Title IX

 

Fact Check Team: What are the proposed changes to Title IX ...

 

Welcome to the Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District's Title IX and Equity Webpage.

At Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District, we are dedicated to creating and maintaining a secure, respectful, and inclusive environment across our colleges. Our office is deeply committed to upholding the principles of equity and fairness, adeptly handling Title IX cases and all other forms of discrimination. Whether you're in search of advice, support, or information about these matters, our team is here to protect and uphold the rights of every member of our community. We take pride in our empathetic and understanding approach, dedicated to ensuring justice and inclusivity. We encourage you to explore our website to learn about the services and resources we offer. Discover how we can assist you in contributing to a college environment where each individual is valued and heard.

Our commitment extends to ensuring compliance with Title IX regulations and addressing any form of discrimination or harassment based on protected status, including but not limited to age, disability, gender, race, and sexual orientation. We adhere to policies and procedures that emphasize safety, fairness, trauma-informed practices, and due process. The Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District aims to prevent discrimination and harassment, respond to reports of misconduct, and work towards remedying and preventing future harm. Through education, training, and responsive action, we strive to maintain an educational environment free from sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and violence.

For more detailed information on our policies, training programs, and how to report an incident, please refer to the relevant sections of our website. Our dedicated team, including the Director of EEO/Title IX/Diversity, is always available to address any questions or concerns you may have.

 

Title IX is a federal civil rights law that was passed in 1972 as part of the Education Amendments. It states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” In essence, Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. This applies to all aspects of education including admissions, financial aid, academics, housing, athletics, and more.

The Grossmont Cayumaca Community College District takes our Title IX obligations seriously. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all community members have equal access to education and activities free from sex discrimination and sexual violence. The Grossmont Cayumaca Community College District Title IX office is a neutral office committed to safety, fairness, trauma-informed practices, and due process. The District Title IX works preventively to prevent discrimination and harassment, receives and responds to reports of misconduct, and will work to remedy and prevent future harm. The District also provides direction and support for the Title IX offices at the District’s two colleges, Grossmont College and Cayumaca College. We assist in implementing Districtwide initiatives and best practices in harassment prevention and response. We also lead or provide investigative support, develop and deliver education and training to Title IX designees and other District partners involved in preventing and responding to sexual harassment and sexual violence. 

Grossmont Cayumaca Community College District prohibits:

  • Discrimination based on any Protected Status: i.e., Age, Disability (physical and mental), Gender (or sex, including sex stereotyping), Gender Identity (including transgender), Gender Expression, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Nationality, Race or Ethnicity (including color, caste, or ancestry), Religion (or religious creed), Sexual Orientation, and Veteran or Military Status.
  • Harassment based on any Protected Status.
  • Sexual Harassment, including hostile environment and quid pro quo ("this for that")
  • Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Sexual Exploitation and Stalking 
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Retaliation for exercising rights under this policy, opposing conduct that a person believes in good faith is Disrimination or Harassment becuase of a Protected Status, or for participating, in any manner, in any relater investigation or proceeding 

Handling Title IX and Other Discrimination Complaints

We address complaints related to Title IX in accordance with the United States Department of Education's Title IX regulations. For more information and resources on Title IX, please visit the United States Department of Education website (https://sites.ed.gov/titleix/policy/). For complaints not related to Title IX, the California Community Colleges follow the guidelines outlined in sections 59300-59362 of title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. In accordance with these regulations, the Grossmont Cuymaca Community College District, along with other California Community College Districts, independently investigates, as appropriate, and resolves cases of unlawful discrimination, providing administrative decisions to complainants within 90 business days from the date the complaint was filed. This process is applicable to all discrimination complaints that do not fall under Title IX.

The Grossmont Cayumaca Community College District is committed to fostering an educational environment that is safe and equitable for all. If you have questions about Title IX rights and protections, email Michael.Salvador@gcccd.edu.

Filing a Title IX Report:: GCCCD Title IX Complaint Form 

 

TITLE IX EDUCATION AND TRAINING 

The Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD) is committed to maintaining an environment free of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence. As such, all members of the GCCCD community — students, staff, faculty, and other academic appointees — are required to receive sexual violence prevention training and education regularly. 

GCCCD’s districtwide curriculum through the Vision Resource Center (VRC) educates our community about sexual violence, how to prevent it, the role of intervention, and what local resources are available. 

