Title IX

Prairie State College recognizes the diversity of students, faculty, staff, and community as integral to lifelong learning.

We are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and supportive environment on campus. Prairie State College embraces the diversity of individual beliefs and opinions and supports diversity in religion, gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, age, and socioeconomic status. The college adheres to policies and procedures that discourage harassment and any other behavior that infringes upon the freedom and respect every individual deserves.

Prairie State College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, age, gender, disability, ancestry, marital status, military discharge status, national origin, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors in its educational programs, activities, or employment policies in conformance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Illinois Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act, and relevant sections of the Illinois Human Rights Act. This policy complies with the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Violence Against Women Act, which mandate procedures to address sexual violence.

Title IX provides policy guidance and protections for students in four major categories:

  1. Sexual Misconduct complaints and adjudications
  2.  Equity in Student Athletics
  3. Pregnant and parenting student accommodations
  4. Equity for LGBTQ students

The college’s Title IX Coordinator oversees compliance with all aspects of the sexual discrimination, harassment, and misconduct policy. Anyone (including third parties) wishing to make a report relating to sex/gender-based discrimination or harassment may do so by reporting the concern to the Title IX Coordinator or submitting a complaint form.

 


Desirée Anderson, PhD
(708) 709-7950
danderson37@prairiestate.edu


Sarah Hein
Associate Professor / Counselor / Transfer Coordinator
(708) 709-3508
shein@prairiestate.edu


Title IX Student Complaint Form

 


 


 

Supportive Measures

The college will remain ever mindful of the victim’s well-being, and will take ongoing steps to protect the victim from retaliation or harm and work with the victim to create a safety plan.

Retaliation against the victim, whether by students or college employees, will not be tolerated. The college also will:

  • Assist the victim in accessing other available victim advocacy, academic support, counseling disability, health or mental health services, and legal assistance both on and off campus;
  • Provide other security and support, which could include the college obtaining a no-contact order, helping to change working arrangements or course schedules (including for the alleged perpetrator(s) pending the outcome of an investigation) or adjustments for assignments or tests; and
  • Inform the victim of the right to report a crime to campus or law enforcement – and provide the victim with assistance if the victim wishes to do so.

The college may not require a victim to participate in any Title IX investigation or in a disciplinary proceeding against a student.

Because the college is under a continuing obligation to address the issue of sexual discrimination, harassment, and misconduct campus-wide, reports of such incidents (including non-identifying reports) will also prompt The college to consider broader remedial action – such as increased monitoring, supervision, or security at locations where the reported incident occurred; increasing education and prevention efforts, including to targeted population groups; conducting climate assessments/victimization surveys; and/or revisiting its policies and practices.
  • To be treated with respect by Prairie State College officials.
  • To take advantage of campus support resources (Prairie State College Counseling and Academic Advising Center services or the Employee Assistance Program for employees).
  • To have an advisor during this process.
  • To refuse to have an allegation resolved through conflict resolution procedures.
  • To receive amnesty for minor student misconduct (such as alcohol or drug violations) that is ancillary to the incident.
  • To be free from retaliation.
  • To have reports heard in substantial accordance with these procedures.
  • To be informed in writing of the outcome/resolution of the report and the rationale for the outcome.

Retaliating against a person who has, in good faith, filed, supported, or participated in an investigation of a complaint of any type of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct as defined above is prohibited. Students accused of retaliation will be subjected to the procedures of the Code of Student Conduct, and employees accused of retaliation will be subjected to Department of Human Resources procedures.

 

Education, Prevention, and Training

In our commitment to continuously educate our campus community on topics of equal opportunity, and discrimination- including sex discrimination, affirmative action, and all other federal and state-mandated requirements, the College offers various trainings and workshops throughout the academic year.

Spring Term Events
February - Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
April - Sexual Assault Awareness/Prevention Month / Month of Action

Fall Term Events
September - Bystander Intervention Awareness & Education
October - Domestic Violence Awareness Month

 


The college will review on an ongoing basis its sexual discrimination, harassment, and misconduct prevention and education programming to ensure students are provided substantive opportunities to learn about sexual discrimination, harassment, and misconduct, including primary prevention, bystander intervention, risk reduction, consent, reporting methods, relevant college policies and procedures, retaliation, survivor-centered and trauma-informed response, relevant definitions, and other pertinent topics.

Initial training on Preventing Discrimination and Sexual Violence: Title IX, VAWA, and Clery Act will be offered to every new student during their first semester of enrollment.

All first-time, full-time students who attend mandatory orientation will receive information about sexual harassment and assault from the First Year Experience staff.

The college, in conjunction with its campus-wide and/or regional task force established pursuant to the Campus Security Enhancement Act of 2008 (110 ILCS 12/10), will annually review its prevention and education offerings to identify ways in which to enhance its effectiveness.


The Title IX Coordinator, PSC Police, responsible employees, victim advocates, and anyone else involved in the receipt of reports of, responding to, investigating, or adjudicating alleged incidents of sexual discrimination, harassment, and misconduct receive annual education and training on primary prevention, bystander intervention, risk reduction, consent, reporting obligations, investigation procedures, confidentiality requirements, relevant College policies and procedures, retaliation, survivor-centered and trauma-informed response, relevant definitions, and other pertinent topics.

