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Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. All other members of Douglas Education Center community are strongly encouraged to report suspected child abuse to law enforcement or the ChildLine.
All Douglas Education Center proceedings are conducted in compliance with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Clery Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), state and local law, and Douglas Education Center policy. No information will be released from such proceedings, except as required or permitted by law and Douglas Education Center policy.
Douglas Education Center may share non-identifying information about reports received in aggregate form, including data about outcomes and sanctions.
D. Prohibited Conduct
Douglas Education Center prohibits the following forms of conduct:
1. Sexual Assault including Sexual Penetration Without Consent, Sexual Contact Without Consent and Statutory Sexual Assault
2. Sexual Harassment
3. Sexual Exploitation
4. Intimate-Partner Violence, including Dating Violence and Domestic Violence
5. Stalking
6. Retaliation
This prohibited conduct can affect all genders, gender identities and sexual orientations. Some of these prohibited forms of conduct may also be crimes under Pennsylvania or federal law.
E. Free Expression and Academic Freedom
Douglas Education Center is firmly committed to free expression and academic freedom and to creating and maintaining a safe, healthy, and harassment-free environment for all members of its community. Sexual misconduct, including retaliation, against members of Douglas Education Center are not protected expression nor the proper exercise of academic freedom. Douglas Education Center will consider principles of free expression and academic freedom in the investigation of reports of sexual misconduct or retaliation that involve an individual’s statements or speech.
F. Alcohol and Drug Use Amnesty
The health and safety of every student at Douglas Education Center is of utmost importance. Douglas Education Center recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time sexual misconduct occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. Douglas Education Center strongly encourages students to report incidents of sexual misconduct. A witness to or individual who experience sexual misconduct, acting in good faith, who discloses any incident of sexual misconduct to Douglas Education Center officials or law enforcement will not be sanctioned under Douglas Education Center’s code of conduct for violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the incident(s) of sexual harassment or sexual violence. Douglas Education Center may request the individual attend an approved alcohol or drug education program and without assessing any charges for such program. This amnesty provision also applies to student groups making a report of sexual misconduct. Amnesty does not preclude or prevent action by police or other legal authorities pursuant to relevant state or federal criminal statutes.
IV. Reporting Sexual Misconduct A. Reporting Options
Any individual, including a third party, may make a report concerning of sexual misconduct. Complainants and third-parties are encouraged to report sexual
misconduct as soon as possible to allow Douglas Education Center to respond promptly and effectively.
A person who has experienced sexual misconduct under this policy, or a person who witnesses sexual misconduct under this policy, has the right to simultaneously file a complaint with Douglas Education Center and to pursue a criminal complaint with law enforcement. Victims and witnesses of sexual misconduct have the right to be assisted by Douglas Education Center in notifying law enforcement authorities of sexual misconduct or they can decline to notify such authorities. Douglas Education Center may, however, have a statutory reporting obligation when it becomes aware of certain factual allegations. Parties may also have options to file civil actions in court or with administrative agencies.
Douglas Education Center has designated the Title IX Coordinator to oversee complaints of sexual misconduct at Douglas Education Center. An individual who has experienced sexual misconduct has the right to choose whether to report the incident
Page 59 of 88 Catalog Volume 62 -Version 3 Effective June 5, 2020