Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy and parental status—in educational programs and activities.
All public and private schools, school districts, colleges, and universities receiving any Federal funds (“schools”) must comply with Title IX.
Under Title IX, sexual discrimination includes harassment on the basis of sex. This can take many forms including:
- Verbal or written harassment
- Sexual assault, including rape and other unwanted sexual touching
- Stalking (when done on the basis of sex)
- Dating or domestic violence
- Discrimination based on the status of being pregnant or a parent
Schools are legally required to respond to and remedy hostile educational environments. Failure to do so means a school could risk losing federal funding.
We strongly encourage you to contact the Title IX Coordinator, Patti LaDuke, if you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct or encountered sexual discrimination. You may also contact a coordinator if you have questions about policies or procedures, or need help with how to handle a situation that indirectly affects you.
Here is a presentation for more information about Title IX.
Sexual Violence Prevalence (SVP) Campus Climate Survey:
Executive Summary
On March 3, 2023, our campus began an online administration of the Sexual Violence Prevalence (SVP) Campus Climate Survey. This survey was administered to students and employees and is required to address, at minimum, student and employee knowledge about:
· The Title IX Coordinator’s role;
· Campus policies and procedures addressing sexual assault;
· How and where to report sexual violence as a victim/survivor or witness;
· The availability of resources on and off campus, such as counseling,
health, academic assistance;
· The prevalence of victimization and perpetration of sexual assault,
domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking on and off campus
during a set time period (for example, the last two years);
· Bystander attitudes and behavior;
· Whether victims/survivors reported to the College/University and/or
police, and reasons why they did or did not report.
· The general awareness of the difference, if any, between the institution’s
policies and the penal law; and
· The general awareness of the definition of affirmative consent.
In reviewing the results, we highlight that the survey indicated that employees are generally aware of the policies and laws, and of the available resources.
The survey results will be shared with strategic planning and the president’s cabinet to be reviewed in meetings and decide how results will be used for the betterment of the campus community.
If you have any questions about the survey or the results included in this report, please contact Patti LaDuke, Dean of Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator, Clinton Community College at patricia.laduke@clinton.edu or (518)562-4121.
Background
The SVP survey is administered every other year by all SUNY campuses, who work closely with SUNY System Administration to coordinate the survey administration itself. An effort is made to keep the questions from one administration to the next as consistent as possible to allow for reliable and meaningful longitudinal data. System-wide IRB review takes place for each survey administration.
Our campus administered the student survey and employee survey between March 27, 2023 and April 17, 2023. Excluded survey populations were individuals under 18 years of age, all incarcerated individuals regardless of age, and all students concurrently enrolled in high school regardless of age.
Emails were sent out to all potential survey participants with encouragement to complete the survey.
Results
Sexual Violence and Prevention Survey Summary
Full-Time Faculty Staff Students
Eligible Population 174 370
Response Rate 13.2% 7.6%
Respondents 5 28 28
Though the response rate was lower than we would have hoped. Results indicated that the responding faculty and staff are generally aware of the policies, laws, and resources. Of the 23 who responded 95% knew of the Title IX Coordinators role of receiving reports on campus. Only one faculty or staff member exclusively selected “not sure” when asked to identify all the applicable roles of the Title IX Coordinator and three others did not respond to the questions. Also, when asked if they would get help and resources for a friend who tells them that they have been assaulted 3 responded unsure, the remaining 17 responses reflected either “likely” or “very likely”. Lastly, the fact that 90.9% of faculty and staff respondents acknowledged awareness of college documented policies and procedures for these types of occurrences means previous training has been to some extent successful. However, since we only had a 13.2% response rate for the faculty and staff survey; we feel that engaging the staff and faculty in Title IX trainings will also be necessary to ensure all faculty and staff are informed and trained to handle sexual violence or other related crimes properly.
Of the 370 students contacted to complete the survey, unfortunately only 28 responded. Though the response rate was low, 100% of students indicated that a person who is incapacitated cannot provide consent. Approximately one-third of the students surveyed were “unsure” of the role of the Title IX Coordinator on campus. The survey responses indicated there were two reports of unwanted physical advancements, six students indicated that they did experience unwanted sexual comments, sexual slurs, or demeaning jokes. In acknowledgment of this feedback, Clinton Community College will be instituting improved training and campus awareness for students, faculty and staff to ensure all persons understand their rights as an individual, where to report any issues and expand campus-wide understanding of the College’s policies and procedures surrounding consent and sexual violence prevention.
Discussion and next steps
Clinton Community College is a smaller community college which leads to a small population to complete the survey. Compounded with low response rates received it is hard to draw decisive conclusions, in the future it will be imperative to cultivate a higher response rate.
The employees had a relatively higher response rate and were observed to have a general understanding of the Title IX Coordinator and of the available resources available. The future changes to policies and procedures currently administered will be discussed at the strategic planning meetings and the president’s cabinet meetings.
Clinton Community College takes great pride in providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all and is committed to continued participation in the Sexual Violence Prevention Survey and continuous faculty, staff and student trainings regarding Title IX and sexual violence prevention.
If you need to report an issue or have questions regarding Title IX, sexual violence prevention or upcoming campus trainings, please contact:
Patti LaDuke, Dean of Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator, Clinton Community College at patricia.laduke@clinton.edu or (518)562-4121.
If you have any questions regarding the survey administration, please contact:
Eugene Ayotte, Data Analyst, Clinton Community College at eugene.ayotte@clinton.edu or (518) 562-4189.
For additional information regarding SUNY Policies please go to:
SUNY Policies on Sexual Violence Prevention and Response http://system.suny.edu/sexual-violence-prevention-workgroup/policies/
and
http://system.suny.edu/sexual-violence-prevention-workgroup/policies/response/
SUNY Policies:
https://system.suny.edu/sexual-violence-prevention-workgroup/policies/
Campus Resources and Best Practices:
http://system.suny.edu/university-life/sexual-assault-prevention/
Sexual Assault and Violence Response Resources: https://www.suny.edu/violence-response/
with resources on or off campus by location, campus, city.