Key concepts covered in GCCCD’s districtwide mandatory training for every audience are: 

  • Definitions of different forms of sexual violence 
  • Bystander intervention 
  • Responding to sexual violence using methods that acknowledge the impact of violence and trauma on survivors’ lives 
  • Local resources, including confidential support for survivors of sexual violence and appropriate services for those accused of sexual violence 
  • Rights and options about reporting sexual violence 

Students  

Federal law and university policy require that all new students receive education and training about sexual violence prevention. All incoming students are required to complete a 75-minute online training course prior to enrolling in classes. 

Once admitted, students will be automatically assigned the online training and notified via their school email accounts. If the training courses are failed or are marked incomplete, a hold may be placed on the student's account, and they may not be able to complete enrollment for classes.  

Faculty and Supervisors 

Faculty and supervisors are required to complete two hours of sexual harassment prevention training every two years. New faculty and supervisors are required to take training within the first six months of hire. Continuing employees will receive an email notification before the two-year anniversary of their previous compliance. Courses may be completed online through the Vision Resource Center. Employees will be notified that they have been assigned the training via their work email accounts. 

All supervisors, including all employees with HEERA designations, or employees who may meet the following criteria are required to complete the training: 

“Any individual having the authority, and the interest of the employer, to hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward or discipline other employees, or the responsibility to direct them, or to adjust their grievances, or effectively to recommend that action, if, in connection with the foregoing, the exercise of that authority is not merely of a routine or clerical nature, but requires the use of independent judgment.” 

Staff and Academic Appointees Who are Not Supervisors 

Staff and academic appointees who are not supervisors are required to complete two hours of sexual harassment prevention training every two years. New employees are required to take the training within the first six weeks of hire. Continuing employees will receive an email notification before the two-year anniversary of their previous compliance. Designated employees who are required to report sexual violence to a Title IX Officer will receive training on their legal obligations. Courses may be completed online through the Vision Resource Center. Employees will be notified that they have been assigned the training via their work email accounts. 

For more information, contact Director of EEO/Title IX/Diversity Michael Salvador (michael.salvador@gcccd.edu / 6196447039) 

 

NOTICE OF NEW TITLE IX POLICY AND PROCEDURE

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has updated its Title IX policy and procedures to comply with the regulations issues by the U.S. Department of Education in May of 2020. The regulations govern how the District must adjudicate sexual harassment as defined by Title IX. The regulations are effective August 14, 2020, and apply to students and employees. Please reach out to the designated official as listed below consistent with your status.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The GCCCD Policy and jurisdiction are limited.   The Title IX Office resolution processes are most appropriate for matters that relate to current GCCCD students, employees (including volunteers), contractors/vendors, visitors, guests and patients), and that occurred: 

  • on GCCCD property 
  • in connection with GCCCD employment or in the context of a GCCCD program or activity, or 
  • off GCCCD property and outside a GCCCD program or activity but with continuing adverse effect on GCCCD property, program or activity.    

Future Actions by Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD) in Response to Changes in Harassment and Discrimination Policies

In July 2022, the United States Department of Education (USDOE) announced through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking its plans to revise the federal Title IX regulations, which address sex discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal funding. The USDOE initially expected to finalize these rules by October 2023. In response, GCCCD has been preparing to update our District's policies and procedures related to handling complaints of unlawful discrimination, including those concerning sex discrimination. These updates aim to align with the forthcoming Title IX regulations and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of GCCCD's complaint handling processes. However, as of October 2023, the final rule had not been implemented. The federal government recently projected the adoption of the final rule for March 2024. Once the final rule is established and the federal government's approach to Title IX is clear, GCCCD will accordingly revise its policies and procedures. We plan to undertake this task during the summer of 2024.

 

Determining whether the Policy applies or whether or what process and measures may be used for a specific matter can be complicated; Director of Title IX/EEO/Diversity Michael Salvador can answer questions you have about this, or you may read the Policy to learn more.  (michael.salvador@gcccd,edu / 6196447039 

Employees (all faculty and staff):

Michael Salvador, GCCCD District Director and Title IX Coordinator
Michael.Salvador@gcccd.edu 
8800 Grossmont College Drive, Bldg. 38H
El Cajon, CA 92020
(619) 644-7039

Students:

Sara Varghese, Dean of Student Affairs
Grossmont College - Title IX Investigator
Sara.Varghese@gcccd.edu
8800 Grossmont College Drive, Room 60-203
El Cajon, CA 92020
(619) 644-7159

Lauren Vaknin, Dean of Student Affairs
Cuyamaca College - Title IX Investigator
Lauren.Vaknin@gcccd.edu
900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy, Room I-115
El Cajon, CA 92019
(619) 660-4295