serious punitive action, including expulsion. Disciplinary sanctions for students convicted of a felony offense involving alcohol or the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession or use of marijuana, controlled substances or other illegal or dangerous drugs shall be immediate suspension and denial of further state and/or federal funds from the date of conviction. Specifically, in the case of a drug related offense, the student shall minimally be suspended for the remainder of the quarter and forfeit all academic credit for that period.

The technical college shall notify the appropriate state/federal funding agency within 10 days after receiving notice of the conviction from the student or otherwise after receiving the actual notice of conviction.

Within 30 days of notification of conviction, the Technical College shall with respect to any student so convicted:

Take additional appropriate action against such student up to and including expulsion as it deems necessary.
Provide such student with a description of any drug or alcohol counseling treatment, or rehabilitation or re-entry programs that are available for such purposes by a federal, state or local health, law enforcement or other appropriate agency.

The technical college is responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of a drug free awareness program to inform students of the following:

The dangers of drug and alcohol abuse on the campus and elsewhere.
Any available drug and alcohol counseling, rehabilitation and assistance programs.
Any penalties to be imposed upon students for drug and alcohol abuse violations occurring on the campus.

Each technical college shall conduct a biennial review of its program to determine its effectiveness and implement changes to the program if they are needed and to ensure that the sanctions required by the program are consistently enforced.

Each technical college shall maintain and make available to the U. S. Secretary of Education and to the public a copy of each item in the program as required by this policy and applicable law as well as results of the biennial review.

RELATED AUTHORITY:

O.C.G.A. § 20-4-11 – Powers of the Board

O.C.G.A. § 20-4-14 – TCSG Powers and Duties

34 C.F.R. § 86

20 U.S.C. § 1101i

20 U.S.C. § 1091(r)

U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and other Drug Prevention: Attachment: 6.7.1a1. Compliance Checklist

Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990 (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-20 et seq.)

For further information, see https://www.sctech.edu/currentstudents/student-services/health-and-wellness/ or contact the Student Affairs Office for available programs and services.

Emergency and Weather Alerts

Confirming the Existence of a Significant Emergency or Dangerous Situation and Initiating the Emergency Notification System:

Reports of emergency or dangerous situations can originate from various sources including:
- Reports from first responders
- Reports from established warning points
- Reports from other campus departments
- Reports from citizens through 911
Determining the Appropriate Segment or Segments of the Campus Community to Receive an Emergency Notification:
With the exception of emergencies that are contained to one campus facility/area, the College has decided not to provide segmented emergency notifications. This decision was made based on the analysis of identified risks to the campus and to prevent accidental exclusion of a segment of campus population for which the emergency notification was intended.

In a situation when a single facility/area is involved, facility alarms, public address systems, phone-trees, and other technologies of the facility may be utilized to provide warning. Campus personnel may also provide warning if needed and feasible. Should a segmented emergency notification be issued, on-going assessments of the situation will occur and a campus-wide notification will be sent as necessary.
Determining the Contents of the Emergency Notification
The content of an emergency notification will depend on the situation and the notification method. However, the following information will be included in all initial emergency notifications regardless of the situation or method:
- A description of the situation (flash flood warning, dangerous situation, etc.)
- Relevant safety instructions (move to higher ground, shelter in place, etc.)
- A third method of information distribution (i.e., College website) will be included in the initial notification, if feasible. Because of text character limits, or the immediate availability of information, the third method of information distribution may not always be included in the initial emergency notification.
Procedures for Disseminating Emergency Information to the Greater Community
Southern Crescent Technical College Police Chief, in conjunction with the Office of the President, is responsible for initiating emergency notifications of criminal or emergency occurrences to the greater community.
Enrolling in the Southern Crescent Technical College's Emergency Notification System
When students are registered, their accounts are created for them. Within the first week of the semester, they should receive an email in their student email accounts with their Emergency Notification System login information. Once they receive that information, they need to login to the Emergency Notification System and review/update their contact information. Once they graduate or leave the College, their account will be disabled.

Fire Alarm

Continuous ringing of the fire alarm indicates immediate evacuation of the building to a point at least 1,000 feet away from the building. Use designated emergency exit routes as posted in each area. Emergency evacuation drills will be held throughout the year to ensure that all persons understand and obey emergency procedures. During these drills students are to act as though the emergency were real and to behave in an orderly fashion.

Emergency Evacuation Signal

Continuous ringing of the fire alarm and announcement from Administration will direct immediate evacuation of the building to a designated weather safe area.

Note: An Emergency Evacuation Plan is posted at exit doors marking locations of safe areas during severe weather emergencies.

Tornado Alert

Griffin: A designated authority will notify the faculty and staff via e-mail, the VOIP phone alert system, and the SchoolCast alert system.
Flint River: A designated authority will notify the faculty and staff via e-mail, VOIP phone alert system, and SchoolCast alert system.
Centers: Alerts will be issued via e-mail, SchoolCast alert and voice amplified bullhorn system.
Note: A tornado plan is published and posted marking locations of safe areas during severe weather emergencies.

All Clear Signal

A senior staff member on the scene will announce “ALL CLEAR.”
Centers: An “ALL CLEAR” message will be issued using a voice-amplified bullhorn.
These will be followed up by a SchoolCast message of “ALL CLEAR.”

Emergency Alert (Tornado Drill )

Faculty, staff, and students are to follow the procedures outlined below:

Close windows in the exterior walls as practical and lower blinds and/or drapes.
Close classroom or lab doors leading into halls/corridors.
Coats and jackets should be used to cover heads, arms, and legs. Go immediately to a designated area away from exterior windows and walls.
Students in mobile unit classrooms must be evacuated to a permanent structure immediately.
All persons should remain in their designated areas until notified that it is safe to resume operations by the “ALL CLEAR” signal.
Faculty should verify that all students are accounted for during and after the event and report this information to the security chief or designee.

Inclement Weather

Inclement weather advisory reports will be monitored on several local and metro Atlanta television and radio stations.

College Closing

In the event that the college may be closed during a period that it is scheduled to be open, students can receive information on the website, calling post, by SchoolCast, or by listening to one of the following radio and television stations:

Atlanta

WSB - TV - Channel 2

TV – Channel 5

TV - Channel 46

WXIA - TV - Channel 11

Macon

WIBB Radio - 97.9 FM

Thomaston

WTGA Radio - FM 101.1

Griffin

WKEU Radio - 88.9 FM

WEKS Radio - 92.5 FM

Manchester - Warm Springs

WFDR-Radio - AM 1370

Mountain Country - 94.3 FM

Emergency Numbers

Fire Department – 911

Police Department – 911

Ambulance (Emergency) – 911

Campus Dispatch – (770) 467-4491

Griffin on Duty Officer – (770) 883-6032

Flint River on Duty Officer – (678) 603-5979

Butts Center on Duty Officer – (678) 603-6918

Fayette COI – (678) 603-9942

Henry Center on Duty Officer – (770) -603-5609

Jasper Center on Duty Officer – (678) 603-5948

Emergency Procedures

When reporting all medical emergencies, E-911 shall be notified first, in order to have EMS / Rescue personnel dispatched to the incident. The Southern Crescent Technical College Campus Safety and Security Department shall also be notified at 770-746-4491, in order to respond and assist as well. (The Southern Crescent Technical College Campus Safety and Security shall also be notified in all non-emergency type medical incidents and accidents. The Southern Crescent Technical College Campus Safety and Security is the official repository for all incident reports generated on campus).