Training for faculty and staff on Title IX policies and reporting procedures will be offered regularly each semester through the Human Resources Office.

In addition to the above training, individuals who resolve complaints receive at least 8-10 hours of annual training on issues related to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and how to conduct the college’s complaint investigation and appeal procedures pursuant to Article VIII, above.

All confidential advisors receive 40 hours of training on sexual violence before being designated a confidential advisor. Annually thereafter, confidential advisors attend a minimum of six (6) hours of ongoing educational training on issues related to sexual violence. Confidential advisors also receive periodic training on the college administrative process, interim protective measures and accommodations, and the college’s complaint investigation and appeal procedures pursuant to Article VIII, above.

The college, in conjunction with its campus-wide and/or regional task force established pursuant to the Campus Security Enhancement Act of 2008 (110 ILCS 12/10), will annually review its training offerings to identify ways in which to enhance its effectiveness.


 

Pregnant and Parenting Students Resources

 
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits schools that receive federal funds from discriminating against students on the basis of sex, which includes a student’s “actual or potential” parental, family or marital status and a student’s “pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery therefrom.” Generally speaking, this means that schools must give all students who might be, are, or have been pregnant (whether currently parenting or not) equal access to school programs and extracurricular activities, and schools must treat pregnant and parenting students in the same way that they treat other students who are similarly able or unable to participate in school activities. Please see Board Policy C-9: Sexual Harassment or complete details
  • A school must provide equal access to school and extracurricular activities for students who are pregnant, who have been pregnant, or who have a child and special services provided for temporarily disabled students must be provided for pregnant students as well.
  • Separate programs or schools for pregnant and parenting students must be completely voluntary and must offer opportunities equal to those offered for non-pregnant students.
  • Absences due to pregnancy or childbirth must be excused for as long as deemed medically necessary by the student’s doctor.
  • A doctor’s note can be required for pregnant students to participate in activities only if the school requires a doctor’s note from all students who have conditions that require medical care.

Student Resources

 

Who: Students, employees, and third parties connected with PSC

What: Violations of the PSC Sexual Discrimination, Harassment and Misconduct Policy

Where: Violations that occur on college premises, at college-sponsored activities, and at off-campus locations (in specific circumstances outlined fully in policy) 

The full policy, including important definitions, investigation, and resolution process, and FAQ’s,
is available on the PSC Website prairiestate.edu/


You do not need to determine whether or not a policy has been violated. If you think you have survived a violation of this policy, trained staff and resources can assist you. Examples of conduct that constitute violations of this policy:

  • A student who coerces his/her girlfriend/boyfriend who is also a student into having sex;
  • A faculty member who gives a passing grade to a student in return for sexual favors;
  • A staff member who assaults his/her partner who is also a staff member.

It is important to keep in mind that a violation of this policy is not your fault. Many resources exist, on and off campus, to assist you with recovery and any reports you wish to make, including:

Confidential Reporting Options (On-Campus)

  • Confidential Advisor: Associate Professor, Counselor, Transfer Coordinator, Sarah Hein, (708) 709-3508, Room 2261
  • Personal and Transfer counselors: room 2261 & 2262

Non-Confidential Reporting Options (On-Campus)

  • Asst. Title IX Coordinator: Charmaine Sevier, (708) 709-3585, Room 2403
  • PSC Police Department: (708) 709-7777, Room 1100
  • Responsible Employees: All faculty and some staff can offer support and resources.

If a student is hesitant to report an incident because of another violation occurring at the same time (e.g., underage drinking), PSC offers amnesty for minor policy violations surrounding the incident.

PSC will take ongoing steps to protect the survivor from retaliation or harm. Retaliation against  a reporting party is a violation of this policy. Some interim measures include:

  • Assisting the survivor in accessing legal, medical, and academic assistance
  • Providing the survivor with security and other support (for example, rearranging a course schedule)
  • Inform survivor of the right to report an incident to campus or law enforcement
  • Educational measures that do not identify the survivor, but address violation

Vice President of Student Affairs and Diversity, Bernard Little, PhD, (708) 709-3501, Office 1200
Prairie State Police Department, (708) 709-7777, Room 1100
Counseling and Academic Advising, (708) 709-3506, Room 1190


Pillars 24-hour sexual assault hotline (708) 482-9600
Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline (888) 293-2080
YWCA South Suburban Agency (708) 748-5672
Muires Latinas en Accion (773) 890-7676
Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (217) 753-4117
Illinois Department of Human Rights (312) 814-6299
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (Bridgeview Complex, 5th District (708) 974-6250
Crisis Center for South Suburbia (708) 429-7233
City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line (877) 863-6338


Frequently Asked Questions

 
The full policy describes each type of violation. But, you do not have to determine whether a violation occurred; help is available to you regardless.
The policy includes provisions to encourage survivors to report without concern regarding facing discipline for illegal activity occurring around the violation.
No, unless the survivor informs them.
Medical: Illinois law covers emergency medical care (i.e., rape kit) for victims.
Counseling: Free through PSC and some off-campus resources.
Legal: Survivors do not need to retain a private attorney but may do so if they wish.

Students of employees found in violation of this policy are subject to sanctions included in the Code of Conduct, employee guidebooks, and collective bargaining agreements, up to and including expulsion or termination.