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Human Resources

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Sexual Misconduct/VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Notice

SUNY Niagara is committed to creating and maintaining an educational environment free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct. Any act involving sexual harassment, violence, coercion, and intimidation will not be tolerated. Specifically, SUNY Niagara strictly prohibits the offenses of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. These acts have a real impact on the lives of victims. They not only violate a person’s feelings of trust and safety, but they can also substantially interfere with a student’s education. It is the policy of SUNY and SUNY Niagara that, upon learning that an act of sexual misconduct has taken place, immediate action will be taken to address the situation and punish the perpetrator. This includes working with State and local law enforcement to bring possible criminal charges, seeking disciplinary action through the College, and enforcing mandatory transcript notifications so other institutions are on notice of the offense committed. SUNY Niagara encourages the reporting of sexual misconduct that is prompt and accurate. This allows the SUNY Niagara community to quickly respond to allegations and offer immediate support to the victim. SUNY Niagara is committed to protecting the confidentiality of victims, and will work closely with students who wish to obtain confidential assistance regarding an incident of sexual misconduct. Certain professionals at the College are permitted by law to offer confidentiality. Those who do not maintain the privilege to offer confidentiality are expected to keep reports private to the extent permitted under the law and College policy. This means that they may have to report to college officials, but will not broadcast the information beyond what is required by law and policy. All allegations will be investigated promptly and thoroughly, and both the victim and the accused will be afforded equitable rights during the investigative process.

It is the collective responsibility of all members of the SUNY Niagara community to foster a safe and secure campus environment. In an effort to promote this environment and prevent acts of sexual misconduct from occurring, SUNY Niagara engages in ongoing prevention and awareness education programs. All members of the SUNY Niagara community must participate in ongoing campaigns and training focused on the prevention of sexual misconduct on campus.

This policy applies to all members of the SUNY Niagara community, including students, faculty, staff, visitors, independent contractors, and other third parties who are on campus and involved in an incident of sexual misconduct (this can be someone who witnessed an incident or who wishes to report an incident on behalf of another). The policy applies to these parties regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

This policy prohibits all forms of sexual misconduct. This broad term includes, but is not limited to, acts of sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual coercion, sexual threats or intimidation, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and cyber-stalking.

Dating Violence

Dating violence is any act of violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the victim’s statement and with consideration of the type and length of the relationship and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. Two people may be in a romantic or intimate relationship, regardless of whether the relationship is sexual in nature; however, neither a casual acquaintance nor ordinary fraternization between two individuals in a business or social context shall constitute a romantic or intimate relationship. This definition does not include acts covered under domestic violence.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is any violent felony or misdemeanor crime committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, a person sharing a child with the victim, or a person cohabiting with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner.

Consent

Consent is the agreement to engage in specific sexual contact, which may be given by verbal agreement or active and willing participation in the sexual activity. Consent to sexual contact or any specific sexual act cannot be given if an individual is incapacitated or impaired because of a physical or mental condition or the ingestion of drugs or alcohol, or under the age of 17. Silence, previous sexual relationships, current relationships, or the use of alcohol and/or drugs is not an indication of consent. The use of force, threat of force, threat of immediate or future harm, or use of physical intimidation to secure compliance with sexual activity is evidence of lack of consent. Consent may be initially given, but it may be revoked at any point, either verbally, through physical resistance, or by losing consciousness. Failure to cease sexual contact promptly in response to a withdrawal of consent constitutes prohibited non-consensual sexual contact. “No” or any other negative statement or acts/physical gestures supporting the desire to cease contact in response to sexual contact or an invitation to sexual contact will be regarded as a denial of consent to such sexual contact.

Stalking

The term stalking means intentionally engaging in a course of conduct, directed at a specific person, which is likely to causes a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or cause that person to suffer substantial emotional damage. Examples include, but are not limited to, repeatedly following such person(s), repeatedly committing acts that alarm, cause fear, or seriously annoy such other person(s) and that serve no legitimate purpose, and repeatedly communicating by any means, including electronic means, with such person(s) in a manner likely to intimidate, annoy, or alarm him or her.

This policy covers conduct that takes place on the SUNY Niagara campus. This includes any building or property owned or controlled by SUNY Niagara and used in direct support of, or in a manner related to, the school’s educational purposes, including residence halls, dining halls, and public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from campus. This also includes any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the College and any building or property not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the College that supports or relates to the school’s educational purposes and is frequently used by students. This policy also covers conduct that takes place off-campus that may have a connection to the College community.

Programs: This policy covers all educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other campus programs.

Activities: This policy covers all campus and school-related activities, including, but not limited to, student organizations, community organizations with student and/or faculty participation, and all other educational or extracurricular events hosted by or at the college/university.

Relationships: This policy covers sexual misconduct occurring between individuals in various types of relationships. These include, but are not limited to, student to student, staff to staff, faculty member to faculty member, visitor/contracted employee to faculty/staff, faculty member to student, staff to student, supervisor to subordinate, and coach to student athlete. Sexual misconduct may be acts committed by an individual or collective actions committed by members of a group or organization. These acts may be committed against an individual or against a group or organization. These acts may be committed by a stranger, an acquaintance, or someone with whom the victim has a social, romantic, or intimate relationship. These acts may be committed by or against any individual, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Confidentiality: SUNY Niagara is committed to maintaining the privacy of all individuals involved in a report of sexual misconduct. While SUNY Niagara encourages victims to report an incident of sexual misconduct, there are many options available for students to speak with someone about what happened while maintaining confidentiality.

Contact

Catherine Brown
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources
Title IX Coordinator (Employees)
Phone: 716-614-5951
Email: cbrown@niagaracc.suny.edu
Location: A-264