Any injured person will be examined by EMS to determine if advance medical treatment is required.
In emergency medical incidents, any subject refusing medical treatment must still be examined by EMS and sign a refusal of treatment with EMS.
If the subject is conscious, alert, and able to make clear, critical decisions, they still maintain their right to refuse medical treatment and/or transport to a medical facility.
If the subject is unconscious, unresponsive, etc., then First Responders on the scene will ensure that the subject receives the necessary medical treatment and transport to a medical facility.
First aid kits are located throughout the buildings and are carried in all Campus Safety and Security cars.

Southern Crescent Technical College supports the concept of health and wellness. The technical college prohibits smoking, or using other forms of electronic, alternative smoking devices or other forms of tobacco products in classrooms, shops, and labs or other unauthorized areas on technical college premises. Procedures addressing health services, first aid, and safety are addressed in both the student and employee handbooks.

Since all students at Southern Crescent Technical College commute, only health services such as basic first aid for minor injuries and referral services are available. Students who become ill at the College may be taken home, to a doctor, or to a hospital depending on the nature of the illness.

Students with existing illnesses or conditions that may warrant emergency intervention are encouraged to provide instructors with information regarding their illness, measures to be taken in an emergency, and the emergency phone numbers of physician and family.

Southern Crescent Technical College is committed to providing a clean and safe environment. It is the responsibility of every student and staff member to report possible hazards or unsafe conditions to the Vice President for Student Affairs/Designee, who will forward the information to the appropriate department.

First aid courses are arranged as part of staff development for faculty and staff. Students enrolled in certain labs are provided with first aid and safety classes.

Evacuation maps are located in each classroom.

Any injury or illness reported to faculty or staff will be documented on an accident report and submitted to the division vice president or designee.

All faculty and staff have been provided with procedures for responding immediately to an accident, either by summoning appropriate aid or by referring students for aid. The buildings on campus are adequately equipped with telephones, which provide quick access to on-campus as well as off-campus medical assistance.

For follow up, all accidents are reported to the business manager on the Incident Report Form. The Vice President for Academic Affairs/Designee investigates the cause of the accident and initiates any needed action.

An Emergency Preparedness Plan describes the proper action to be taken in the event of danger, including natural disasters, fires, and bomb threats. This plan is provided to all faculty and staff and appropriate portions are posted around campus to indicate, for example, the proper emergency evacuation routes.

Unlawful Harassment and Discrimination of Students Policy

It is the policy of Southern Crescent Technical College that all students shall be provided an environment free of unlawful harassment (including sexual harassment and sexual violence), discrimination, and retaliation.

All students and employees are expressly prohibited from engaging in any form of harassing, discriminating, intimidating or retaliatory behavior or conduct (prohibited conduct) in all interactions with each other, whether or not the interaction occurs during class or on or off campus. Visitors to campuses shall not engage in prohibited conduct and may be barred from campus for such prohibited conduct. Allegations of discrimination, harassment or retaliation, occurring at clinical sites to which students are assigned shall be investigated in accordance with this procedure.

Any student or employee who has engaged in prohibited conduct will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion or dismissal.

All students are encouraged to report any act of prohibited conduct. Reports will be treated in an expeditious and confidential manner. Access form here.

SCTC will not tolerate retaliation for having filed a good faith harassment and/or discrimination complaint or for having provided any information in an investigation. Any individual who retaliates against a complainant or witness in an investigation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or dismissal.

Employee complaints of unlawful harassment or discrimination shall be conducted pursuant to the process outlined in procedure III.A.1, Unlawful Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation in Employment.

Related Authority:

State Board Policy 2.1.1. Statement of Equal Opportunity

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972

20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.

O.C.G.A § 19-7-5

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013

Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE)

Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Age Discrimination Act of 1975

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008

Procedure 6.5.3p. Student Grievances

Unlawful Harassment and Discrimination of Students Procedure

Revised: January 14, 2019; January 12, 2016; July 16, 2014; April 25, 2013; March 9, 2007

Last Reviewed: January 14, 2019

Adopted: April 25, 2013

Purpose:

It is the purpose of this procedure to ensure that all students within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) shall be provided an environment free of unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. All students and employees are expressly prohibited from engaging in any form of unlawful harassing, discriminating, intimidating or retaliatory behavior or conduct (“prohibited conduct”) in all interactions with each other, whether or not the interaction occurs during class or on or off campus. Visitors to campuses also shall not engage in prohibited conduct and may be barred from campus for such prohibited conduct. Allegations of discrimination, harassment or retaliation, occurring at clinical sites to which students are assigned shall be investigated in accordance with this procedure. Student complaints regarding sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual exploitation or stalking will be processed in accordance with the Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Procedure. Any student or employee who has engaged in prohibited conduct will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion or dismissal. Nothing in this procedure shall be interpreted to interfere with any person’s right to free speech as provided by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

All students are encouraged to report any prohibited conduct. Reports will be treated in an expeditious and confidential manner. TCSG will not tolerate retaliation for having filed a good faith harassment and/or discrimination complaint or for having provided any information in an investigation. Any individual who retaliates against a complainant or witness in an investigation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or dismissal.

Employee complaints of unlawful harassment or discrimination shall be conducted pursuant to the process outlined in the procedure governing Unlawful Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation in Employment.

Related Authority:

State Board Policy 2.1.1. Statement of Equal Opportunity

Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Age Discrimination Act of 1975

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008

Procedure: 6.5.3p Student Grievances

Applicability:

All work units and technical colleges associated with the Technical College System of Georgia.

Definitions:

Unlawful Harassment (other than Sexual Harassment): Unlawful verbal or physical conduct that disparages or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of that person’s race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability and which:
1. Has the purpose or effect of creating an objectively and unreasonably intimidating hostile, or offensive educational environment, or
2. Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s educational performance.
Unlawful harassing conduct or behavior can include, but is not limited to, epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, or threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts that relate to race, color, religion, national origin, genetic information, age or disability. Unlawful harassing conduct can include jokes or pranks that are hostile or demeaning with regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Unlawful harassing conduct may also include written or graphic material that disparages or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability, and that is displayed on walls, bulletin boards, computers, or other locations, or otherwise circulated in college community in any format.

