Whittier College Sexual Misconduct Policy

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Whittier College (the “College”) is a community of students, faculty, staff, and administrators dedicated to teaching, learning, service, and scholarship.

The College encourages intellectual exploration in the context of a supportive and respectful community in which students, faculty, staff, and administrators can pursue their education and work free from harassment, coercion, intimidation, and exploitation. To accomplish this goal, the College will not tolerate Sexual Misconduct (as defined below). 

The College’s Sexual Misconduct Policy (the “Policy”) applies to all faculty, staff, administrators, students, volunteers, vendors, independent contractors, visitors, and individuals employed, studying, living, or working at Whittier College. For procedures addressing allegations of Sexual Misconduct:

Scope of Policy

  • Involving student respondents, refer to this policy 
  • Involving employee respondents, refer to the Employee Handbook 
  • Involving faculty respondents, refer to the Faculty Handbook 

For incidents involving staff or administrators who are the Complainant or Respondent, refer to the Employee Handbook. For incidents involving faculty who are the Complainant or Respondent, refer to the Faculty Handbook. 

The College is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities, that are free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations, and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program or activity, the College has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair, and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment on the basis of protected class status, and for allegations of retaliation. The College values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult time for all those involved. 

The College uses a preponderance of the evidence (i.e., more likely than not) standard in any Title IX proceedings, including any fact-finding and hearings. 

Applicable Scope

The core purpose of this policy is the prohibition of all forms of discrimination. Sometimes, discrimination involves exclusion from or different treatment in activities, such as admission, athletics, or employment. Other times, discrimination takes the form of harassment or, in the case of sex-based discrimination, can encompass sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, sexual exploitation, dating violence or domestic violence. When an alleged violation of this anti-discrimination policy is reported, the allegations are subject to resolution using the processes identified above.

When the Respondent is a member of the College community, a grievance process may be available regardless of the status of the Complainant, who may or may not be a member of the College community. This community includes, but is not limited to, students, student organizations, faculty, administrators, staff, and third parties such as guests, visitors, volunteers, invitees, and campers. Grievance processes may be applied to incidents, to patterns, and/or to the campus climate, all of which may be addressed and investigated in accordance with this policy. 

Title IX Coordinator 

Mikiba Morehead serves as the Interim Title IX Coordinator and has the primary responsibility for coordinating the College efforts related to the intake, investigation, resolution, and implementation of supportive measures to stop, remediate, and prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation prohibited under this policy

This policy was updated on August 10, 2022