THE STUDENT HANDBOOK 2006-2007
A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO REPORTING HARASSMENT INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this guide is to ensure an orderly resolution of charges of sexual, racial, or other forms of harassment brought by students at Volunteer State Community College (VSCC) against other VSCC students or against a VSCC employee.
Sexual harassment and racial harassment have been held to constitute a form of discrimination prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended and Title IX of the Education amendments of l972. Other types of harassment are prohibited by applicable law.
Volunteer State Community College prohibits all acts of harassment and will properly investigate and remedy claims of sexual or racial harassment.
DEFINITIONS
Sexual Harassment - Generally, sexual harassment may be defined as unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when one of the following criteria is met:
- Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of the student’s employment or of the student’s status in a program, course, or activity;
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct by a student is used as a basis for employment decisions, a criterion for evaluation, or a basis for academic or other decisions affecting such a student; or
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a student’s work performance or educational experience or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or educational environment. Whether the alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment depends upon the record as a whole and the totality of the circumstances, such as the nature of sexual advances in the context within which the alleged incident occurred.
Racial Harassment - Generally, racial harassment is defined as any person’s conduct which unreasonably interferes with a student’s status or performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment. Harassment on the basis of race, color, or national origin, includes offensive or demeaning treatment of an individual, where such treatment is based typically on prejudiced stereotypes of a group to which that individual may belong. It includes, but is not limited to, objectionable epithets, threatened or actual physical harm or abuse, or other intimidating or insulting conduct directed against the individual because of his/her race, color, or national origin.
Other Harassment - Generally, harassment on the basis of religion, disability, or other protected status includes any conduct which has the purpose or has the reasonably foreseeable effect of interfering with a student’s academic efforts, employment, or participation in institutionally sponsored activities. Such harassment also includes any activity which creates an intimidating, hostile or demeaning environment.
PROCEDURES
Any student who believes he or she has been subjected to harassment by a VSCC student or VSCC employee shall present the charge to the Vice President for Student Services - Wood Campus Center, room 210.
The charge shall include the circumstances giving rise to the allegations, the date(s) of the alleged occurrence(s) and, when available, the names of any witness to the alleged occurrence(s). The charge shall be signed by the student who presents the charge.
The Vice President for Student Services shall investigate and take appropriate action in compliance with Tennessee Board of Regents policies and guidelines relative to harassment and in compliance with federal and State laws which prohibit such discrimination.
1480 Nashville Pike | Gallatin, Tennessee 37066 - 3188 | (615) 230-3441 (Gallatin) | (615) 741-3215, ext. 3441 (Nashville area) | Toll Free 1-888-335-VSCC (8722), ext 3441 | TDD# (615) 230-3488