Conduct which threatens, coerces, harasses or intimidates another person or identifiable group of persons, in a manner that is considered unlawful under state and federal laws pertaining to stalking while on college premises or at college sponsored activities may also be considered unlawful harassment under this procedure.
Unlawful Discrimination: the denial of benefits or admission to the college or to any of its programs or activities, either academic or nonacademic, curricular or extracurricular, because of race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, genetic information or disability.
Unlawful Retaliation: unfavorable action taken, unfavorable conditions created, or other action taken by a student or employee for the purpose of intimidation that is directed toward a student because the student initiated an allegation of unlawful harassment/retaliation or participated in an investigation of an allegation.
Technical College System of Georgia: all work units and technical colleges under the governance of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia.
Employees: any individual employed in a full- or part-time capacity in any TCSG work unit or technical college.
Visitor: any third party (e.g. volunteer, vendor, contractor, member of the general public, etc.) who conducts business or regularly interacts with a work unit or technical college.
Clinical site: any off-campus location to which students or faculty are assigned for completion of program requirements including labs, internships, or practicums.
President: the chief executive officer responsible for the management and operation of the technical college where the accused violator is currently enrolled or employed.
Human Resources Director: the highest-ranking employee responsible for the human resources functions at a technical college or TCSG work unit.
Local investigator: the individual(s) at the technical college responsible for the investigation of an unlawful harassment, discrimination and/or, retaliation complaint. Local investigators may be assigned based upon the subject matter of the complaint or their function within the organization.
Compliance Officer: the individual designated by the Deputy Commissioner to coordinate TCSG compliance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and other state and federal laws governing unlawful discrimination and harassment and educational access by disabled individuals.
Section 504 Coordinator: an individual designated by the president of the college to ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as Amended, and any other state and federal regulations governing disabilities; the responsibilities of the 504 coordinator will include, but may not be limited to evaluating students requesting accommodations for a disability, and ensuring equal access to facilities, services and programs.

Procedure

A. Administration and Implementation

The SCTC President shall designate one or more officials to serve as the Title IX Coordinator and the Section 504 coordinator and ensure the designated officials have received appropriate training.
Contact information for the Title IX and Section 504 Coordinators and the Statement of Equal Opportunity should be permanently displayed on official bulletin boards and included in electronic or written college publications and academic materials as described in the TCSG Usage Statement of Equal Opportunity.
Instructors/administrators must take ongoing proactive steps to ensure educational opportunities (to include classrooms, clinics, labs, programs, etc.) and student activities (clubs, sports, etc.) are accessible and free from any type of unlawful discrimination or harassment.
The compliance officer will conduct training programs and monitor colleges to ensure the correct administration and implementation of this procedure, and will ensure that proactive or corrective measures have been taken to prevent unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.

B. Reporting and Management Action

All students are encouraged to report events of unlawful harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation (“prohibited conduct”) against themselves or others.
If a student filing a complaint requests anonymity or asks that the complaint not be pursued, the college must inform the student that its ability to respond may be limited, that retaliation for filing a complaint is prohibited and steps to prevent retaliation will be taken. The college should take all reasonable steps to investigate and respond to the complaint consistent with the request and pursue other steps to limit the effects of the alleged harassment and prevent recurrence.
The College may weigh a request for anonymity or a request they not pursue a complaint considering the following factors: the seriousness of the alleged conduct, the complainant’s age, whether there have been other harassment complaints about the same individual, and the alleged harasser’s rights to receive information about the allegations if the information is maintained as an “education record” under FERPA. The college must inform the student if the request cannot be granted.
Reports concerning all prohibited conduct referenced in this procedure will be processed confidentially to the extent permitted by law; communications regarding complaints will be disseminated to others on a need-to-know basis to ensure that necessary steps are taken to protect the community as a whole and that appropriate disciplinary measures or corrective actions are considered and taken.
Allegations or suspicions of unlawful discrimination, harassment, or unlawful retaliation may be reported to the college’s Vice President for Student Affairs, Section 504 Coordinators, the President, or the Human Resources Director (should the complaint involve employees). Students may also e-mail any complaints to unlawfulharassment@tcsg.edu.
Complaints under this procedure can be expressed in writing, by telephone, or in person; individuals are, however, encouraged to express their complaints in writing to ensure all concerns are addressed.
If an allegation of unlawful harassment, discrimination or retaliation is made to an employee not designated to receive such reports, the employee receiving the complaint must report the allegation as provided in section 6 above.
Students or employees may be suspended, transferred, or reassigned in order to prevent possible further harassment, discrimination, or retaliation; to facilitate the investigation, or to implement preventive or corrective actions under this procedure.
Any allegation of unlawful harassment, discrimination, or retaliation against employees must be reported to the Human Resources Director who may elect to conduct the investigation in conjunction with other local investigators.

C. Investigations

All complaints of prohibited conduct under this procedure shall be investigated by local investigators thoroughly and expeditiously. A complaining party will be notified if the complaint does not specify facts sufficient to allege unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation and that a formal investigation will not be conducted pursuant to this procedure. The complaining party may appeal the decision in writing to the president within five business days of receiving the notice. The president’s decision will be final.
Individuals designated to investigate or recommend corrective actions in response to allegations will be trained to conduct investigations in a manner that protects the safety of victims and promotes accountability. Individuals assigned as the investigator for a particular incident shall disclose to the president any relationship with the parties that could call into question their ability to be objective prior to taking any action with respect to the investigation. The president will reassign alternate individuals if necessary.
Investigations will be conducted by gathering relevant information and interviewing appropriate witnesses. Both the complaining party and the respondent (the parties) will be given equal opportunity to identify witnesses and offer evidence in person or in writing. Best efforts will be made to interview all witnesses identified by the parties. Both the complaining party and the respondent may be accompanied by an advisor of his or her choice. However, the advisor may not speak on behalf of the party.
The college will evaluate the information collected during the investigation and determine whether a preponderance of the evidence substantiates that unlawful discrimination, unlawful harassment, and/or unlawful retaliation has occurred.
Investigations and summary findings will be documented appropriately.

D. Corrective Actions

The College will take all reasonable steps to prevent unlawful retaliation against complainants and any other individuals participating in investigations under this procedure.
If prohibited conduct is determined to have occurred following the investigation, the college, through the appropriate officials, shall implement steps to prevent a recurrence and to correct the discriminatory effects on the complaining party and others as appropriate. Steps may include, but are not limited to, mandating training or evaluation, disciplinary sanctions, policy implementation, or reassignment of students or employees.
Should recommended disciplinary sanctions involve academic suspension or expulsion, the matter must be referred to the Vice President for Student Affairs, as provided by the college’s Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedure.
Individuals who are responsible for conducting investigations or proposing sanctions under this procedure should not also serve as reviewing officials or hearing officers in the appeal of sanctions arising from an investigation.

