Title IX Discrimination

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination and therefore prohibited under Title IX. Sexual harassment is conduct that is sexual in nature, unwelcome, and denies or limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from a school’s education program.

Here are some examples of conduct that may constitute sexual harassment:

• Inappropriate touching, patting, or pinching
• Physical assault or coerced sexual activity
• Obscene phone calls, texts, email, or gestures
• Badgering someone for a date
• Repeatedly making inappropriate sexual comments or unwanted sexual advances

Quid Pro Quo

In Latin, quid pro quo means “this for that.” The more commonly understood meaning is “if you do something for me, I’ll do something for you.”  An example of quid pro quo is when an instructor threatens to fail a student unless the student agrees to date the instructor.

Hostile Work Environment

A hostile environment occurs when unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects a student’s ability to benefit from an educational program or activity or creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment. A college employee, another student, or even someone visiting the college can create a hostile environment.

Any person (student, faculty, staff, or guest) who believes they have been subjected to discriminatory practices based upon gender may discuss their concerns and/or file a complaint with any of the Title IX Coordinators listed below.

Duty to report

All TSTC college employees, including student workers, except for those working in a confidential capacity (e.g., counselors), who learn of suspected instances of gender-based discrimination, dating violence, domestic violence, hostile environment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, stalking, retaliation, or other forms of sexual misconduct directly or indirectly, have a duty to refer the information immediately to the following campus contacts listed below.

Unless specifically identified otherwise by policy, all faculty, staff, and administrators of TSTC are considered mandated reporters. They are required to notify the College’s Title IX Coordinator of any incident of discrimination and harassment disclosed to them or known to them involving a member of the campus community.

What happens next

If you want to make a formal complaint, your instructor can help connect you to the Title IX Coordinator. You can also connect with the Title IX Coordinator yourself if you prefer. Once you are connected with the Coordinator, you are under no obligation to take any action.

The College respects your right to file or not file a formal complaint. The Title IX Coordinator must take action only in situations that pose a serious threat of harm to you or the community or in the case of misconduct by an employee. Otherwise, you are in control of how the College responds.

In all cases, the College’s formal grievance process is confidential, and a small group of those administrators with a need to know will be given information about your situation.

Incidents may be reported directly to law enforcement, either separately or in conjunction with any report made to the College’s Title IX Coordinator.

If you would like assistance contacting the authorities, contact:

Edda Urrea
emurrea@tstc.edu
Sr. Executive Director, Learning & Organizational Development and Compliance,
Title IX and ADA Statewide Coordinator

Pregnancy and Parenting Students

TSTC students seeking Title IX accommodations due to their pregnancy or parenting status are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities at the campus they are attending. If a student believes they have been discriminated against based on pregnancy-related issues, they may file a complaint with the Title IX coordinator or the designated employee or student Title IX representative. Students may also complete the Title IX Reporting Form.

Employees who believe they have been discriminated against due to their pregnancy or parenting status can contact a Human Resources Business Partner to inform of their concern directly.

Complaints can also be filed with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, whose office is located at:

400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-1475

or by contacting them by phone at 202-453-6020 or email at OCR.DC@ed.gov.

More information can be found in the Pregnancy and Parenting Resources for TSTC Students and Employees brochure.