Title IX

• Module 1 An Introduction to Managing Title IX Sexual  Harassment on Campus
• Module 2 Formal Complaints of Title IX Sexual Harassment
• Module 3 Title IX Investigations and Informal Resolutions
• Module 4 Title IX Hearings
• Module 5 Title IX Determinations
• Module 6 Title IX Appeals
• Playlist of all video training modules

• Title IX Advisor Training
• Title IX Coordinator Training
• Title IX Appeals Officer Training
• Title IX Employee Training
• HCC Employee Training on Title IX

  • SafeColleges© TRAINING ON TITLE IX AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT FOR EMPLOYEES

    We are using  SafeColleges.com to offer training on Title IX and sexual harassment for employees. Follow these easy steps to complete your Hillsborough Community College safety training requirements:
    
    1. Using your web browser, go to the SafeColleges website for Hillsborough Community College: https://hillsboroughcc-fl.safeschools.com/
    
    2. Enter your Username: YOUR EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
    
    3. Once you log into the site, click on a course title to begin the training. Each course has audio, so be sure to turn up your speakers if you'd like to listen. You must complete each section of the course in order to receive full credit. Only one course is required.

• OCR Webinar: Introduction to Title IX Regulations Addressing Sexual Harassment 
• OCR Webinar: Conducting and Adjudicating Title IX Hearings  
• OCR Webinar: Due Process Protections under the New Title IX Regulation
• How to Report Sexual Harassment Under Title IX
• New Title IX Protections Against Sexual Assault 
• The First Amendment and Title IX: An OCR Short Webinar 

Outlined below are some of the local community resources that can assist you.

• Hillsborough Community College’s Student Assistance Program
• R.U. Safe at 813.997.7432 and ask to speak with Ms. Tiffany Bolt.  R.U.Safe provides FREE legal and social services to victims of abuse. 
• Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and the 211 guide

The office will be responsible for addressing and responding to all reports of discrimination involving students, faculty, and staff, including sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, whether within or outside the jurisdiction of Title IX.

This office is also responsible for overseeing HCC’s efforts to prevent and respond to discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy or parenting, age, religion, disability,  veteran’s status or affiliations or other bases under federal laws and regulations. The office will serve as a single point of accountability for our community, and will also enhance education and training in these areas. 

The US Department of Education announced the new Title IX regulations on May 6, 2020 (“Title IX Final Rule”). They became effective on August 14, 2020.  

All HCC student, faculty, staff, administrators, volunteers and visitors are protected under Title IX.

Online behavior  would be covered by Title IX provided such conduct constitutes sexual harassment as defined by the Title IX Final Rule and occurred in HCC educational programs and activities.

As outlined in the Title IX Final Rule issued by the Department of Education, sexual harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the  following:

• unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s education program or activity;
• sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking as defined under the Clery Act; or
• a college employee offers an individual a benefit or service in exchange for unwanted sexual conduct. 

The individual  will be contacted by the Title IX Coordinator or someone from the Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance Office to discuss what occurred, concerns and possible next steps.

Support, safety, or interim measures are used to ensure a safe and accessible environment for students which may include but are not limited to:

• Class schedule adjustment
• Relocation to a different course  section
• Change of seating within a classroom
• Counseling
• Extensions of deadlines or other course related adjustments,
• Modifications of work or class schedules,
• Escort services coordinated with Public safety,
• Mutual restrictions on contact between the parties,
• Change in housing if parties reside at Hawks Landing,
• Leaves of Absence, and
• Increased security and monitoring of certain campus areas.

The Title IX Coordinator will work directly with the Dean of Student Services and the Public Safety Office on implementing supportive measures.  Where appropriate, the Dean will coordinate with the instructor for academic adjustments. If a Complainant was not provided with supportive measures, the Title IX Coordinator must document the reasons why such a response was not clearly unreasonable in light of the known circumstances.

 No. Speaking with the representative from the Title IX Coordinator does not mean that someone will have to file a formal complaint or participate in an investigation. The Title IX Coordinator  will provide resources and reporting options to make the decision that is best for an individual. However, without a formal complaint and investigation, HCC may not be able to resolve the allegations.

Yes, someone can also file a separate criminal report with the appropriate law enforcement agency for any criminal conduct. The criminal process and the Title IX complaint process are separate but can occur at the same time.

Every effort is made by the College to preserve the privacy of reports of allegations of sexual harassment/discrimination.  If a Complainant requests that their name or other personally identifiable information not be shared with a Respondent or determines they do not want to file a formal Complaint, the Title IX Coordinator will take this request into consideration while balancing this request with ensuring there is a safe environment without sexual harassment for the HCC Community.  If a Complainant chooses not to make a formal report with the Title IX Coordinator and/or with local law enforcement, the Title IX Coordinator will ensure that supportive measures will be provided which includes community resources.

For the purpose of Title IX and this procedure, privacy and confidentiality have distinct meanings.

Privacy generally means that information related to a report within this procedure will be shared only with those College employees who need to know in order to assist in the active review, investigation, or resolution of the report.  These individuals will be discreet and respect the privacy of all individuals involved in the process.  If the decision is made to pursue an investigation involving a Respondent, information related to the investigation including the investigation report will be shared with the Respondent.

Confidentiality means that information shared with designated community professionals outside of HCC, or External Confidential Resources, will be disclosed only with the individual’s express written permission.  Confidentiality exists in the context of the laws that protect certain relationships including those who provide services related to medical care, mental health providers, counselors, attorneys and ordained clergy.  These external resources will not share information about an individual (including whether that individual has received services) with anyone, including the College, without the individual’s express written permission, unless there is a continuing threat of serious violence to the patient/client or to others, or there is a legal obligation to reveal such information (e.g., suspected abuse or neglect of a minor).  The College provides students and employees with access to external resources that are available in the community. These resources are available on the Title IX  and Civil Rights Compliance Office webpage.