Even in the absence of sufficient evidence to substantiate a finding that unlawful discrimination, unlawful harassment, or retaliation has occurred, the college is expected to address any inappropriate conduct and take all reasonable steps to prevent any future unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.

E. Reviews and Dispositions

Any of the parties to a complaint under this procedure may request a review of the investigative findings within five business days of receiving notice of the investigative results by submitting a written request to the President.
The President shall review all investigations conducted under this procedure and ensure that the appropriate corrective actions have been implemented.
Within 10 business days of receiving a request for a review of the investigative findings, the President will notify the parties in writing of his/her final determination, including any change in the result of the findings. The notice will inform the parties they have a right to appeal the determination to the Technical College System of Georgia’s Legal Services Office by submitting a written request within three business days by regular mail or e-mail to one of the following:
Technical College System of Georgia

Office of Legal Services

1800 Century Place, N.E.

Suite 400

Atlanta, GA 30345

OR

Unlawfulharassment@tcsg.edu
The Office of Legal Services will convene a panel of at least three individuals not employed by the requestor’s college to review the investigative findings. The panel’s decision is final and will conclude the processing of the complaint. Both parties will be notified in writing simultaneously of the results of the review and any changes in the results of the investigative findings under appeal.

Record Retention

Documents relating to formal complaints including investigations, dispositions and the complaint itself shall be held for five years after the graduation of the student or the date of the student’s last attendance. Any of the documents containing confidential information shall be held in a secure location under the custody and control of the Vice President of Student Affairs or the President’s designee. Documents pertaining to employees that are maintained by the Office of Human Resources shall be maintained in a secure location and in accordance with the Georgia State Archives records retention schedule, but in no case fewer than 5 years.

Sources of Counseling, Advocacy and Support

The information below provides contact information for off-campus resources following incidents of sexual violence, dating/domestic violence or stalking:

Tiger Assistance Program (TAP) ESPYR Counseling Services 1-866-734-5890 or visit www.espyr.com
Promise Place 770-460-1604 or visit www.promiseplace.org
Rape Crisis Center http://gnesa.org/page/rape-crisis-centers-georgia
Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center 770-477-2177 or visit https://www.scsac.org
National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE
National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 or https://humantraffickinghotline.org
http://gcadv.org/general-resources/domestic-violence-centers/
Protective Orders http://www.womenslaw.org/gethelp_state_type.php?type_id=1277&state_code=GA
Legal Services http://www.womenslaw.org/gethelp_state_type.php?type_id=1273&state_code=GA
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) | 1-800-787-3224 [TTY]
Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital 601 S. 8^th Street, Griffin, GA 30224 (770) 228-2721

Access a fillable version of the form that follows this section online.

A digitally fillable, accessible version of the form is available at: Student Complaints.

Student Harassment & Equity Complaint Form

Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Procedure

Purpose

It is the purpose of Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) to ensure that all students are provided access to a safe educational environment free from any discrimination on the basis of gender. To that end, this procedure prohibits sex discrimination of any kind, including sexual harassment and sexual misconduct (“prohibited conduct”). Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and stalking.

All students and employees are expressly prohibited from engaging in any form of prohibited conduct in all interactions with each other, whether or not the interaction occurs during class or on or off campus. Visitors to campuses also shall not engage in prohibited conduct, and may be barred from campus.

Any student or employee who has engaged in prohibited conduct will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion or dismissal. Nothing in this procedure shall be interpreted to interfere with any person’s right to free speech as provided by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

SCTC strongly encourages all students and requires employees to report any instances of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct promptly and accurately. SCTC will not tolerate retaliation for having filed a good faith complaint or for having provided any information in an investigation. Any individual who retaliates against a complainant or witness in an investigation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or dismissal.

Related Authority:

State Board Policy 2.1.1. Statement of Equal Opportunity

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972

20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013

Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE)

O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5

Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Applicability:

All work units and technical colleges associated with the Technical College System of Georgia.

Definitions:

Sexual Harassment (a form of sex discrimination): unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome verbal, written, electronic or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

Submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s education;
Submission to, or rejection of, such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for education decisions affecting such individual; or,
Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment based on sex.

Sexually harassing conduct or behavior (regardless of the gender of the persons involved) can include but is not limited to:

Physical touching, sexual comments of a provocative or suggestive nature, suggestive looks or gestures, sexually explicit jokes, electronic media/communication, printed material or innuendos intended for and directed to another, requests for sexual favors, making acceptance of any unwelcome sexual conduct or advances a condition for grades, continued enrollment or receipt of any educational benefit or determination.

Sexual Violence: physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent, including but not limited to sexual assault, rape, incest, sexual battery, fondling, and sexual coercion. All acts of sexual violence are considered unlawful sexual harassment, regardless of gender, for purposes of this procedure. Refer to Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated for more detailed descriptions of conduct constituting sexual violence.

Domestic Violence: a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by (1) a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim; (2) a person with whom the victim shares a child in common; (3) a person who is cohabiting with, or has cohabited with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner; (4) a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred; or (5) any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence has occurred.

Dating Violence: violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the person subjected to such violence. Whether there was such a relationship will be determined based on, among other factors, the Complainant’s and Respondent’s statements, and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the parties involved in the relationship.

Sexual Exploitation: occurs when an individual takes non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for one’s own advantage or benefit, or to benefit or advantage anyone other than the one being exploited.

Stalking: occurs when a person engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress. A course of conduct consists of two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which a person directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about another person, or interferes with another person’s property. Reasonable person means a reasonable person under similar circumstances and with similar identities to the Complainant. Substantial emotional distress means significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but does not necessarily, require medical or other professional treatment or counseling. Cyber-stalking is a particular form of stalking in which electronic media such as the internet, social networks, blogs, cell phones, texts, or other similar devices or forms of contact are used.

Intimidation: the use of implied threats to overcome an individual’s freedom of will to choose whether or not to participate in sexual activity or provide consent. Consent obtained by intimidation is not valid.

Consent: explicit communication and mutual approval for the act in which the parties are/were involved. A sexual encounter is considered consensual when individuals willingly and knowingly engage in sexual activity. Consent cannot be procured by the use of physical force, compelling threats, intimidating behavior, or coercion. The use of coercion can involve the use of pressure, manipulation, substances, and/or force. Ignoring the objections of another person or pressuring them is a form of coercion. Knowingly engaging in sexual activity with someone who is incapacitated (by alcohol or drug use, unconsciousness or other forms of helplessness) does not constitute consent and is a violation of this procedure.

