Sexual Harassment Policy & Procedure

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972. In May of 1984 the Massachusetts Board of Regents of Higher Education approved an Affirmative Action Plan covering the fifteen (15) Community Colleges. That plan contains a specific policy statement regarding sexual harassment which reads:

Sexual harassment of a student, an employee, or any other person in the College is unacceptable, impermissible, and intolerable.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. It occurs in a variety of situations which share a common element: the inappropriate introduction of sexual activities or comments into the work or leaning situation. Often sexual harassment involves relationships of unequal power and contains elements of coercion, as when compliance with requests for sexual favors becomes a criterion for granting work, study, or grading benefits. However, sexual harassment may also involve relationships among equals, as when repeated sexual advances or demeaning verbal behaviors have a harmful effect on a person's ability to study or work in the academic setting.

For general purposes, sexual harassment may be described as unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and other physical conduct and expressive behavior of a sexual nature when:

Such behavior is expressly forbidden by federal and state regulations; and recent action by the federal government has established that such behaviors are actionable under provisions of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the provisions of Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments.

In keeping with these regulations, a concerted effort will be made to protect employees, students, and others from sexual harassment as defined. The final authority and ultimate responsibility for the prevention of sexual harassment will rest with the President of each community college. The President will take all reasonable measures to prevent sexual harassment and will act positively to investigate alleged harassment and to effect remedy when an allegation is determined to be valid. However, the Affirmative Action & Title IX Officer will have the responsibility for the overall development, administration, and monitoring of all programs, policies, procedures, and regulations related to sexual harassment. Complaints about sexual harassment should be registered with the Affirmative Action & Title IX Officer.


The Affirmative Action Plan also outlines a grievance process which is available to any college employee who believes that he/she has been subjected to discriminatory employment practices including, e.g., sexual harassment. Of particular note is the informal process which allows the employee to discuss his/her concern with any college official who may be helpful to an informal resolution. An employee who believes that he/she has been subjected to sexual harassment may therefore utilize the informal process to discuss the problem with a college official of the same sex, if desired. A complete copy of the Affirmative Action Plan and Grievance Procedure is available for review through the College's Office of Human Resources.

Students who believe they have been subject to discriminatory educational practices including, e.g., sexual harassment, are asked to first seek advice through the Affirmative Action & Title IX/Sexual Harassment Coordinator or another appropriate college official. Reference may also be made to the College's Student Grievance Procedure.

 For assistance, contact:

Title IX Coordinator
Jeanmarie Fraser
Associate Dean of Learning Resources
508 362-2131 ext.4618 
jfraser@capecod.edu

Cape Cod Community College
2240 Iyannough Road
West Barnstable, MA 02668-1599

 

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