If someone does not want to reveal the alleged Respondent or perpetrator’s identity, the Title IX Coordinator  can still provide information and connect the individual with valuable resources and support measures. However, in order to conduct an investigation under Title IX, the alleged Respondent or perpetrator must be identified.

Yes, but only if the sexual harassment meets the definition under the Title IX Final Rule and occurs in an HCC  educational program or activity and occurs inside the United States. If the sexual misconduct does not fall under the jurisdiction of Title IX, then the conduct may be in violation of another College policy. If the sexual misconduct or harassment does not fall under any HCC policy, the College can still provide resources and assistance with filing a report with the appropriate organization.

In summary, an HCC Investigator will talk to the parties, talk to witnesses, and gather evidence. Both parties will have a chance to review and present evidence and can have an Advisor at any meetings. Both parties will have a chance to review the Investigator’s report and provide feedback before it becomes final. If the Investigator needs to follow up on any additional information, they will do so before they finalize the report. The final investigative report will be provided to both parties and to the hearing panel for the conduct of a live hearing. For more details, please see the Title IX Flow Chart and the HCC Administrative procedure.

Prior to the hearing, the Title IX Coordinator will designate a Decision-maker. The hearing will be live and can be conducted virtually. It is not open to the public. Both parties will have a chance to present information to the Decision-maker and for their Advisor to ask questions on their behalf. Following the hearing, the Decision-maker will consider all evidence and determine, based on a preponderance of the evidence, whether the Respondent has violated Title IX sexual harassment policy.

Yes. Either party may appeal the Hearing Officer’s decision, which will then be reviewed by the appropriate Appeal Panel. No sanctions will be imposed until a final determination has been made, including any appeals. 

The Title IX Coordinator can answer any questions or students may contact their campus Dean of Student Services for more information.

Yes. There will be training for all members of the HCC community and targeted training for faculty, staff, and students involved in the complaint resolution process.

Confidential consultations about sexual harassment, sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, and gender discrimination are available from persons who are identified as confidential resources but HCC does not have any on campus resources. However, the Title IX and CIvil Rights Compliance Office has Community Resources information on their webpage. HCC Dean of Student Services can also provide information on community resources.

If someone experiences gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking or if an incident is reported to you, please contact the Title IX Coordinator. Once received, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out to the appropriate parties to discuss the best steps and provide information on resources and accommodations.

The Title IX Coordinator is Annazette Houston, Executive Director, Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance, ahouston14@hccfl.edu, 813.253.7043

The Title IX  and Civil Rights Compliance Office is committed to supporting HCC’s mission to create and maintain an educational and work environment free from gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.    

Under the new federal regulations, an incident can be reported by any means including  via e-mail.

Under Florida Public Records laws, allegations reported, complaints and investigations are closed  and not open  to the public until the conclusion of an investigation. Certain information, especially student information, is redacted to protect their identity and is protected under FERPA and related state laws.

After making a report, student information will be handled in accordance with the regulations established by FERPA.

FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records, and information contained in educational records cannot be shared without the student's written consent. All reports are treated with the greatest degree of confidentiality possible. Confidentiality is maintained on a need-to-know basis with respect to the College’s obligations to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment and take the appropriate corrective action.

Under the new regulations, HCC officials with authority to institute corrective measures on behalf of HCC which includes all administrators and supervisors have an obligation to report all allegations to the Title IX Coordinator.

However, all faculty and staff are encouraged to report allegations of any form or discrimination, including sexual harassment to the Title IX Coordinator.

TYPES OF REPORTING 

Anonymous Reports: A report can be made without sharing your name.  Someone can pick this option if you'd like to make HCC aware of incidents or general trends but you may not be seeking any further action. Depending on the information provided, HCC’s ability to respond may be limited.​

HCC Reports: All Parties who report incidents to the Title IX Coordinator will be offered individualized supportive measures.  A decision to remain anonymous may greatly limit the HCC’s ability to stop the alleged conduct, collect evidence, or take action against parties accused of violating this Policy. Prompt reporting is encouraged. 

Any person subject to an alleged incident, may file a Formal Complaint to initiate the appropriate grievance process.  HCC recognizes the right of a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking to report the incident and to receive a prompt and equitable resolution of the report or Formal Complaint.

The Title IX Coordinator may also file and sign a Formal Complaint based on any incident report received which will initiate the appropriate grievance process.

Public Safety and law enforcement Reports: Law Enforcement reports can be made as an option to pursue criminal action, file a protective order, and access victim services, or you can file a police report without pursuing criminal action.  Criminal action is separate from a Title IX investigation process. HCC Public Safety Department will investigate and prepare and incident report concerning criminal issues. HCC may elect to pursue further when there are immediate safety concerns, the victim is a minor under state law, or when compelled to do so by a subpoena or court order.

Civil Reports: Reports can also be made to external federal or state agencies.

Yes, refer the complaint to the Title IX Coordinator.  

Your obligation under HCC procedures and the Federal regulations is to refer the information or complaint to the Title IX Coordinator.

Yes, HCC has a new administrative procedure for addressing these issues. There are also additional resources on the Title IX  and Civil Rights Compliance Office webpage that outlines the process. After a report or Formal Complaint is submitted, the Title IX  Coordinator will review the report or Formal Complaint and will reach out to the reporter, complainant, and other appropriate parties to discuss next steps and provide information on specific resources and accommodations.