Incapacitation: a state where an individual cannot make an informed and rational decision to engage in sexual activity because of a lack of conscious understanding of the fact, nature, or extent of the act and/or is physically helpless. For example, an individual is incapacitated, and therefore unable to give consent, if the individual is asleep, unconscious, or otherwise unaware that sexual activity is occurring. An individual will also be considered incapacitated if the person cannot understand the nature of the activity or communicate due to a mental or physical condition. Incapacitation may result from the use of alcohol, drugs, or other medication. Consumption of alcohol or other drugs alone is insufficient to establish incapacitation. The impact of alcohol and drugs varies from person to person, and evaluating incapacitation requires an assessment of how the consumption of alcohol and/or drugs impacts an individual’s: (1) decision-making ability; (2) awareness of consequences; (3) ability to make informed judgments; or (4) capacity to appreciate the nature and quality of the act.

Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment: sexually harassing conduct by an employee, another student, or a third party that is sufficiently serious that it denies or limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the college’s programs based on sex. In order to qualify as hostile environment sexual harassment, the conduct must be severe and pervasive, taking into consideration a number of factors including, but not limited to, the degree to which the conduct affected the student’s education; the type, frequency, and duration of the conduct; and, the identity of and relationship between the alleged harasser and the subject or subjects of the harassment (looking at whether there is a power differential as between an instructor and a student).

Retaliation: unfavorable action taken, unfavorable condition created, or other action taken by a student or employee for the purpose of intimidation that is directed toward a student because the student initiated an allegation of sexual misconduct or participated in an investigation of an allegation.

Preponderance of the Evidence: means the fact in dispute is more likely than not to be true.

Technical College System of Georgia: all work units and technical colleges under the governance of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia.

Employee: any individual employed in a full or part time capacity in any TCSG work unit or technical college.

Visitor: any third party (e.g. volunteer, vendor, contractor, member of the general public etc.) who conducts business or regularly interacts with a work unit or technical college.

Clinical Site: any off-campus location to which students or faculty are assigned for completion of program requirements including labs, internships, or practicums.

President: the chief executive officer responsible for the management and operation of the technical college where the complainant and/or accused violator are enrolled or employed.

Human Resources Director: the highest ranking employee responsible for the human resources function at a technical college or TCSG work unit.

System-wide Investigator: the individual(s) at TCSG who is responsible for the investigation of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct complaints for TCSG and the colleges.

TCSG Compliance Officer: the individual designated by the Deputy Commissioner to coordinate TCSG compliance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and other state and federal laws governing unlawful discrimination and harassment and educational access by disabled individuals.

Title IX Coordinator: an individual designated by the president of the college to ensure compliance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq., and related federal regulations. The Title IX Coordinator may also be assigned the responsibility for compliance with other state and federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.

Procedure:

Administration and Implementation
1. Each college president shall designate one or more officials to serve as the Title IX Coordinator and post contact information for the coordinator and the TCSG’s Statement of Equal Opportunity in electronic or written college publications and academic materials as described in the TCSG Usage for Statement of Equal Opportunity (e.g. bulletin boards, the college website, catalogs, student and employee handbooks, orientation materials, and flyers). The college president will ensure the designated officials have received appropriate training.
2. Instructors/administrators must take ongoing proactive steps to ensure educational opportunities (to include classrooms, clinics, labs, programs, etc.) and student activities (clubs, sports, etc.) are accessible and free from any type of sex discrimination or harassment.
3. The Compliance Officer will coordinate training programs and monitor the colleges to ensure the correct administration and implementation of this procedure, and will ensure that proactive or corrective measures have been taken to prevent sex discrimination and sexual misconduct.
4. Colleges are required to provide sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training to students and employees and to provide programs f or ongoing awareness training as required by VAWA and the Clery Act. As of the effective date of this procedure, colleges have been provided the Haven training modules for this purpose and are required to incorporate the training in new student and employee orientation activities.
5. Each technical college shall publish a list of local sources for counseling, support and advocacy in conjunction with the publishing of this procedure. (See attachment for sample format) Individuals who report sexual violence, sexual assault, stalking or dating/domestic violence will be provided with and/or referred to the list of resources.
Reporting and Management Action
1. All students are encouraged to report incidents of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct against themselves or others to the Title IX Coordinator at the technical college. Students may find contact information for the Title IX Coordinator on the technical college website, and in the student handbook and college catalog. Complaints may also be emailed to unlawfulharassment@tcsg.edu.
2. Complaints under this procedure can be expressed in writing, by telephone, or in person; individuals are encouraged to express complaints in writing to ensure all concerns are addressed.
3. Any allegation of sex discrimination, sexual misconduct or retaliation against employees must be reported to the Human Resources Director and the Title IX Coordinator.
4. All allegations of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct on one of TCSG’s college campuses or clinical locations must be reported to the Title IX Coordinator regardless of whether the allegations involve students or employees.
5. Students have the right to file (or not to file) a criminal complaint for sexual violence with the local law enforcement authorities before, during, or after filing a complaint with the college. The investigation under this procedure shall not be unreasonably delayed to await the outcome of any criminal investigation. Sexual violence reports made to the Title IX Coordinator will be investigated and adjudicated separately from any criminal complaints. A student may request that the Title IX Coordinator and/or the System-wide investigator assist the student with notifying local law enforcement authorities. If a technical college’s campus law enforcement receives a complaint alleging sexual harassment and/or sexual misconduct as defined in this procedure, the Title IX Coordinator for the college shall be immediately notified so that appropriate action may be taken by the Title IX Coordinator regarding the complaint.
6. If a student filing a complaint alleging sexual misconduct requests confidentiality, anonymity or asks that the complaint not be pursued, the college must inform the complainant that its ability to respond may be limited, that retaliation for filing a complaint is prohibited, and that steps to prevent harassment and retaliation will be taken. Consistent with the request, all reasonable steps to investigate and respond to the complaint should be made and other steps to limit the effects or recurrence of the alleged misconduct will be taken.
7. Colleges may weigh a request for confidentiality, anonymity or a request they not pursue a complaint considering the following factors: the seriousness of the alleged conduct, the complainant’s age, whether there have been other complaints about the same individual, and the respondent’s right to receive information about the allegations if the information is maintained as an “education record” under FERPA. The college must inform the complainant if the request cannot be granted and the reasons for the denial.
8. Reports concerning all prohibited conduct referenced in this procedure will be processed confidentially to the extent permitted by law; communications regarding complaints will be disseminated to others on a need-to-know basis to ensure that necessary steps are taken to protect the community as a whole and that appropriate corrective actions are considered and taken.
9. If an allegation of sex discrimination or sexual misconduct is made to an employee not designated to receive such reports, the employee receiving the complaint must report the allegation to the Title IX Coordinator. The College must take corrective actions to stop harassment to which it has notice, prevent recurrence of the harassment, and remedy the effects on the complainant promptly and effectively. The College will be deemed to have notice if a responsible employee knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, about the harassment. A responsible employee includes any employee who has the authority to take action to redress the harassment, who has a duty to report the harassment to the Title IX Coordinator, or who a student could reasonably believe has this authority or responsibility, including instructors and staff at the college.
10. Allegations of any sexual conduct involving individuals under the age of 18 must also be reported as an allegation of child abuse as outlined in O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5.
11. Interim protective measures may be imposed by the college president or the Title IX Coordinator or his/her designee before the final outcome of an investigation and until final resolution of the allegations if failure to take the interim measures would constitute an immediate threat to the safety and well-being of the complainant, the respondent, or other members of the college, or to ensure equal access to the college’s programs and activities. Interim protective measures may include: adjustments to academic workload (including extending deadlines); adjustment to class or work schedules; no contact orders; and suspensions, transfers or reassignments in order to prevent further harassment, discrimination, sexual violence or retaliation, to facilitate the investigation, or to implement preventive or corrective actions under this procedure.
Investigations
1. All complaints of prohibited conduct under this procedure will be reported immediately to the System-wide investigator who will be responsible for conducting the investigation in a fair, prompt, and impartial manner.
  The System-wide investigator shall disclose to the TCSG Compliance Officer any relationship with the parties that could call into question his/her ability to be objective prior to taking any action with respect to the investigation. The TCSG Compliance Officer will reassign alternate individuals if necessary.
  
