The Title IX grievance process at CRC begins with a formal written complaint filed with the institution’s Title IX Coordinator. (Download the Title IX Complaint Form here.) This complaint triggers an investigation into the alleged misconduct, followed by an impartial decision-making process, which may include a live hearing. The entire process emphasizes fairness for both parties, including the opportunity to present evidence and witnesses, and ensures that the process is handled by unbiased, trained officials.

Filing a Formal Complaint:
1. Written Document: The process begins when a complainant submits a formal complaint in writing to the Title IX Coordinator.
    -Content: The complaint details the alleged incident, identifies the parties involved, and specifies the prohibited conduct.
    -Initiation: Submitting a formal complaint is necessary to trigger the school’s Title IX grievance procedure and require an investigation
2. Notice and Supportive Measures
    -Notice to Parties: After a complaint is received, the institution provides a written notice to both the complainant and the respondent.
    -Supportive Measures: The institution also offers supportive measures, which are temporary accommodations to ensure equal access to the education program or activity, and can be implemented with or without a formal complaint.
3. Investigation
    -Investigator Assignment: The Title IX Coordinator assigns a trained and unbiased investigator to the case.
    -Information Gathering: The investigator gathers evidence by interviewing the complainant, respondent, and any witnesses.
    -Decision Timeline: The investigation typically has a timeframe for completion, though it can vary.
4. Decision-Making Process
    -Report: The investigator produces an investigation report.
    -Decision: An impartial decision-maker reviews the report to determine the outcome of the complaint.
    -Hearing: In some cases, a live hearing may be part of the decision-making process, allowing both parties to present their case.
5. Appeal
    -Right to Appeal: The complainant (and often the respondent) has the right to appeal the dismissal of a complaint or the decision made.
    -Basis for Appeal: Appeals may be based on procedural irregularities that affected the outcome, new evidence, or a conflict of interest or bias by the decision-maker.
    -Appellate Review: The appeal is decided by someone who was not involved in the initial investigation or decision.

A Mandatory Reporter is any school employee who is not a confidential resource and who has responsibility for administrative leadership, teaching, or advising. They are required to report any instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking that they are told about to the designated Title IX coordinator, even if the individual wants to keep it confidential.

Reports may be submitted:
In person: to the Title IX Coordinator during regular office hours
By email or phone: using the contact information above
By mail: to the office address listed above
Online: (Download the Title IX Complaint Form here)

In emergencies, contact local law enforcement (911) or CRC Dean of Students, J. Dakota Crossno (870-809-0426). Retaliation for making a report or participating in a Title IX process is prohibited.

In addition to the employee-oriented Christian lifestyle standards of conduct listed in the Faculty and Staff or Student Handbook, no form of sexual harassment will be tolerated at any on- or off-campus gathering associated with Crowley’s Ridge College. Employees will be treated as described in the Standards of Conduct section in the FASH. Students will be treated as identified in the Student Handbook. Others will be asked to leave campus as local law enforcement can be notified (or any off-campus College-related function) immediately.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Crowley’s Ridge College is committed to providing its faculty, staff, and students with an environment free from explicit and implicit sexual behavior used to control, influence, or affect the well-being of any member of the College community. Any form of harassment, sexual harassment or sexual assault is absolutely prohibited. Anyone who violates this policy will be subject to discipline including dismissal from school or termination of employment.

Harassment, including sexual harassment, includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a nature that shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of his/her race, color, national origin, gender, disability or age. In addition to face to face contact, harassment includes text messages, social media, snap chat, any form of electronic, or any type of communication.

Sexual assault is an extreme form of sexual harassment and is defined as a situation in which an individual is forced, threatened or coerced into sexual contact against his or her free will or without his or her consent. This may include date or acquaintance rape, sexual molestation, unwanted sexual touching or having sexual contact with a person while knowing or having reason to know that the person is incapacitated in some way.

For a more detailed discussion of CRC’s anti-sexual harassment policy, click here for the current year’s Jeanne Clery, Annual Campus Security Report Including Campus Crime Statistics and Fire Safety Report.

In compliance with federal regulations, Crowley’s Ridge College is providing a link to the training materials used to educate our Title IX team, including our coordinators, investigators, and decision-makers. The materials can be found at: www.thompsoncoburn.com/title-ix-training-series-materials-2020/.

Thompson Coburn 2020 Title IX Training Series:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYrJQ3qn6Pn15VmKJDQ0lCDJeNLXhL4bm
Module 1 – An Introduction to Managing Title IX Sexual Harassment on Campus
Module 2 – Formal Complaints of Title IX Sexual Harassment
Module 3 – Title IX Investigations & Informal Resolutions
Module 4 – Title IX Hearings
Module 5 – Title IX Determinations
Module 6 – Title IX Appeals