  Either the complaining party or the respondent may challenge the System-wide investigator or designee to recommend corrective action on the grounds of personal bias by submitting a written statement to the TCSG Compliance Officer setting forth the basis for the challenge no later than 3 business days after the party reasonably should have known of the alleged bias. The TCSG Compliance Officer will determine whether to sustain or deny the challenge.
2. The investigation should be completed within 30 business days of the receipt of the complaint by the system-wide investigator. The investigator will notify the parties and the Title IX Coordinator in writing (typically by email) if extraordinary circumstances exist requiring additional time.
3. A complaining party will be notified within 5 business days of receipt of the complaint by the System-wide investigator if the complaint does not specify facts sufficient to allege sex discrimination, harassment, sexual violence or retaliation and that a formal investigation will not be conducted pursuant to this procedure. The complaining party may appeal the decision in writing to the president within 5 business days of receiving the notice. The president’s decision will be final.
4. Individuals designated to investigate or recommend corrective actions in response to allegations of sexual misconduct will be trained annually to conduct investigations in a manner that protects the safety of complainants, promotes fairness of the process and accountability.
5. Investigations will be conducted by gathering relevant information and interviewing appropriate witnesses. It is important that all parties preserve any documents or other evidence which may pertain to the investigation. Any medically related evidence is best preserved by trained medical personnel. Students are encouraged to seek medical services both for treatment and preservation of any medical evidence.
6. Both the complaining party and the respondent (the parties) will be given equal opportunity to identify witnesses and offer evidence in person or in writing. Best efforts will be made to interview all witnesses identified by the parties. If a witness identified by either party is not interviewed during the investigation, an explanation for the decision not to interview the witness should be documented in the investigatory report. Both parties will be given timely notice of meetings at which one or the other or both parties may be present. Both the complaining party and the respondent may be accompanied by an advisor of his or her choice during any meetings involved in the investigatory process in which the advisee is also eligible to be present. However, the advisor may not speak on behalf of the party.
7. The System-wide investigator will evaluate the information collected during the investigation and determine whether a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the allegations. Investigations and summary findings will be documented appropriately.
8. Any evidence collected during the investigation should be maintained in accordance with the record retention requirements below. Personally-identifiable information, including, but not limited to home address, telephone number, student ID or social security number should not be maintained in investigative records.
9. A report of investigation will be provided to the college’s Title IX Coordinator within five (5) days of completion of the investigation. The Title IX Coordinator will provide both parties simultaneously with a copy of the report. Any information prohibited from disclosure by law or policy will be redacted from any documents prior to distribution. With regard to complaints of sexual misconduct, disclosures made to comply with the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (“VAWA”) do not constitute a violation of FERPA.
10. If the System-wide investigator determines that all or some of the allegations made in the complaint are substantiated and that the conduct at issue constitutes a violation of this or other applicable procedure, the Title IX Coordinator shall forward the report to the appropriate officials at the college for further action in accordance with the provisions below and the college’s Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedure or the Positive Discipline Procedure for employees.
Corrective Actions
1. Colleges will take all reasonable steps to prevent unlawful retaliation against complainants and any other individuals participating in investigations under this procedure.
2. If prohibited conduct is determined to have occurred following the investigation, steps shall be taken to prevent a recurrence and to correct the discriminatory effects on the complaining party and others as appropriate. Steps may include, but are not limited to, mandating training or evaluation, disciplinary sanctions, policy implementation, issuing no-contact orders, or reassignment of students or employees. Disciplinary sanctions for students are defined in TCSG Procedure governing Student Discipline and may include: reprimand, restriction, disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension, and disciplinary expulsion. Disciplinary sanctions for employees are defined in TCSG's Positive Discipline Procedure and may include: formal reminders, decision making leave, or dismissal.
3. The severity of sanctions or corrective actions may depend on the severity, frequency and/or nature of the offense, history of past discriminatory, harassing, or retaliatory conduct, the respondent’s willingness to accept responsibility, previous college response to similar conduct, and the college’s interests in performing its education mission. Should recommended disciplinary sanctions involve academic suspension or expulsion, the matter must be referred to the Vice President for Student Affairs, as provided by the college’s Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedure.
4. Even in the absence of sufficient evidence to substantiate a finding that sex discrimination, sexual misconduct or retaliation has occurred, colleges are expected to address any inappropriate conduct and take all reasonable steps to prevent any future sex discrimination, harassment, sexual violence or retaliation.
5. Individuals who are responsible for conducting investigations or proposing sanctions under this procedure may not also serve as reviewing officials or hearing officers in the appeal of sanctions arising from an investigation.
Reviews and Dispositions
1. Any of the parties to a complaint under this procedure may request a review of the investigative findings within 5 business days of receiving notice of the investigative results by submitting a written request to the president.
2. Within 10 business days of receiving a request for a review of the investigative findings, the president of the college will notify the parties in writing, which may be sent via email, of his/her final determination, including any change in the result of the findings.

VII. RECORD RETENTION:

Documents relating to formal complaints including investigations, the investigatory report, witness statements, evidence, dispositions and the complaint itself shall be held for 7 years after the graduation of the student or the date of the student’s last attendance. Any of the documents containing confidential information shall be held in a secure location under the custody and control of the System-wide Investigator, Vice President of Student Affairs or the President’s designee. Documents pertaining to employees that are maintained by the Office of Human Resources shall be maintained in a secure location and in accordance with the Georgia Archives records retention schedule, but in no case fewer than 7 years.

Sources of Counseling, Advocacy and Support

The information below provides contact information for off-campus resources following incidents of sexual violence, dating/domestic violence or stalking:

Tiger Assistance Program (TAP) ESPYR Counseling Services 1-866-734-5890 or visit www.espyr.com
Promise Place 770-460-1604 or visit www.promiseplace.org
Rape Crisis Center http://gnesa.org/page/rape-crisis-centers-georgia
Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center 770-477-2177 or visit https://www.scsac.org
National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE
National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 or https://humantraffickinghotline.org
http://gcadv.org/general-resources/domestic-violence-centers/
Protective Orders http://www.womenslaw.org/gethelp_state_type.php?type_id=1277&state_code=GA
Legal Services http://www.womenslaw.org/gethelp_state_type.php?type_id=1273&state_code=GA
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) | 1-800-787-3224 [TTY]
Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital 601 S. 8th Street, Griffin, GA 30224 (770) 228-2721

Sexual Assault Procedures

Procedures on Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Procedure

Any individual who is the victim of one of these offenses is appropriately referred to as a “survivor” and is so identified throughout this Policy.

Southern Crescent Technical College does not tolerate sexual assault, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking against anyone regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Southern Crescent Technical College attempts to protect all members of the campus community, including visitors, from sexual assault, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking and offers anyone who is a survivor of any of these offenses the right to reach justice and recovery without encountering fear or prejudice. Southern Crescent Technical College is committed to providing a safe learning environment that supports the dignity of all members of the college community. The college strongly encourages anyone who is a survivor of any of these offenses to file promptly a report with Southern Crescent Technical College Campus Safety & Security or any other law enforcement agency with co-jurisdiction. All reported instances of sexual assault, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking shall be investigated and responded to promptly, fairly and decisively.

Southern Crescent Technical College will not tolerate Sexual Assault/Sexual Misconduct.

Definition

Sexual assault/sexual misconduct is defined as contact without consent by an acquaintance or stranger whether made directly or indirectly through clothing and whether contact is made with the non-consenting person or the non-consenting person is forced to have such sexual contact with the perpetrator represent violations of criminal and civil law and constitute serious breaches of student or employee conduct as well. Verbal communication of non-consent, non-verbal acts of resistance or rejection, or mental impairment of the survivor due to any cause including the survivor’s use of alcohol or drugs may constitute lack of consent. The use of alcohol or drugs will not be accepted as an explanation for the actions of any individual charged with a violation of this Policy.

It includes, but is not limited to:

Rape (sexual intercourse without consent).
Sodomy (oral or anal intercourse without consent).
Aggravated sodomy (sexual penetration with an object without consent).
Assault (intentional touching without consent of genitals, breast, groin, thighs, or buttocks).
Aggravated assault.
Child molestation.
Aggravated child molestation.
Non-consensual kissing.
Statutory rape.
Voyeurism (observing the sexual organs or acts of another for sexual satisfaction, usually from a hidden vantage point).
Public indecency (in a public place, performing an act of sexual intercourse, lewd exposure of sex organs, lewd appearance in a state of partial or complete nudity, or a lewd caress or indecent fondling of the body of another person).

Response to Reports of Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence or Stalking.

Southern Crescent Technical College is committed to creating a campus environment that both promotes and assists in prompt reporting of Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking. Southern Crescent Technical College is also committed to providing compassionate support services for survivors.

Rights of Survivors

Survivors of a campus-related sexual assault, sexual misconduct have certain rights that include the following:

The survivor has the right to have their claims treated seriously and to be treated with dignity. The survivor has the right to be informed of their options with regard to notifying law enforcement authorities and to be assisted in notifying such authorities if they so choose. Because Southern Crescent Technical College recognizes that a sexual assault is more than an assault on an individual’s body, but is also an attack on the individual’s dignity and sense of self, the college is committed to insuring that the decision to take action against the accused rests solely with the survivor. There may be circumstances, however, when the college must take action to protect the survivor or the campus community. Federal law requires Southern Crescent Technical College to provide the campus community with timely notice of certain reported crimes and/or acts the institution believes represent a threat to members of the campus community.
The survivor has, irrespective of the beliefs or desires of others, the right to report or not to report a sexual assault, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking.
Student survivors may choose to change academic arrangements, if such changes are reasonably available, without financial or academic penalty. For assistance in exploring options for a change in academic situations, contact should be made with the Vice President for Student Affairs.

What to do After an Assault

Individuals who have been raped or sexually assaulted should try to preserve all physical evidence. They should not wash; use the toilet or change clothing if doing so can be avoided. If oral contact took place, one should not smoke, eat, drink or brush one’s teeth. If one changes clothes, all clothing worn at the time of the attack should be placed in a paper bag, not plastic. Medical attention should be sought as soon as possible to assess any physical injuries, prevent sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy, and collect important evidence in the event legal action is taken.
The nature of sexual assault, particularly when perpetrated by an acquaintance, makes it difficult for many survivors to report their experience. For this reason, the Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center (770) 477-2177 website: www.gnesa.org/content/southern-crescent-sexual-assault-center has been designed as the primary place where individuals may seek assistance.
Students who believe that they are victims of a sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking should contact at least one of the following campus offices:
1. Southern Crescent Technical College Campus Safety & Security
2. Vice President for Student Affairs
3. Any Mandated Reporter
College faculty, staff members or campus visitors who believe they are survivor of a sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking should contact at least one of the following College offices or officials:
1. Southern Crescent Technical College Campus Safety and Security
2. Human Resources Department
3. Supervisor or Department Head
Survivors may receive confidential assistance from any professional counselor associated with the college with whom conversations are privileged.

Southern Crescent Technical College Disciplinary Procedures

Southern Crescent Technical College is committed to providing disciplinary processes that are sensitive, supportive, expedient and respectful of the individual rights of all involved. Both the survivor and the accused are entitled to have others present during the campus disciplinary proceeding, and both will be informed of the outcome of the proceedings.
Southern Crescent Technical College will proceed with a disciplinary action when it appears that the college’s prohibition against any form of sexual assault, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking may have occurred. Individuals charged with these offenses may be disciplined by the college as well as prosecuted under Georgia’s criminal statutes. Whether or not a criminal prosecution occurs, Southern Crescent Technical College retains the right to proceed with a disciplinary action at any time a preponderance of the evidence is present, and the college need not await the disposition of any such criminal prosecution.

Any of the sanctions listed below may be applied by Southern Crescent Technical College against students found responsible for sexual assault, sexual misconduct domestic violence, and dating violence or stalking or complicity of these offenses. The type and number of sanctions applied will depend on the severity of the offense. After a determination that a student has violated the Student Code of Conduct, the Vice President for Student Affairs or the college President's designee may impose, without referral to the Hearing Body, one or more of the following sanctions:

Restitution – A student who has committed an offense against property may be required to reimburse the technical college or other owner for damage to or misappropriation of such property. Any such payment in restitution shall be limited to the actual cost of repair or replacement.
Reprimand – A written reprimand may be given to any student. Such a reprimand does not restrict the student in any way, but it signifies to the student that he/she is in effect being given another chance to conduct himself/herself as a proper member of the technical college community, and that any further violation may result in more serious sanctions.
Restriction – A restriction upon a student's privileges for a period of time may be imposed. This restriction may include but is not limited to denial of the right to represent the technical college in any way, denial of use of facilities, alteration or revocation of parking privileges, or restrictions from participating in extracurricular activities.
Disciplinary Probation – Continued enrollment of a student on probation may be conditioned upon adherence to specified terms. Any student placed on probation will be notified of the terms and length of probation in writing. Any conduct determined after due process to be in violation of these terms while on probation may result in the imposition of more serious disciplinary sanctions, as specified by the terms of probation.
Failing or lowered grade – In cases of Academic Misconduct, the Vice President for Student Affairs or the technical college president's designee will make a recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs or his/her designee who may authorize the instructor to award a failing or lowered grade in the course, or a loss of credit on the assignment or examination.
Disciplinary Suspension – If a student is suspended, he/she is separated from the technical college for a stated period of time. Conditions of reinstatement, if any, must be stated in the notice of suspension.
After a determination that a student has violated the Student Code of conduct, the Vice President for Student Affairs or the technical college president's designee may recommend the imposition of one of the following sanctions if appropriate. The Vice President for Student Affairs' recommendation will be forwarded to the Hearing Body, which may impose one or more of the following sanctions:
Disciplinary Expulsion – Removal and exclusion from the technical college, Technical College controlled facilities, programs, events, and activities. A record of the reason for the student's dismissal is maintained by Vice President for Student Affairs or the technical college president's designee. Students who have been dismissed from the technical college for any reason may apply in writing to the Vice President for Student Affairs for reinstatement twelve (12) months following the expulsion. If approval for reinstatement is granted, the student will be placed on disciplinary probation for a specified term. The probationary status may be removed at the end of the specified term at the discretion of the Vice President for Student Affairs or the technical college president's designee.
System-Wide Expulsion – Where a student has been expelled or suspended three times from the same or different colleges in the Technical College System of Georgia in the past seven years, the student will not be permitted to register at any college in the Technical College System of Georgia for a period of ten years after the most recent expulsion/suspension.

Notification shall be sent to the student and the person(s) who initially filed the complaint.

Student Organizations

Student organizations found to condone, promote, or be involved in activities that lead to sexual assault, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking may have their college recognition withdrawn. Other possible sanctions include but are not limited to:

Informing the organization’s national or regional office about the activity.
Disbanding of the local chapter by the national organization.
Prohibiting participation in campus activities, events, and programs.
Requiring some or all members to conduct relevant community service and/or participate in sexual assault awareness programs.
Loss of all college privileges (use of equipment, meeting rooms, advertising space, on-campus fundraising).

The President will make a recommendation concerning sanctions to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The Vice President for Student Affairs will then inform the student organization, in writing, of the sanction(s) imposed. The Vice President for Student Affairs may suspend any student organization’s charter, pending a full review.

Sanctions up to and including dismissal from employment may be imposed on employees.

Legal Options

Reporting a sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking to the Southern Crescent Technical College Campus Safety & Security does not mean that the survivor must press charges. However, it does begin the legal process should the decision to prosecute be made at a later date. The sooner an assault is reported; the more likely valuable evidence can be collected.
Survivors can consult an attorney about initiating a suit in civil court for damages against the assailant. The purpose of a civil suit is to compensate the survivor for the wrong done to them. A civil action may be brought against the assailant regardless of whether criminal charges are pursued. Campus Safety & Security can assist with orders of protection.

Smoking

All SCTC locations are designated as no smoking areas. The technical college prohibits smoking, or using other forms of electronic, alternative smoking devices or other forms of tobacco products in classrooms, shops, and labs or other unauthorized areas on technical college premises. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas. Violators may be issued a citation.

Fee schedule for fines:

First offense – Warning
Second offense – Fine $20.00
Repeat offenders – Fine and/or disciplinary action

Weapons Policy

The Technical College System of Georgia is committed to providing all employees, students, volunteers, visitors, vendors and contractors a safe and secure workplace and/or academic setting. The possession, carrying, or transportation of a firearm, weapon, or explosive compound/material in or on college buildings or property shall be governed by Georgia state law. All individuals are expected to comply with the related laws. Failure to follow laws pertaining to weapons is considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Relevant Georgia laws to be aware of and compliant with include but may not be limited to:

O.C.G.A.§ 16-8-12(a)(6)(A)(iii)

O.C.G.A.§ 16-7-80

O.C.G.A.§ 16-7-81

O.C.G.A.§ 16-7-85

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-121

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-125.1

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-126

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-127

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-127.1

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-129

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-130

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-133

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-135

O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-137

O.C.G.A.§ 43-38-10

Any Southern Crescent Technical College student who violates the provisions of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion consistent with guidelines of the affected technical college’s Student Code of Conduct as well as possible criminal prosecution.

Visitors on Campus

Visitors on campus are expected to comply with all campus regulations. Individuals who are not part of the campus community must report to the official visitor’s check-in upon arrival (receptionist, Campus Safety & Security, Admissions Office, Student Affairs, etc.) and receive a visitor’s badge. The visitor’s badge must be worn while on campus. Southern Crescent Technical College is an adult institution providing a safe and effective educational environment for students to learn and employees to work. Visitors must obtain a guest pass when visiting the campus. Children under the age of 16 who are visiting on campus must be escorted, at all times, by an adult with a proper ID badge. Under no circumstances are children allowed in classrooms or laboratories. Parents or guardians may be asked by administration to remove their child or children from the campus.

Visitors shall not be allowed inside labs or classrooms unless invited and approved by a faculty member or administrator.

Anyone without an authorized badge should follow signs to an appropriate entranceway and obtain a temporary ID badge. No one should enter any door not approved as a visitor entrance without proper badging. Visitor entrance locations are identified on campus locations as follows:

Griffin: main entrance at Building 100, 200, 800
Flint River: main entrance at Building A
Center locations: main entrance

Visitors’ badges allow access to campus common areas and department areas for official business. Visitors must state on the sign-in sheet at the reception desk/entrance the department and/or person they are on campus to visit.